GK fork oil spec

[willie]

Just making sure.....the fork oil capacity specified in the owners manual is the amount for each leg, right?
I am NOT looking forward to reinstalling those fork caps. It wouldn't be so bad if the air valve was in the center or if there was a flat surface to push down on but noooooooooooo.
Willie in TN

[Steve]

I have not done anything with GK air caps, but I can pass on a tip gathered from the Gold Wing board.

Before you install the springs, thread the cap into the tube, paying particular attention to where the threads first start to grab. Use a sharpie to mark this location. Now, when you have the cap on top of the spring and are trying to push it all together, you can align the marks, knowing that the first little bit of turning will start engaging the threads.

Hopefully this works on the GK, too.


Oh, yes, the amount of oil specified is for each leg. Your best bet is to slightly over-fill each leg, then use a suction device with a tube of the proper length to draw off the excess fluid. This will get the proper level in each fork tube. This is more important if you did not fully disassemble and flush out the tubes. There might be some oil left in the passages, and simply adding the 'correct amount' of fluid will actually over-fill them.

.

[rapidray]

Also, the air valve is just a schrader valve & you can remove it to put the caps on & then just re-install it before you lay the forks down. The whole valve assembly just screws into the cap. Makes life MUCH easier! Ray.

[bwringer]

The amount of fork oil is totally irrelevant.

The fork oil LEVEL is what's crucial.

Dump in a little too much fork oil, then suction it out to the proper spec. This is normally 140mm from the top with the forks collapsed all the way and the springs out.

[Steve]

... Your best bet is to slightly over-fill each leg, then use a suction device with a tube of the proper length to draw off the excess fluid. This will get the proper level in each fork tube. ...

The amount of fork oil is totally irrelevant. The fork oil LEVEL is what's crucial. Dump in a little too much fork oil, then suction it out to the proper spec. ...

There seems to be an ECHO ECHO ECHO in this room.

That must mean it's pretty important.

[Guest]

As you press on the fork cap turn it counter clockwise until it clicks and then tighten. Don't cross thread!
Oh yeah, measure the fork oil to the top of the fork with it fully compressed with the springs out. My L model is 10.2 inches.

[willie]

Thanks for the responses guys. I'm not sure what rapidray meant by laying the forks down but the idea of making sure the fork level is correct vs the qty is a good one. Does anyone know what the oil level from the top is supposed to be for the GK? Is 140mm a rule of thumb for GS's in general or typical?
As to being able to remove the air valve.....I was definitely going to do that. Its the shape of the cap that makes the GK (and others?) a hassles. I've found that having a reasonably flat surface on top makes it so much easier to place a small piece of wood between the cap surface and the underside of the handlebar to keep it depressed while you turn it CC till it clicks then clockwise to screw it in.
Now about that oil level
Willie

[Steve]

Can't help you with the level, but here is a starting point that I found in the GK Owner's Manual on BassCliff's little site:

[Redman]

Willie,

Glad to help.

From factory manual, GK supplement:
Fork oil type: #15
Capacity per leg: 363 ml (12.7 US OZ)
Oil Level: 138.5 (5.4 inch)
Air Pressure: 0.7 kg/cm2 (10 psi)

When might we see complete pictures of that bike and paint job?
.

[willie]

Bingo! Thanks Redman. Thats exactly the info I was looking for. Interesting that the oil qty is different in the supplement than in the original manual. Just outa curiosity, I think I'll start with 12.3 oz, measure and record the level and then add .4 oz and measure and record the level again. I'll be fairly confident that there's no residual fluid in either leg to begin with as I drained them over a month ago. I hope I can remove the springs without removing the bars. Yeah, I admit, I'm lazy.
As to when I'll have my GK together and pics posted....I'm gonna save you the effort of adding the quotes when/if you have to take me to task on this ....lol... "the GK will be complete (with regard to paint) and pics posted by the end of January." I'm looking at the finished trunk and side cover as I type this and I'm as happy with it now as I was when the striper (thats striper and not stripper) finished pinstriping the flames in silver.
Willie
PS
Today I thought about replacing the black cording/piping on the seat with blue to compliment the paint scheme. However, the seat is in perfect original condidtion and as incredible as my upholsteryperson is, I'm not very keen on removing the cover.