Lazy way of changing fork oil?

[bwringer]

DON'T remove caps if you are not on the centerstand. DON'T remove both caps unless you have a jack holding up the front of the bike.

Excellent advice, if it wasn't obvious already.

Is this one of those "don't ask me how I know" bits of advice?

[Don-lo]

Excellent advice, if it wasn't obvious already.

Is this one of those "don't ask me how I know" bits of advice?

Hahaha, it isn't obvious until it happens

and don't ask me how I know either

[woodsietx]

Hahaha, it isn't obvious until it happens

and don't ask me how I know either

You saved me a mess I'm sure.

Can you take off one cap? The reason I ask is I'm trying to determine what the PO did to the front end of the bike. I'm hoping there's a set of better springs in the front like the Progressives that are on the back. I know something was done because the shocks on it are black. From what I can tell the stock shocks were aluminum colored. My 80 had silver, my 82 had black. I don't believe they are painted. There's no anti-lock either. And as I recall, if they had put 82 shocks, the fender would have had to be changed too. (I had put my 80 fender on my 82 and I had to drill out the bracket.)

Any thoughts on checking the springs? It's not critical I replace the fluid just yet. If it's an easy check, I'll do it.

Woodsie

[tkent02]

I like to hang the center of the handle bars from the ceiling to work on the front end.

Bike on the center stand first. A ratcheting tie down works fine.

Single hook right in the middle, to the bracket for the garage door opener or a rafter or whatever. it only takes a few pounds to lift the front wheel.

Sometimes the easyest ideas are the best.

[Agemax]

I like to hang the center of the handle bars from the ceiling to work on the front end.

i dont think my living room ceiling will take the weight of my bike

[Don-lo]

With the bike on the centerstand, you can take off one cap since almost all of the weight is supported by the stand and the remaining weight is mostly supported by the other spring. Take off both caps and you have quite the crash and burn scenario.

Ok, wayyyyy back in 84, I almost had this happen (but I had heavy luggage on the back acting as a counterweight )

I would like to say that what happens in 84 stays in 84, but .....

some of those "happenings" are still with us (but they'll move out one of these days )

[tkent02]

i dont think my living room ceiling will take the weight of my bike

Sure it will, if you hit a joist.

[salty_monk]

I think I did that once too... No damage though.