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SeanMora77
Guest
I'd like to add fresh fork oil but have never done so. Can anyone tell me an easy way to do this?
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Steve
GS Whisperer
Do you want to simply "add" or do you want to do it properly? :-k
You have to KNOW how much oil is in there, and the manual says that the proper way to measure the oil is to have the spring removed and the fork fully-collapsed and vertical. The only way to do that is to have the forks off the bike.
You can probably get quite close if you leave the forks in the bike, but you still need to remove the caps and the springs so you can measure the oil level to make sure they are the same.
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You have to KNOW how much oil is in there, and the manual says that the proper way to measure the oil is to have the spring removed and the fork fully-collapsed and vertical. The only way to do that is to have the forks off the bike.
You can probably get quite close if you leave the forks in the bike, but you still need to remove the caps and the springs so you can measure the oil level to make sure they are the same.
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SeanMora77
Guest
The forks are off the bike, I want to remove any old and fill with new. I want to do everything properly. 
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koolaid_kid
Guest
Are you going to tell him what happens when he removes the top cap?
I also prefer to flush out the stuff in the bottom of the forks using ATF until it becomes ATF fluid color instead of that yucky, smelly grey.
I also prefer to flush out the stuff in the bottom of the forks using ATF until it becomes ATF fluid color instead of that yucky, smelly grey.
Steve
GS Whisperer
With the fork fully extended it will only pop up about 1/2 inch ( 12 or 13 MM at the best..easily puhed back on by hand to start the threads.
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koolaid_kid
Guest
Steve, you made me fall out of my chair. Shame on you!Nah. It doesn't usually fly very far.
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Sean, the cap will pop up when you finish unscrewing it. How much it pops up depends on the amount of preload is in the spring and a possible spacer that may (or may not) be in there with the spring. If you have never had the cap off before be prepared for it, keep the pressure on it and let it up slowly. It may not be much at all, but you will not know until you remove it.
K
koolaid_kid
Guest
And I am serious about flushing it. There will be a tiny (usually Phillips) screw at the bottom of the fork. If you remove it a bit of gunk will flow out. I like to pour some ATF in the tube and let it dribble out the bottom. At first, it will be a yucky grey color.keep flushing it until it comes out ATF red. Let that drain completely and then reinstall the screw. Be careful with the screw; there is a tiny o-ring there and you do not want to damage it.
Runs some diesel or kerosene and it will flush and clean a bit better than just ATF. Ane even put it in and put the cap back on and turn the fork end for end a bunch to swish it around and scrub it out a little bit.
Steve
GS Whisperer
Here is a tip for putting the cap back on:
Before putting the spring in, put a mark on the cap (a Sharpie works well), start threading the cap on just a little bit. Unscrew it VERY SLOWLY and note exactly where it dis-engages the threads. Mark the tube with a line that aligns with the mark on the cap. Verify (by threading the cap back in) that that is where the threads will engage. Now put the spring back in, along with any preload spacers that you might need, you will know exactly where to place the cap so it starts to engage threads with the first turn.
OK, K_K, does that make up for it? :-\\\
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Before putting the spring in, put a mark on the cap (a Sharpie works well), start threading the cap on just a little bit. Unscrew it VERY SLOWLY and note exactly where it dis-engages the threads. Mark the tube with a line that aligns with the mark on the cap. Verify (by threading the cap back in) that that is where the threads will engage. Now put the spring back in, along with any preload spacers that you might need, you will know exactly where to place the cap so it starts to engage threads with the first turn.
OK, K_K, does that make up for it? :-\\\
3
7
7981GS
Guest
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Billy Ricks
Guest
When flushing with solvent stroke the fork a few times to run it through all the little orifices the oil goes thorough.
Steve
GS Whisperer
When you put fork oil in, do the same thing to get all the air out of those passages before trying to measure your oil level.
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Billy Ricks
Guest
Good advice. It takes a village to get all the little tidbits assembled.
You can tap them up and down on a block of wood too ..just like mom used to bounce the cake pan around to get air bubbles to rise out.
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koolaid_kid
Guest
No, you made me bruise my bum when I fell out of my chair. I need a massage.
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GateKeeper
Guest
why not just put the right amount of fork oil into a measuring cup and put the same in each fork
and to clean my forks I just used some Varsol, sloshed it around, drained and repeated until it was all clear, let them dry out overnight and added my oil, put in the springs and put the caps back on...
easy...
and to clean my forks I just used some Varsol, sloshed it around, drained and repeated until it was all clear, let them dry out overnight and added my oil, put in the springs and put the caps back on...
easy...
