Fork oil change - how?

[dazzaboy]

Really need to change my fork oil soon, Once i manage to get the forks off isit fairly easy to replace the oil? or is there a fair bit involved? Its a 2001 curvy.

Also which grade of oil would you recommend putting back in

[embee]

I'm sure there's a "how to" somewhere, but in essence it's very simple.

Make sure the bike is well supported and can't fall. If you support it under the engine, it's rather near the centre of gravity and not very stable, so be careful.

main tips are
- slacken the top yoke clamp allen bolts first
- then slacken the top caps while the legs are still held in the lower yoke
- take legs out one at a time, remove the loosened top cap while keeping some pressure on it, there is a little preload on the spring (not a lot, but some)
- remove the spacer, washer, and spring (covered in filthy smelly oil!)
- carefully turn the leg upside down and pour the old oil out (filthy and smelly!), support it upside down for a while and allow to drain, pump it to expel old oil
- support it right way up, fully compress the leg into the lower (but don't slam it down or it tends to jam!!!), fill with new oil up to 106mm (I think, check that) from the top end, check with a dipstick/ruler etc.
- extend leg, fit spring washer and spacer, then refit top cap. Be careful not to cross-thread it.
- repeat for other leg.

As for oil, my preference is Silkolene PRO RSF but depends what you can get hold of. Probably a 10W but depends on the particular brand of oil, what your weight is and what springs you have fitted. Depends on you, but the best value upgrade is stiffer springs usually, std items are just OK for 8st rider weight!

There's a white table halfway down here (http://www.peterverdone.com/archive/lowspeed.htm) which shows viscosity for different brand oils. You probably want something around the 35cSt at 40C mark. See what there is. A high "VI" is good, around 300 is excellent, down near 100 is not so good, take your pick.

[dazzaboy]

im about 10 stone and i guess it has standard springs in.

[craig dow]

hi do a search on here , its been coverd heaps of times , did mine for the first time not long ago , and yes its very stright forward , as said above , make sure your bike is stable , slacken all the bolts off first befor you jack bike up and take wheel off , if its just the oil your changeing , you dont need to take all the forks apart, just the big bolt on the top of the forks , and tip oil out , watch when you do undo it as the spring will still be in tension , im sure there is a video on you tube on how to do it , as oil i went for 15 not ten , i found that oil better with standard springs ,