Changing fork oil - how? - SV650.org

sniff · 28-01-13, 01:02 PM

Sorry tried to use the search but work puta is crap.

How easy is it to change fork oil? Is it just a case of removing screw at the bottom of each fork and replacing from the top? Or is it strip forks out and refill??

yorkie_chris · 28-01-13, 01:03 PM

Strip them out.

mep · 28-01-13, 01:37 PM

Yeah, you will need to remove the forks and strip them out. Get a manual if you can. you will need to know how much oil to put back in as well.

Some older bikes (eg. GSX250) have a hole at the bottom of the forks for pumping the oil out of when replacing. Unfortunately the SV does not.

Good luck. Did mine recently & it took the afternoon.

Mark_h · 28-01-13, 01:44 PM

Before you start make sure the bolts on the front mudguard are undoable. Mine are locked solid and I've been lubing them for weeks in the hope to have them come undone. Every other required nut and bolt has been checked and found to be fine but the mudguards are still welded tight.

yorkie_chris · 28-01-13, 01:51 PM

Stainless bolts in ally, in exposed place.

Drill them out.

28-01-13, 01:52 PM

Some older bikes (eg. GSX250) have a hole at the bottom of the forks for pumping the oil out of when replacing. Unfortunately the SV does not

?????? When the SV front wheel spindle is removed there is an allen screw inside the cavity going up inside the fork which when removed can be used to drain/blow the old fork oil out.[A bit of air pressure helps remove the more stuborn gunk]
Not the recomended method but saves on fork removal, similarly to sucking the old oil out with a suction pump saves on fork removal.

yorkie_chris · 28-01-13, 01:54 PM

It doesn't get it all out and that isn't the purpose of that bolt.

There is big risk of ending up with the damper rod spinning freely when trying to remove/re tighten bolt.

28-01-13, 03:12 PM

Reason for gentle air pressure is to blow the oil to the bottom-----------I never said it was the correct way as per the manual or the purpose of that allen bolt,just a short cut to replacing the oil.
I have found it a lot quicker than removing the forks when just replacing oil and any residual oil left in the forks once left to drain is hardly enough to affect the performance once new oil is fitted.You could say the same about changing engine oil as there is always some of the old oil still in the engine
If I was removing the forks I would also remove the internals and overhaul the complete fork but as the original post only asked about replacing the oil it seems like a lot of work for fresher fork oil.

yorkie_chris · 28-01-13, 03:32 PM

Aye but if you haven't got an impact gun you can end up knackered sat looking at a half-dissassembled fork and nothing you can do with it.

Compared to removing it, which is a slightly longer but dead cert way of doing the job.

28-01-13, 03:59 PM

Never found the need for an impact gun---feel and proper tools have always sufficed in my case

28-01-13, 01:02 PM	#1
sniff Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Dagenham Posts: 724	Changing fork oil - how? Sorry tried to use the search but work puta is crap. How easy is it to change fork oil? Is it just a case of removing screw at the bottom of each fork and replacing from the top? Or is it strip forks out and refill??

28-01-13, 01:03 PM	#2
yorkie_chris Noisy Git Mega Poster Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Halifax/Leeds Posts: 26,645	Re: Changing fork oil Strip them out. __________________ Currently Ex Biker Now rebuilding a 63' fishing trawler as a dive boat

28-01-13, 01:37 PM	#3
mep Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Torquay Posts: 208	Re: Changing fork oil Yeah, you will need to remove the forks and strip them out. Get a manual if you can. you will need to know how much oil to put back in as well. Some older bikes (eg. GSX250) have a hole at the bottom of the forks for pumping the oil out of when replacing. Unfortunately the SV does not. Good luck. Did mine recently & it took the afternoon.

28-01-13, 01:44 PM	#4
Mark_h Member Mega Poster Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Fleet, Hampshire Posts: 2,448	Re: Changing fork oil Before you start make sure the bolts on the front mudguard are undoable. Mine are locked solid and I've been lubing them for weeks in the hope to have them come undone. Every other required nut and bolt has been checked and found to be fine but the mudguards are still welded tight. __________________ Don't want to be the quickest; don't want to be the best; just want to be the one having the most fun. XL125Varadero -> Curvy SV650N-Y -> SV1000N-K3 -> Multistrada 1200s Twin-tastic stuff. Minister for Sustainability *Aliquid prudentissimus delectabiles et intelligentes in adamasset lingua.*

28-01-13, 01:51 PM	#5
yorkie_chris Noisy Git Mega Poster Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Halifax/Leeds Posts: 26,645	Re: Changing fork oil - how? Stainless bolts in ally, in exposed place. Drill them out. __________________ Currently Ex Biker Now rebuilding a 63' fishing trawler as a dive boat

28-01-13, 01:52 PM	#6
Dicky Ticker Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Changing fork oil Some older bikes (eg. GSX250) have a hole at the bottom of the forks for pumping the oil out of when replacing. Unfortunately the SV does not ?????? When the SV front wheel spindle is removed there is an allen screw inside the cavity going up inside the fork which when removed can be used to drain/blow the old fork oil out.[A bit of air pressure helps remove the more stuborn gunk] Not the recomended method but saves on fork removal, similarly to sucking the old oil out with a suction pump saves on fork removal.

28-01-13, 01:54 PM	#7
yorkie_chris Noisy Git Mega Poster Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Halifax/Leeds Posts: 26,645	Re: Changing fork oil - how? It doesn't get it all out and that isn't the purpose of that bolt. There is big risk of ending up with the damper rod spinning freely when trying to remove/re tighten bolt. __________________ Currently Ex Biker Now rebuilding a 63' fishing trawler as a dive boat

28-01-13, 03:12 PM	#8
Dicky Ticker Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Changing fork oil - how? Reason for gentle air pressure is to blow the oil to the bottom-----------I never said it was the correct way as per the manual or the purpose of that allen bolt,just a short cut to replacing the oil. I have found it a lot quicker than removing the forks when just replacing oil and any residual oil left in the forks once left to drain is hardly enough to affect the performance once new oil is fitted.You could say the same about changing engine oil as there is always some of the old oil still in the engine If I was removing the forks I would also remove the internals and overhaul the complete fork but as the original post only asked about replacing the oil it seems like a lot of work for fresher fork oil.

28-01-13, 03:32 PM	#9
yorkie_chris Noisy Git Mega Poster Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Halifax/Leeds Posts: 26,645	Re: Changing fork oil - how? Aye but if you haven't got an impact gun you can end up knackered sat looking at a half-dissassembled fork and nothing you can do with it. Compared to removing it, which is a slightly longer but dead cert way of doing the job. __________________ Currently Ex Biker Now rebuilding a 63' fishing trawler as a dive boat

28-01-13, 03:59 PM	#10
Dicky Ticker Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Changing fork oil - how? Never found the need for an impact gun---feel and proper tools have always sufficed in my case

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Changing fork oil	jandn1	Bikes - Talk & Issues	4	24-11-12 03:07 PM
Advice-Changing Fork Oil	02 Sv650s Black	SV Talk, Tuning & Tweaking	1	06-03-10 09:58 AM
SV1000 fork seal changing.	Flamin_Squirrel	Bikes - Talk & Issues	19	16-04-09 05:15 PM
Changing my fork springs	ejohnh	SV Talk, Tuning & Tweaking	15	04-07-07 01:41 PM
Changing fork oil in cartridge forks?	jambo	Bikes - Talk & Issues	13	24-06-05 07:32 AM