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Visionary
Posts: 2027
Brighton, TN | Has anybody done the front fork oil change yet? I thought I remembered VaRyder doing it, but I don't remember anyone putting out a cheat sheet. Mine doesn't rebound like it used to, so thinking that might be my problem.
While filling up, used to put my foot on the upside floorboard to shake it and it would bounce for me. Doesn't seem to rebound, just seems to stick in the down or midway position, but if I nudge it, it goes on up.
Haven't done it yet, just feeling the waters.
FRS Powersports in Memphis still a top rated place, I'm just stingy with my money. | |
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Visionary
Posts: 1436
| Po, pretty simple procedure really. Remove the front calipers from the fork mounts, remove the front wheel & axle. Set a drain pan under each fork and remove the allen head bolt from each leg to drain off the oil (located in axle recess). Remove fender. loosen top pich bolts and fork caps after that. Loosen lower pinch bolts and slide out each fork. Remove cap carefully and take out spring, cartridge etc. Rinse out fork legs with fork cleaner. Once everything is cleaned up (spring, cartridge, etc) reassmble the fork and install allen bolt removed to drain forks. Compress fork and service with appropriate quantiy of oil (volume & measurement per manual). Reinstall fork caps and reverse the removal steps to reassemble.
You will need one bottle of the Kingpin fork oil to do both forks.
You can cheat by removing the wheel, lower allen bolts to drain oil, loosen upper fork bolts and service with oil without removing or cleaning. HOWEVER, KevinX has informed me that these forks get really grungy between servicings so I'd recommend doing a complete removal service and cleaning.
If done right you should get your bounce back. Cost for the dealer to do it is around $150 plus oil. | |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 849
, FL United States | Brian, had my dealer replace fork oil with factory Victory fork oil which stopped "the dive" I was having when braking. That lasted about 5 k miles before "the dive" showed up again. I'm seriously considering using a heavier weigh fork oil (10 weight instead of Victory's 7.5 weight) and hopefully that will stop "the dive".
Will post later my thoughts on the change. | |
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Visionary
Posts: 2027
Brighton, TN | so, I'm new to this part of biking, a heavier weight oil should stop some dive or stiffen up the front? I've got almost the same mileage, but haven't done anything to the front forks yet. It'll be interesting to know. | |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | This stuff will make your head explode if you think about it. I'm not sure going with a heavier oil is a good thing, I just don't know. I do know this, follow the book on this one if you are doing it yourself, step by step. You'll need a spring compressor, thoguh I did mine without it using some jimmy riggin', my choice and I won't share because you may mess it up and blame me, get the spring compressor is all I'm saying. You also have to fill it per instructions, do purging of air per instructions and remove excess fluid per instructions. If you don't work out all the little air bubbles you'll get early dive I would assume. I made my own purger tube by going by the measurements and getting an oil sucker thingy at the tractor store.
I'll go with KevinX's recommendation on the cleaner stuff, though I'm getting ready to do mine again in another couple grand of miles and will do as I did the last time, drain, refill, purge. Cleaning is a good idea, but I've not had the dive that I was experiencing when I went 30,000 in between. 15,000 is the max I'm going for now on to keep the ride fresh.
I'm going for a new rear tire today at 12,000 miles, it is getting a little "wobbly" on the ride and I think this is why. I'm checking out my bearings and stuff too just to be sure. It holds the line, but it acts like it has a mind of its own, especially in the rain, I just didn't like the feel it has been giving me lately. But I'm sure it is the rear tire and even had an old gentleman admiring my bike tell me I was pushing it on my rear tire. Shame, shame, it is my rule of thumb that when someone else comments that I need a new tire, I'm getting one. It is at, past the wear bar, and I want to get it inspected now too while the front still has some tread. | |
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Front Forks