Fork Oil

[pete]

Originally Posted by wheel spinner

using more oil in the forks, does it stiffin the ride more???

Yes.... but it is fine tuning tool not a set up tool...


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[ChrisWNY]

Originally Posted by wheel spinner

using more oil in the forks, does it stiffin the ride more???

In short, yes, more oil in the forks will stiffen the dampening. However, more oil = more pressure in the shocks when a lot of force is applied, which can cause the fork seals to wear out or blow out if the pressure is too high. Depending on your weight, start off with 180mL, ride around, and see how the forks feel. If they still feel soft and bottom out, add more oil (in small quantities, maybe 20mL at a time) until the front shocks feel good. It's very easy to add oil...just break that top fork cap loose (easy when the forks are clamped on the bike) and pour it right in.

I'd advise not removing the bottom bolt to drain the fork oil unless you want to potentially encounter issues that others have run into with not being able to get the bolt threaded back on properly, etc. Removing the forks only takes a few minutes and it'll potentially save you hours of work...

[wheel spinner]

ok... How about removing the top screw... then removing that bottom screw to drain the oil... and after the oil has drained out the fork,,, replace the top screw back on to give the damper tension and hold it in place .. then replace the bottom screw .. will this work???

[Sochin]

It is better to remove the front shocks from the tripple tree all together, take off the top cap and turn them upside down to drain. The bottom screw really isn't for draining, it attaches some of the spring/pipe/piston with holes in it that works the dampening effect.

[pete]

Originally Posted by Sochin

spring/pipe/piston with holes in it that works the dampening effect.

= Damping rod....



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[Weldangrind]

Originally Posted by wheel spinner

Weld... So you like the ride with ATF better than with fork oil?? I am really leaning into using ATF oil... Valvoline MaxLife Dex Merc ATF... is it a good ride or what?? soft... bumpy... remember I ride in the woods all the time... over tree stumps.. limbs and etc...

I found the rebound and damping to be much improved, but that's when compared with the original oil. It works great for me, so I'll keep using it. YMMV

[pete]

Originally Posted by wheel spinner

Mainly what I use my 200cc for is riding on my 20 acres of land... 99% is going through the woods... going over holes... bumps.. ditches... tree limbs.. Tree roots... you get the picture... and when applying my front brake the fork takes a dump forward.. so I guess I'll need to get a Harder fork... but smooth... I've been thinking of using Dexron lll because people that use it say the inside of their forks stay clean vs. using fork oil.. I really don't want to empty the forks 4 or 5 times just to find the best ride.,.. but I realize that is what I am going to need to do...

Forestry is pretty much all I ride.. either just out for a ride or enduros..

Any oil with the CST number as high as ATF will be herendus in the forks
every root rock will be felt in the bars , wheel will be hoping all over the place..
the front end has to be complyant to a wide range of terrain...

I know you are hopeing that the oil will give you what you want...
but the springs are the first part of the puzzle....springs that give the correct sags
for your weight...once you have that then you can look at the damping..
If the springs are to soft for your weight try pre-load spacers...you may
not get it perfect but closer...

keep the oils CST number under 10 "losely about a 5 weight or below"
If you are going to use the weight scale... never change brand when
trying a diffrent weight oil..." a 5 weight from one manfacturer can have the same
flow rate as a 10 weight from another" the CST scale is the flow rate...
the oil in my bike is like water...around a 2.5 on the weight scale...

As far as the fork dive under brakeing.... theres a saying if the forks don't dive
the suspension is to stiff... you can't have everything..


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