Fork Fluid

[jbfla]

Originally Posted by Motocrazy

Hey I can chime in here. I just changed mine recently. I couldn't find Mobile 1 ATF but I used another well known brand I can't quite recall. But I also used the synthetic ATF. I let my forks drain for a couple of days and got 325 CC's of fluid out of each one. After changing the fluid the sharpness did go away a little. Certainly better than stock.
Hope yours get better as well. Good luck.

Thanks, Moto.

Did you put in the recommended 330 cc or the 325 that came out?

Another question that I should know, but don't.

What is the weight of ATF? Is it all the same? As I recall, there are different types of ATF.

jb

[david3921]

Originally Posted by jbfla

Thanks, Moto.

Did you put in the recommended 330 cc or the 325 that came out?

Another question that I should know, but don't.

What is the weight of ATF? Is it all the same? As I recall, there are different types of ATF.

jb

Spud, as always, did the homework for us. Check out post 27 here for the info; http://www.chinariders.net/showthrea...t=chart&page=2

[2LZ]

Originally Posted by david3921

Spud, as always, did the homework for us. Check out post 27 here for the info; http://www.chinariders.net/showthrea...t=chart&page=2

Good find! Good find, david3921!
Yes....Spud always comes through....wherever he may presently be. We're still currently in a potato famine. ;-)

Like I've said, I've always had spectacular performance from the Bel Ray, even back in my younger MX days when I was far more demanding of my bikes....but I may have to try the Mobile 1 ATF next time around. As Spud pointed out, it's less expensive, easy on the rubber, doesn't foam like the older ATF's I've run, and is readily available many local places....and Lord knows I don't ride like I used to ;-)

[david3921]

Originally Posted by 2LZ

We're still currently in a potato famine.

I was thinking about this the other day also.

[rtking]

Originally Posted by david3921

I was thinking about this the other day also.

Count me in as I've been pondering this also.

[BlackBike]

Originally Posted by 2LZ

Good find! Good find, david3921!
Yes....Spud always comes through....wherever he may presently be. We're still currently in a potato famine. ;-)

Like I've said, I've always had spectacular performance from the Bel Ray, even back in my younger MX days when I was far more demanding of my bikes....but I may have to try the Mobile 1 ATF next time around. As Spud pointed out, it's less expensive, easy on the rubber, doesn't foam like the older ATF's I've run, and is readily available many local places....and Lord knows I don't ride like I used to ;-)

Mobil 1 synthetic atf ! I think I even have some left. 204k on that silverado and have changed a.t. 5 times exclusively with the stuff. First time it took 14 qts to replace all the organic stuff (quiet expensive as I remember) but i believe it made all the difference in keeping my transmission alive.

[jbfla]

Originally Posted by david3921

Spud, as always, did the homework for us. Check out post 27 here for the info; http://www.chinariders.net/showthrea...t=chart&page=2

Thanks, David.

Impressive chart.

But what is a centiStoke?

And how does that translate into terms normal people can understand?

And where the heck is Spud?

jb

[Jay In Milpitas]

Originally Posted by jbfla

Thanks, David.

Impressive chart.

But what is a centiStoke?

And how does that translate into terms normal people can understand?

And where the heck is Spud?

jb

It gets very complicated. Best to just consider it a mystical unit of measurement. The only way it is handy for folks like us to use is in a chart so we can use it to select something thinner or thicker than what we are currently using.

Product Whoopie Oil 10 rates at 28 cS and we want something a little bit thicker. Product Nifty Oil 15 sounds good, but actually flows at 25 cS. So that's not what we would want to buy.

[Weldangrind]

Originally Posted by jbfla

And where the heck is Spud?

Spud is enjoying his summer; he checks in from time to time, but he's not typically as active on the forum during the summer. All he wants to do is ride.

[david3921]

The chart is useful in a few different ways. You don't really need to know what cSt means, just use the numbers to compare. As an example, 2ZL uses the the BelRay 10w and the chart shows that is has a cSt of 33.5. Spud likes the Mobil 1 @ 34.0. These two will be pretty dang close in performance. The thing is that the Mobil 1 will be readily more available to most of us. Blackbike says that he uses it in his truck's transmission. Also, like 2ZL said, once you find a brand you like (availability, anti-foaming, ect.) you can use the chart to find a higher or lower cSt based on need.

[2LZ]

Originally Posted by david3921

The chart is useful in a few different ways. You don't really need to know what cSt means, just use the numbers to compare. As an example, 2ZL uses the the BelRay 10w and the chart shows that is has a cSt of 33.5. Spud likes the Mobil 1 @ 34.0. These two will be pretty dang close in performance. The thing is that the Mobil 1 will be readily more available to most of us. Blackbike says that he uses it in his truck's transmission. Also, like 2ZL said, once you find a brand you like (availability, anti-foaming, ect.) you can use the chart to find a higher or lower cSt based on need.

Dang! If it's that close, I'll get the Mobil 1 next time around at Walmart! ;-)
All good info once again.

Edit: I thought I'd price compare to see how much I'd save. I may have another bike joining the "rescue" (as my neighbor calls my garage) and will probably do all the fluids.

On Amazon (my small town Walmart doesn't list it) has the Mobil 1 ATF for 9.50 a qt. Prep Boys is around 9.

I paid 11.33 for a liter of Bel Ray on Amazon with free shipping.
These are priced far closer than I thought they'd be. I thought the "fancy" fork oil would have been quite a bit more. Surprising.

[pete]

Centistroke rating for most fork oils...
you may have to save it to your computer then zoom in to read it...







..

[pete]

Originally Posted by jbfla

Thanks, Moto.



What is the weight of ATF? Is it all the same? As I recall, there are different types of ATF.

jb

Weight is a SAE rating for lubeication..
forks/shocks work by flow rates that is the
centistroke "CST" rating at 40*c

I have never seen a CST rating for ATF.. but I have
never looked either.... not something i would put in my forks...

the real prob with useing weight.. Is a 10 weight oil
from one company can be the same as a 15 weight from another
the weight rating is all over the place with no real standard..

For a dirt/trail bike...
used in the dirt stay with a centistroke "CST" rating under 18..

There are CST Centistroke charts on the net that give almost
all fork/shock oil from diffrent companys & bike Manafactures oil
in the centistroke rating..

Google is your freind...



...

[willy dog]

summer is short in the potato state lets hope spud is putting another 10.000 miles on his ZONG

[2LZ]

Originally Posted by pete

the real prob with useing weight.. Is a 10 weight oil
from one company can be the same as a 15 weight from another
the weight rating is all over the place with no real standard..
...

Probably another reason I've always stuck with the Bel Ray for decades now. I know what to expect from each weight and its performance.

The 5W was good for Mrs. 2LZ Kingpin. She's lighter and rides less aggressively than I. The 5W gives her good dampening for her needs.
I use the 10W in my dualys and dirt bikes but ran 15W in my massive Vic TC. Between my weight and the bikes weight, it was the correct choice for those forks, loaded up for a camping trip.

I would imagine that it doesn't matter what you choose, sticking with one brand product gives you the consistency to know what to expect in product performance.