Changed your fork oil lately?

[Megadan]

I am sure there are a few people on here that think my maintenance schedule is ridiculous. Sure, maybe it is, but I figured I would use this as an example of why.

This is the fork oil I put in my Hawk last year during assembly. It started off a light green color. Now it's full of dirt and particulates.


New fresh Spectro 15w added after flushing them with MMO and letting them hang inverted for half an hour and they are much smoother.

10 bucks in fluid and taking a front wheel off to remove 2 forks by undoing 6 bolts means longer seal and bushing life.

Oh, and my silly habit of checking my valve lash during oil changes? Intake was at .0055" after just 400 miles.

[letsride]

I am sure there are a few people on here that think my maintenance schedule is ridiculous

I for one don't think your maint. schedule is ridiculous at all. I'm the same way, overkill? Maybe, but nothing you do costs a whole lot, only time! And thats what I love about these bikes, I get to tinker. That is amazing though how fast that oil got dirty. Now when you rinse with MMO how much did you put in and did ya pump them a few times or what? Thanks for posting the thread.

[Lit Hawk]

My seal started leaking a couple days ago. Searched on here and found out I can clean it with a business card and re seat it. Hopefully it fixed the problem, I should know in a couple days if it did or not. I really need to change my oil out but when i first got my bike I put new oil in and it seemed like the bolt on the bottom of my fork stripped. I don’t think it did because other people have this problem fixed with a broom handle. I just haven’t done it yet and it didn’t leak. So I let it be. It always makes me nervous messing with this bike and making it worse than it was. Especially with stripping the bolts.

[Megadan]

Originally Posted by Lit Hawk

My seal started leaking a couple days ago. Searched on here and found out I can clean it with a business card and re seat it. Hopefully it fixed the problem, I should know in a couple days if it did or not. I really need to change my oil out but when i first got my bike I put new oil in and it seemed like the bolt on the bottom of my fork stripped. I don’t think it did because other people have this problem fixed with a broom handle. I just haven’t done it yet and it didn’t leak. So I let it be. It always makes me nervous messing with this bike and making it worse than it was. Especially with stripping the bolts.

I never ever drain from the bottom bolt. Thats not a drain bolt. It holds the dampening rod in place.

I take off the front wheel and caliper, then undo the top clamp pinch bolts, loosen the fork cap, and then undo the 2 lower pinch bolts. Take the fork out, remove the cap, remove the spring, then invert and pump a few times and then set them upside down for a few minutes. Fill, reverse removal process

[Megadan]

Originally Posted by letsride

I for one don't think your maint. schedule is ridiculous at all. I'm the same way, overkill? Maybe, but nothing you do costs a whole lot, only time! And thats what I love about these bikes, I get to tinker. That is amazing though how fast that oil got dirty. Now when you rinse with MMO how much did you put in and did ya pump them a few times or what? Thanks for posting the thread.

No real set amount. Maybe 150ml? A big bottle of MMO is like 3 bucks so thats why I use it. You could also use atf if you wanted. Just something to help get the junk out that stayed behind. I like MMO because it is thin and drains out easy.

[Lit Hawk]

Not sure how to do the quote in comments beside copy and paste but I doubt that’s right. Anyways awesome megadan I followed a tutorial somewhere on this site and it drained through the bottom. I like your way a lot better and will be doing it next weekend. I wanted to do it today but like I said scared to mess with that bottom screw And making things worse. Also messing with the start button, leaky fork seal which Looks like it fixed, and my underglow lights took up most of my day(pinched wire was grounding lights on and I made things way worse by trying to work on it without disconnecting negative from battery I melted wires, luckily I fixed it) . Now that I know I don’t have to touch bottom bolt for changing fork oil, awesome. Thanks

[Megadan]

Unless the forks have a specific drain plug, that bottom bolt shouldnt be touced except for actual dampening rod removal. I wish that method would die off. The proper way is as I described to you. Plus, it is a great opportunity to check the wheel bearings and brake pads for wear.

[rjmorel]

whats MMO? thanks Rob

[JerryHawk250]

Originally Posted by rjmorel

whats MMO? thanks Rob

marvel mystery oil

[JerryHawk250]

Originally Posted by Lit Hawk

My seal started leaking a couple days ago. Searched on here and found out I can clean it with a business card and re seat it. Hopefully it fixed the problem,

I made one from a plastic 2 liter coke bottle. I had one leaking Saturday and cleaned it. All good I had the one on the opposite side leak a few months back and did the same. I keep it in my tool tube incase it starts leaking while offroad.

[Lit Hawk]

That’s a good idea, I’ll have to make one also to keep on my bike. I used a business card To clean mine and it’s been 2 days with no new leak

[timcosby]

Originally Posted by Lit Hawk

Not sure how to do the quote in comments beside copy and paste but I doubt that’s right. Anyways awesome megadan I followed a tutorial somewhere on this site and it drained through the bottom. I like your way a lot better and will be doing it next weekend. I wanted to do it today but like I said scared to mess with that bottom screw And making things worse. Also messing with the start button, leaky fork seal which Looks like it fixed, and my underglow lights took up most of my day(pinched wire was grounding lights on and I made things way worse by trying to work on it without disconnecting negative from battery I melted wires, luckily I fixed it) . Now that I know I don’t have to touch bottom bolt for changing fork oil, awesome. Thanks

just hit the quote button at the bottom of the post.

[SWR]

How much for oil goes back in them?

[JerryHawk250]

Originally Posted by SWR

How much for oil goes back in them?

210ml

[Megadan]

You can use as little as 160-170ml, But 210ml is the recommended level. I ran as much as 230ml to increase the air spring effect.