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#61 |
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Idaho
Posts: 25,054
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I have now ridden over 100 miles with my new fork oil. I'm pleased to report the fork damping is now softer after installing the Valvoline MaxLife Dex/Merc ATF. My suspension is now riding better on pavement, as well as off road.
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Spud "Never argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level, and beat you with experience." ![]() 2015 Zongshen ZS250GY-3 (RX3) 2006 Zongshen ZS200GY-2 (Sierra 200) 2005 Honda XR650L 2004 Honda CRF250X 1998 Kawasaki KDX220 Mods made to my Zongshen ZS200GY-2: http://www.chinariders.net/showthread.php?t=6894 |
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#62 |
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Sardis, BC, Canada
Posts: 25,977
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Thanks for the follow-up, Spud. Is there a cross-reference that we can wrap our heads around? For example, does 20 cSt roughly translate to 10W?
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Weldangrind "I figure I'm well-prepared for coping with a bike that comes from the factory with unresolved issues and that rewards the self-reliant owner." - Buccaneer |
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#63 | |
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Idaho
Posts: 25,054
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Quote:
![]() Firstly, the 10W, 15W, oil weight designations from the sellers can't be trusted, since one vendor's 5W oil might have the same viscosity as another vendor's 10W oil. :roll: The following chart illustrates these discrepancies. ![]() http://www.peterverdone.com/wiki/ind...spension_Fluid Also, one shouldn't completely trust the chart, either, since the viscosity of a particular brand of oil might change. ![]() ![]() http://www.mobil.com/USA-English/Lub...hetic_ATF.aspx I chose the Valvoline MaxLife Dex/Merc ATF for several reasons. First of all, it has the lowest viscosity of any ATF I researched. http://www.valvoline.com/pdf/maxlife_atf.pdf As an added bonus, this ATF had the lowest price. ![]() ![]() ![]() http://www.autozone.com/autozone/acc...er=819367_0_0_ I changed the fork oil in three motorcycles this month, using the Valvoline MaxLife Dex/Merc ATF, and I still have over a quart of ATF left over. ![]() ![]() Most of the Dexron VI ATFs also have a low viscosity around 30 cSt, which is very close to the Valvoline MaxLife Dex/Merc. However, none of them could match the price of the Valvoline. ![]() Spud ![]()
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Spud "Never argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level, and beat you with experience." ![]() 2015 Zongshen ZS250GY-3 (RX3) 2006 Zongshen ZS200GY-2 (Sierra 200) 2005 Honda XR650L 2004 Honda CRF250X 1998 Kawasaki KDX220 Mods made to my Zongshen ZS200GY-2: http://www.chinariders.net/showthread.php?t=6894 |
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#64 |
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Idaho
Posts: 25,054
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ATF is excellent fork oil, and many of the "boutique fork oils" are either ATF, or hydraulic fluid.
![]() ![]() ATF does an excellent job in the outer fork tube of even the most sophisticated, high-tech, twin chamber forks currently available. Some riders even use ATF for the inner chamber, and say it does an excellent job. ![]() ![]() I put Valvoline MaxLife Dex/Merc in the the outer fork tubes of my CRF250X. I also used the Valvoline ATF to replace the fork oil in my Zong and my Honda XR650L. ![]() Spud ![]()
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Spud "Never argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level, and beat you with experience." ![]() 2015 Zongshen ZS250GY-3 (RX3) 2006 Zongshen ZS200GY-2 (Sierra 200) 2005 Honda XR650L 2004 Honda CRF250X 1998 Kawasaki KDX220 Mods made to my Zongshen ZS200GY-2: http://www.chinariders.net/showthread.php?t=6894 |
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#65 |
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Idaho
Posts: 25,054
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As I reported earlier, the Mobil1 Synthetic ATF, with a viscosity of 36.3 cST, did a good job in my Zong's forks.
![]() ![]() However, since my Zongshen forks only require 225ml of fork oil, I will splurge next time, and experiment with a "boutique fork oil" with a viscosity of 20 cSt. I don't know of any ATF which has a viscosity lower than the 28.2 cSt of the Valvoline MaxLife Dex/Merc ATF. ![]() Spud ![]()
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Spud "Never argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level, and beat you with experience." ![]() 2015 Zongshen ZS250GY-3 (RX3) 2006 Zongshen ZS200GY-2 (Sierra 200) 2005 Honda XR650L 2004 Honda CRF250X 1998 Kawasaki KDX220 Mods made to my Zongshen ZS200GY-2: http://www.chinariders.net/showthread.php?t=6894 |
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#66 |
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Idaho
Posts: 25,054
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Unless someone is racing, he will probably be content to use ATF for fork oil in even the most modern, twin-chamber forks.
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__________________
Spud "Never argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level, and beat you with experience." ![]() 2015 Zongshen ZS250GY-3 (RX3) 2006 Zongshen ZS200GY-2 (Sierra 200) 2005 Honda XR650L 2004 Honda CRF250X 1998 Kawasaki KDX220 Mods made to my Zongshen ZS200GY-2: http://www.chinariders.net/showthread.php?t=6894 |
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#67 |
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Idaho
Posts: 25,054
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Looking at Verdone's chart, I would estimate fork oil falls roughly into the following classifications.
2.5W is about 10 cSt viscosity 5W is about 16 cSt viscosity 7.5W is about 28 cSt viscosity 10W is about 36 cSt viscosity Et cetera. ![]() Based on these rough estimates, I replaced the stock fork oil with 10W ATF (Mobil1 Synthetic ATF at 36 cST). I recently switched to 7.5W ATF (Valvoline MaxLife Dex/Merc at 28 cSt), and the damping is smoother. ![]() Spud ![]()
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Spud "Never argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level, and beat you with experience." ![]() 2015 Zongshen ZS250GY-3 (RX3) 2006 Zongshen ZS200GY-2 (Sierra 200) 2005 Honda XR650L 2004 Honda CRF250X 1998 Kawasaki KDX220 Mods made to my Zongshen ZS200GY-2: http://www.chinariders.net/showthread.php?t=6894 |
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#68 |
Join Date: May 2013
Location: phoenix arizona
Posts: 68
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followed your spectacular guide..
my 250gs dove and was not a nice ride since i got her.. well I now know why... ![]() |
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#69 |
Join Date: May 2013
Location: phoenix arizona
Posts: 68
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crap...
i dont know why but i did 250mL instead of 280mL at least i figuered out i can just jack up the front end loosen the nuts on top and lift the tire a tad to unseat the top and add another 30mL hahah i used dex 6 walmart supertech brand... complete job was around 2hrs.. i am rather meticulous.. discovered a few more issues while i was poking and prodding around the front end... oh ya also replaced both the calipers bolts with non-allen heads |
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#70 |
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Idaho
Posts: 25,054
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Thank you for your kind words.
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Spud "Never argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level, and beat you with experience." ![]() 2015 Zongshen ZS250GY-3 (RX3) 2006 Zongshen ZS200GY-2 (Sierra 200) 2005 Honda XR650L 2004 Honda CRF250X 1998 Kawasaki KDX220 Mods made to my Zongshen ZS200GY-2: http://www.chinariders.net/showthread.php?t=6894 |
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#71 |
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: central PA
Posts: 770
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zong fork oil replacement
So if i read this correct ,,there is no way to change the fork oil on a zong without removing the forks from the bike??
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2015 zongshen rx3,,(Sold),,,2016 bashan storm,,2005 Harley ultra classic. |
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#72 |
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Idaho
Posts: 25,054
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You might be able to loosen the bottom bolt slightly to change the fork oil, but I certainly wouldn't recommend that method. Removing the forks is not only the best way to change the fork oil, it is undoubtedly the easiest method as well.
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Spud "Never argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level, and beat you with experience." ![]() 2015 Zongshen ZS250GY-3 (RX3) 2006 Zongshen ZS200GY-2 (Sierra 200) 2005 Honda XR650L 2004 Honda CRF250X 1998 Kawasaki KDX220 Mods made to my Zongshen ZS200GY-2: http://www.chinariders.net/showthread.php?t=6894 |
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#73 | |
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 341
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Quote:
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Zongshen 200gy-2 |
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#74 |
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Idaho
Posts: 25,054
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Thanks for corroborating my testimony, Pliskin.
![]() ![]() Indeed, it really is easiest to remove the forks. ![]() ![]()
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Spud "Never argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level, and beat you with experience." ![]() 2015 Zongshen ZS250GY-3 (RX3) 2006 Zongshen ZS200GY-2 (Sierra 200) 2005 Honda XR650L 2004 Honda CRF250X 1998 Kawasaki KDX220 Mods made to my Zongshen ZS200GY-2: http://www.chinariders.net/showthread.php?t=6894 |
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#75 | |
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: ChCh , NZ
Posts: 2,262
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Quote:
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09 XT660R ... 06 TTR250 ... 80 Montesa H6 125 Enduro... 77 Montesa Cota 348 MRR "Malcom Rathnell Replica"... Current resto projects.. 81 Honda CT110... 80 Kawasaki KL250A1... 11 Husaburg TE125 enduro... "sold" along with another 31... Lifan 125 Pitbike.. "stolen" ... KIWI BIKER FORUM...... http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/content.php All the best offroad rides in NZ... http://www.remotemoto.com/ E-mail... xtpete1@gmail.com |
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