fork oil change

[Bill Conquest]

Hi  - i'm planning on changing the fork oil on my '79, how do the caps on top come off ? Any advice on draining and refilling?
Thanks for the help..

Bill Conquest

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

Use the smallest flat screwdriver or a pick to pull off those black plastic caps.

Be VERY kind to the 10mm drain screws.  The threads in the aluminum fork lowers strip VERY easily!

[Barry]

how do the caps on top come off ? Any advice on draining and refilling?

The black plasic caps are just clipped on.

190cc is the refill amount but I always check the level with a dip stick. Correct level is 35mm  + or - 15mm above the top of the damper piston. That 15mm  either way allows some adjustment of the "air spring" and therefore fork response. Maximum level to minimise dive and minimum level if your forks have any tendency to a top out clunk.

[AlfromNH]

After you get the plastic caps off, the top cap is held in by a retaining ring. Use an Allen wrench to push the cap down an inch or so into the fork leg, then remove the ring. There's a helpful, and profanity-laced, video here:
http://youtu.be/ymse3196ORY

If you dont know the history of the bike, I'd plan on disassembling the forks. The rubber top-out bumpers have a habit of disintegrating.

[Luca]

I'm not sure if the forks are the same for the 79/80 bikes, by on my 82 you don't need to remove the spring retainer (metal cap held in with ring clip) to change the oil.  Just unscrew the allen bolt that goes through the middle of the spring retainer and pour the oil in through the hole.  A large 50ml luer lock syringe and some 1/4 inch tubing makes life much easier when trying to fill through these small holes.

[montmil]

Ditto, Luca.  [smiley=thumbup.gif]

[Bill Conquest]

Thanks alot everyone...ill get to it this week.

Bill

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

There are MANY threads on here about rebuilding forks.  If you aren't careful you will trip over them.

I agree with Alfrom NH - if the bike is new to you, plan on a rebuild.

[decorn33]

Bill,

If you are planning a fork re-build as Alfrom NH recommended and the best you can bring to the project is two hands like me, you might want to consider incorporating a bar clamp into the mix if you can get your hands on one. It will make depressing the spring to remove the top keeper spring a lot easier.  I whipped up my homemade compressor using an old bar clamp I found at a flea market for 10 bucks. A few twists of the screw and you can get right at the keeper to remove it. Once removed, the top cap should wiggle out.

[montmil]

Hmmm... A battery-powered bar clamp. Who'da thought it?  

[Luca]

Something tells me he's had the bike a while... he joined the forum 6 years ago  

[jusgus]

If I remember correctly you only have to remove to plugs from the top and bottom of the left and right tubes, also with the bike on the center stand push down on the fork 4 or 5 times to pump out the old oil. Hopefully it will only be oil without any rubber residue.