How much fork oil?

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

Are these the original BMW shocks you are replacing the springs on?
Are you sure the damper is still any good?

I have heard more bad than good about the stock shocks, and while I loved that built-in adjusting handle, I was happy to see them go.

[Ed Miller]

The HF tool's hooks are too fat to fit between a pair of Koni spring coils.  I guess if you never intend to compress car coils, you could grind them small enough.

I don't remember reading that the BMW stock shocks are made to be rebuilt,  though if you could find new springs you could replace them anyway.

I ended up using a crazy combination of a bottle cap installer and something slipped between an upper pair of coils, I think a previous incarnation of my stupid bag mounts.  It worked surprisingly easy.  The bottle capper stood kind of like a little drill press, but the handle pressed the capper part down rather than a drill.  I just had the silly thing sitting around in my shop, I don't even use it for bottling beer.  

[VaSteve]

I have Koni's and a set of spring compressors I used for the car.   I was told Koni's are replacements for the stock shocks and are pretty good, so it's worth it to me to repaint the springs if I can take it apart.  

[nhmaf]

Konis   (unfortunately out of business now, but a "new" company called "Ikon" makes the
same design now) are indeed rebuildable and are generally good parts/worth refurbishing
if you can swing it.

http://suraklyn.com/yabb/Smilies/thumbsup.gif
http://suraklyn.com/yabb/Smilies/thumbsup.gif

[VaSteve]

Koni's not out of business!!  I just bought a set of Koni's for my car...  maybe they don't make bike shocks any longer?


BTW:  What do you all use to measure the amount of oil to put in?   I have a little dropper for baby medicine, but at 10ml at shot, it's going to take a while.   Unfortunately, I need another quart of this stuff, between the spillage and overfill, I'm a couple OZ short.  

[nhmaf]

A number of us in the "rural" parts of the country just go down to the local farm supply store
and you can often find syringes for dosing livestock that will measure 50cc or 60cc at a shot.
Or, I bought some clear plastic measuring cups and squeeze bulbs from a kitchen supply store
and keep them in the garage marked "OIL" so that no one tries to use them in our kitchen.

[Justin B.]

As pointed out by several earlier in this thread - 60cc syringe from feed store/Tractor Supply...  1ml = 1cc

[VaSteve]

As pointed out by several earlier in this thread - 60cc syringe from feed store/Tractor Supply...  1ml = 1cc

Yeah...forgot to go back and re-read.  

[Justin B.]

Hehe, SMACK!  You can get graduated beakers and cylinders but I think the best bang for the buck (and minimum mess) is the syringe...

[VaSteve]

Syringe was good.  I looked like a fish out of water in the Tractor Supply store.

I think the seals died.   When I pumped the shocks the dispel all the oil I go some small black chunks.  I don't think they died from what I did...I didn't pump the shocks the first time...so maybe that stuff just didn't drain with the oil.    It's dark so I haven't ridden it, what does it feel like if they seals are gone.

Oh, I and I learned that if you're going to do that...pump the shocks while sitting on it....make sure the top cap is in.    Don't ask me what happens.  It's bad.    I'm going to go shower now.  

[Bob_Roller]

I don't think that what you saw were pieces of the seal, more likely globs of grunge that develop when the oil isn't changed on a regular basis. If it looked that bad, you may want to replace the oil again in  500-1000 miles or so.

[Justin B.]

Steve, don't forget to put your filler plugs in before any aggressive pumping!  [smiley=evil.gif]  I don't think you will actually "feel" anything if the seals got blown, they just won't seal anymore and you'll have fork oil splattered/sprayed everywhere after a ride.