changing front fork oil

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Bonnie and Clyde
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Re: changing front fork oil

Post by Bonnie and Clyde »

I changed my fork oil and seals yesterday. I also added some neoprene fork guards to help keep the seals safer from crispy bugs. Turns out I had progressive springs and tranny fluid. I filled it with 10wt fork oil because I had it on the shelf. It looks like the filter mentioned in the manual is no longer in the forks. Im guessing it gets removed with the progressive springs. Anyway I did the job with help and did NOT remove the fairing. I also noticed I had some fluid in the air line when I removed the valve core. Now im pretty familiar with the fork set up, changing the oil in the future would be easy enough to do with just draining and filling forks in the bike.

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Re: changing front fork oil

Post by GrandpaDenny »

Correct, the filter is not used with Progressive springs.
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Re: changing front fork oil

Post by GrandpaDenny »

Oh, and let us know how your bike rides. I have 10wt in my front forks, and Progressive springs, and it seems too stiff.
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Re: changing front fork oil

Post by Nails »

GrandpaDenny wrote: Thu May 12, 2022 12:49 amI have 10wt in my front forks, and Progressive springs, and it seems too stiff.
10wt seems a tad stiff in my shocks, too. Even when fully packed.
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Re: changing front fork oil

Post by GrandpaDenny »

Nails wrote: Fri May 13, 2022 2:30 am
GrandpaDenny wrote: Thu May 12, 2022 12:49 amI have 10wt in my front forks, and Progressive springs, and it seems too stiff.
10wt seems a tad stiff in my shocks, too. Even when fully packed.
Interesting how Kaw specs 10w-20 (no longer available). Maybe the Dexron guys are on to something, or maybe can mix 5w and 10w to come up with 7.5w? I think Don in CA did that in a video, or maybe he mixed 10w & 20w to come up with 15w? I forget - I do remember seeing Don's video, but don't remember the details.

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Re: changing front fork oil

Post by HMB Don »

Denny,
That was on my rear shocks that I mixed 5w and 10w Amsoil fork oil. In the front forks I use 5w Amsoil. If you have progressive springs, you might have to adjust the amount oil volume in your fork legs. By lowering the oil volume in each fork leg you can soften the front end.
Don Medina
NorCal Voyagers Club


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Re: changing front fork oil

Post by GrandpaDenny »

Thanks Don. Interesting that you went heavier than spec on the rear shocks and lighter on the forks.
Dennis Fariello
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2000 Voyager XII "Gertrude" - deceased
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