About to perform a fork oil change (not Dt125)
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Not sure if I should put this thread here or on off topic.
Anyway I'm about to change the fork oil on my CB600F and had a look in the manual. I have no clue what I'm looking at. I want to know how much oil I'll have to add once drained. Here's the picture from the manual.
I have one of those fancy fork oil tools when you have a ring attached to a tube and a syringe.
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@Irongamer727 Does the manual have a quantities section? It's normally after the torque settings or in the frequent maintenance section's.
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@NINJA yeah that's what the photo shows?
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It says fluid level 102 (4.0) and I have no clue what it means
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@Irongamer727 I'm guessing that's 102ml or 4oz???
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@NINJA isn't that extremely little?
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@Irongamer727 Well maybe, looking at it again it might be 102mm or 4 inches? Are there any markings on the forks, either internally or externally? Or maybe it's from the top of the stanchion? My suggestion would be too measure down to the old fluid in millimeters before you tip it out AND tip it into a measuring jug when you go to empty the old oil out, so you have a record of what's in there now. And those two tests will give you an indication of what's required for refilling.
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@NINJA Found simular information on a forum. How do I need to hold the fork? Put it in a vice with it just sitting?
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@Irongamer727 Subscribe to MC Garage, he has endless vids with tips and tricks!!!
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@Irongamer727 said in About to perform a fork oil change (not Dt125):
@NINJA Found simular information on a forum. How do I need to hold the fork? Put it in a vice with it just sitting?
Yup, soft jaws or a rag and just sit in in the vice and crack the nut and let the old stuff pour out.
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Its easier to uninstall the cap when the forks are still mounted. Make sure to loosen the pinchbolts in the upper tripleclamb first.
And yes, the 102 sounds like 102mm from the top of the compressed fork (without spring installed) to the oil.
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Easiest way is to pour the oil into a measuring jug and see how much came out.
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@Calum though you never know if someone else has filled the wrong amount of oil previously.
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@Irongamer727 Be alreet. I'm assuming you've been riding the bike and it's not been a problem
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@Calum yeah I guess. Probably going ride the bike pretty hard with stupid wheelies during the summer. Do you want just slightly more oil then? Or just the specified level?
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@Irongamer727 I would stick with the specified amount, if you want the forks to be a bit stiffer, then just use thicker oil like 15-20 grade.
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@NINJA Did we discuss this on another thread??? And thicker oil doesn't affect stiffness. I distinctly remember @Jens-Eskildsen Saying something. Or someone like that.
I think, if you want stiffer suspension, then you need to change the springs.
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@Calum Probably we go around in circles a lot on this forum!!!
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@NINJA I can't remember.
Genuinely, as bad as this might sound, sometimes I actually struggle to recognise dreams from real life.
I've sat there at times thinking of something as if it actually happened. Only to remember it was a dream. Mental mate.
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@Calum You gotta stay off them drugs dude, I keep telling ya that there no good for ya!!!
But back on topic; I believe that the thicker oil slows the compression down, as it is harder to compress through the valves? Which in turn makes the forks slightly stiffer? But I may be wrong? And you are correct - Ultimately stiffer or progressive springs are the sure way to stiffen or upgrade their damping qualities.
