My Hydra Forks don't have drain plugs. ? So I thought what the heck...I'll add six ounces of Hydra-Fork Fluid.. Well it all came right out BDC of the fork through what appears to be the damper tube.

Can anyone explain why my forks don't have drain plugs? I am guessing that they are 55 - 62 era. Also why the fluid would come straight out through the bottom (I only tried the right slider as of yet).

I will thank you in advance. THANKS!

I believe all 49-E77 FL/FLH tubes had drain plugs on the bottom of the fork tubes. That being said either you have a set of aftermarket?
tubes or someone before you filled the holes. If the tubes are chromed you could only tell by removing chrome.

As far as fluid coming out of the bottotm...The damper tube valve has a threaded end that goes through the bottom of the tube and is secured by a lock nut. The threaded end is round but flattened slightly on two sides, sort of allowing it to lock in place as it goes through the tube and not free spin when tightening the lock nut. It this end is not squarely in place fork oil will leak out the bottom. Also, there are very thin paper washers that go on the end of the damper tube valve before it is inserted into the tube. If the washers are not there or are worn out fork oil may/can leak out through the bottom of the tubes. I always use two because one never seems to work.

The early 49s had no drain screws installed in forks.Take em off turn upside down or pul top caps off,springs,and section vac out.There are felt type seals at bottom of each leg that seep.Common problem.replace seals,even sealant appied may help.

Pittguy, suppose that is possible, tho I have never seen a set. Been riding pans and still own em since 1970. One is an early 49 EL (49EL 1XXX) with OEM forks. The front end has the one year only stamped fork sliders and these have drain plugs in them. One of the other things that made 49s unique was the stainless steel domed caps that went over the top upper fork bracket bolt. The bolt had a small rubber tube protruding out of a tit on the top that acted as a vent. Aftermarket ones today will be a solid piece dome shaped bolt made of all steel but definitely not OEM. Still think the best way to find out would be to strip chrome off....or if he can contact the previous owner, maybe that person can say if they are the real thing.

I may be wrong but I believe that the early glide didnt have vented caps,but by mid yr the vented came along with the grease fittings and domed cap of course and by the end of the run just the vented units.The 49s front ends have alot of oddities.even the front fender.Enjoy your machine and never sell it.

In the past when I would work on H or E-glide lower legs. I would remove the allen head drain plugs (to easy to round off) and replace with pipe thread brass plugs. They have square shouldered knobs on the ends and are easy to grip. For the paper gaskets used on the lower leg inner rods. I used lightly thinned, with denatured alcohol, aviation permatex. The "fork oil" I used was 30wt. non-detergent motor oil. Did it this way more then a few times and do not remember many leaks if any.

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