Minor mishap and question WRT fork oil
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 4,919
Likes: 23
From: Seattle, WA
Minor mishap and question WRT fork oil
Tipped my bike over while working on it this afternoon ... put a dent on the fuel tank at the very aft tip (where it terminates and the saddle begins) ... tipped over and fell on a floor jack when I was trying to lower it ....
I was trying to add a preload to my forks by adding a 2" pipe nipple ... when I tipped it over, I lost a bunch of the fork oil ... and, since I didn't have access to any fork oil, I used Power Steering fluid (Royal Purple High Performance Power Steering Fluid) ... not sure what viscosity .... [Also, didn't get the spacers installed.]
Also, I think my 2002 Fat Boy forks take 11 fl oz of oil, but I probably added close to 13 - 14 on the right fork ... it was almost up to the top of the fork ... so, removed 'some' (couldn't really tell how much) ... I think I got the left fork pretty close to 11 oz ....
Well, got front end back together and it is pretty stiff ... which was what I was going for ... seems to work alright ... will post some more feedback in a day or so as soon as I get a chance to put some miles on ....
So, the question is ... does anyone else use anything other than "fork oil" and any reason why I shouldn't just leave it as is ... (other than if I judge the ride quality to suck) ...? Does anyone recommend anything other than fork oil for use in the forks ...?
R/
'Chop
I was trying to add a preload to my forks by adding a 2" pipe nipple ... when I tipped it over, I lost a bunch of the fork oil ... and, since I didn't have access to any fork oil, I used Power Steering fluid (Royal Purple High Performance Power Steering Fluid) ... not sure what viscosity .... [Also, didn't get the spacers installed.]
Also, I think my 2002 Fat Boy forks take 11 fl oz of oil, but I probably added close to 13 - 14 on the right fork ... it was almost up to the top of the fork ... so, removed 'some' (couldn't really tell how much) ... I think I got the left fork pretty close to 11 oz ....
Well, got front end back together and it is pretty stiff ... which was what I was going for ... seems to work alright ... will post some more feedback in a day or so as soon as I get a chance to put some miles on ....
So, the question is ... does anyone else use anything other than "fork oil" and any reason why I shouldn't just leave it as is ... (other than if I judge the ride quality to suck) ...? Does anyone recommend anything other than fork oil for use in the forks ...?
R/
'Chop
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 3,450
Likes: 4
From: El Cajon Ca.
Power steering fluid is just hydraulic oil. Most likely about 20wt like ATF. If the seals hold up and I think they will you will be fine. I think the Screaming Eagle fork oil is about 20wt.
Road Captain
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 560
Likes: 10
From: Livermore, CA
Power steering fluid won't hurt your seals or anything else in your forks and should work fine. I always thought that ATF and power steering fluid was between 5wt and 7wt. If you are satisfied with the ride leave it in, ATF has been used in dirt bike forks as a low cost replacement for years with no issues.
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