I have a 2007 FXDC, where the fork oil drain plug is on the bottom of fork but you need to remove the wheel to get at it. Not like the previous version that is exposed.

I dont have a bike lift, so is there any other good/easy way to drain the oil? I thought I read somewhere on a thread on how to but can find it using the search function.

Thanks,
Don

 

To drain the oil, you have to remove the axle which means removing the wheel. There is a 12mm allen inside the fork lower. NAPA sells the perfect tool to get that allen bolt out:

http://www.napaonline.com/Catalog/Ca...312_0331541240

If I remember, you need a 1/2" drive ratchet for that tool.

Check the online parts microfiche for an exploded view of your forks.

http://partsfinder.onlinemicrofiche....m_oem/hdmc.asp

Oh, and you will need a way to at least lift the front end of the bike off the ground, such as a car jack. You can't do this maintenance without lifting the front wheel off the group just a bit.

 

actually, you drain the forks thru the fork caps on top of the tubes, which means removing the forks and inverting them...

 

I have the service manual and its not too specific on how to drain the fork oil, but remember from other posts that its the little allen screw on the bottomside of the fork and you would need to take off the wheel. I didnt see anything on having to take off the entire fork.

I had thought someone had come up with an idea to somehow siphon the oil out without having to take the wheel off. Guess I can try to lift the front end with the car scissor jack as I am in the Philippines and shipping over a bike lift is expensive.

 

I looked at the exploded view of the front fork and only saw a drain plug and packing on one of the fork sliders. The parts list also only indicates one bolt and packing seal. It seems kind of odd that they have a drain plug for one slider and not the other. What am I missing? Planning on changing my fork oil this winter so this is a great place to start. I do have the manual and will check it out there but sometimes you guys have come up with some shortcuts or better explanations than the manual provides.

 

That is the only way to get all of the oil out. You need to slide the tube in and out a few times to pump all the oil out, much easier if you take the forks off the bike.

 

I used A 12V Marine oil dip stick pump I bought of Ebay that worked for me.
I loosened and removed the handle bar and left the cables connected and laid it back on an old blanket out of the way.
I removed the top caps after loosening the top triple clamp bolts.
Had the front end raised and kept the tubes on assembled. Kept the front tire on too. Time saver for sure.
Using mechanics wire pulled the stock springs and spacer out.
Pumped a bunch of times when it was done sucking it out to get as much as I could out.(easier than I thought to pump)

I added small amount of new oil and pumped keeping track of the amount in each to get the air out not completely filling yet then added the new Ricor Intiminators and the springs and completed adding to the correct height ,
(With air out of system and front tubes compressed springs and bushing installed adding to 4 inches from the top of the tube in each )
I used a couple ounces less each tube because I added the Ricors and the triple springs that take more area.
The bike only had 500 miles when I did it so I wasn't worried about checking the seals.
That is the only draw back to doing this way.

Cover the bike best you can to protect from oil and flying objects when the caps come off.
I also purchased the proper socket tool to hold the caps without marring them and it was easy to reassemble.
I used a marker at the start of the thread and knew when pressing down where to start.
Retighten your triple clamp screws to spec.
I used new o rings on the caps.
A couple hours and a couple beers later and all done.
I had first used too much fork oil and it was locking up so removed the caps and used the brake bleeder to suck some out to the 4 inches from the top
( with the front end compressed and springs installed). I used a block of wood to hold it up compressed.
I had put in 26 ozs but only needed 23 ozs with the extra parts I put in.
The height was more important than how much for me and my assembly.

 

You may wish to do this.




How to R&R Your FL (any HD Convential) Front End

Illustrated HD Forks

Make a fork level gauge like a real suspension shop uses found here on the video LINK

Cleaning your forks 1

 

Great how-to videos Howard