Fork oil fill
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Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2021
Posts: 37
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From: Lowcountry, SC
Fork oil fill
The shop manual isn't too detailed on filling the fork oil. Basically says drain the old oil, plug it, fill with 6.5oz into each tube.
Can someone give me their best route in doing this. Is it that slow of a process? Dropping a .25oz at a time and waiting for it to drain through the plug is gonna take a week. Am I supposed to remove the plugs? Thanks again all.
65 FLH, not adjustable forks
Can someone give me their best route in doing this. Is it that slow of a process? Dropping a .25oz at a time and waiting for it to drain through the plug is gonna take a week. Am I supposed to remove the plugs? Thanks again all.
65 FLH, not adjustable forks
Last edited by Rovens77; Oct 19, 2022 at 09:23 PM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 9,570
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From: Long Island, New York
The Factory Shop Manual has a detailed procedure with a remote oil can and hose that allows it to fill slowly, without you baby sitting it the entire time, give it a look.
If you are using Clymer manual, use it to start a fire.
If you are using Clymer manual, use it to start a fire.
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From: la la land jerzey
The top tube retainer has an umbrella in it to keep the oil from running down the tube - this is the reason they are like that plus its natural rubber so it spreads and swells < this does not help
what i have had to do - but i have lifts in the shop is 4 corner tie the bike down
then another set of tie downs on the bars pulled the bike down to collapse the tubes around 1/2 way - set up my funnel and then ratchet the bike back up the vacuum void pulls it in
another was a clean oil. Pump can and we made a cone end for a small rubber hose and pumped it in from the bottom then quickly insert the screw - i use 7 oz in the pump can and hope for the best - have let it drain back and did it over when the **** hits the fan so to speak
i also do no use fork oil and have not in 40 years in my shop - we only use SAE 30W lawn mower oil like you buy at Home Depot or lowes
the internet Webbee is full of stupid bullshit - but this has come up before and no one has said its not the right thing to do - the 30 weight works in the first addition hyd forks Harley and Indian for the 3 years they used them
what i have had to do - but i have lifts in the shop is 4 corner tie the bike down
then another set of tie downs on the bars pulled the bike down to collapse the tubes around 1/2 way - set up my funnel and then ratchet the bike back up the vacuum void pulls it in
another was a clean oil. Pump can and we made a cone end for a small rubber hose and pumped it in from the bottom then quickly insert the screw - i use 7 oz in the pump can and hope for the best - have let it drain back and did it over when the **** hits the fan so to speak
i also do no use fork oil and have not in 40 years in my shop - we only use SAE 30W lawn mower oil like you buy at Home Depot or lowes
the internet Webbee is full of stupid bullshit - but this has come up before and no one has said its not the right thing to do - the 30 weight works in the first addition hyd forks Harley and Indian for the 3 years they used them
Thread Starter
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Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2021
Posts: 37
Likes: 16
From: Lowcountry, SC
haha, no Clymer manual. I did see the build your own can filler instructions in there. Have you had any luck with any other methods?
Thread Starter
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Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2021
Posts: 37
Likes: 16
From: Lowcountry, SC
The top tube retainer has an umbrella in it to keep the oil from running down the tube - this is the reason they are like that plus its natural rubber so it spreads and swells < this does not help
what i have had to do - but i have lifts in the shop is 4 corner tie the bike down
then another set of tie downs on the bars pulled the bike down to collapse the tubes around 1/2 way - set up my funnel and then ratchet the bike back up the vacuum void pulls it in
another was a clean oil. Pump can and we made a cone end for a small rubber hose and pumped it in from the bottom then quickly insert the screw - i use 7 oz in the pump can and hope for the best - have let it drain back and did it over when the **** hits the fan so to speak
i also do no use fork oil and have not in 40 years in my shop - we only use SAE 30W lawn mower oil like you buy at Home Depot or lowes
the internet Webbee is full of stupid bullshit - but this has come up before and no one has said its not the right thing to do - the 30 weight works in the first addition hyd forks Harley and Indian for the 3 years they used them
what i have had to do - but i have lifts in the shop is 4 corner tie the bike down
then another set of tie downs on the bars pulled the bike down to collapse the tubes around 1/2 way - set up my funnel and then ratchet the bike back up the vacuum void pulls it in
another was a clean oil. Pump can and we made a cone end for a small rubber hose and pumped it in from the bottom then quickly insert the screw - i use 7 oz in the pump can and hope for the best - have let it drain back and did it over when the **** hits the fan so to speak
i also do no use fork oil and have not in 40 years in my shop - we only use SAE 30W lawn mower oil like you buy at Home Depot or lowes
the internet Webbee is full of stupid bullshit - but this has come up before and no one has said its not the right thing to do - the 30 weight works in the first addition hyd forks Harley and Indian for the 3 years they used them
Advanced
Joined: May 2021
Posts: 99
Likes: 40
From: NY
Steal the turkey baster out of the kitchen. It needs to be one with a removable rubber bulb and has measurement markings on the tube. Press fit a short length of plastic tubing on the end. At the end of the tubing, press on a piece of steel tubing. Go to the hardware store and buy a tapered rubber stopper that will press into the threaded top of the tube. Best if you buy one that you can sort of screw into the threads. Drill the stopper out so the steel tubing is a press fit into the stopper.Take the bulb off the tool, pour in 2 ounces of 30 weight, or ATF fluid, replace the bulb and squeeze. If you don't want the fluid to back up when you release the bulb, pull it off the tool before you let it go. Repeat process until you put in the required amount of fluid. Oh, make sure you put a screw in the side hole of the top tree before beginning.
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Joined: Apr 2010
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From: Long Island, New York
I did it once with the tubes and sliders off the bike. Put a small amount in the top via a funnel, than manually "pump" the tube into the slider so that it creates a vacuum and sucks the oil in the tube. Total PITA and took an hour, but it did work.
John's method sounds a little bit more scientific.
John's method sounds a little bit more scientific.
Last edited by Architect; Oct 20, 2022 at 10:22 AM.
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Thread Starter
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Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2021
Posts: 37
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From: Lowcountry, SC
Steal the turkey baster out of the kitchen. It needs to be one with a removable rubber bulb and has measurement markings on the tube. Press fit a short length of plastic tubing on the end. At the end of the tubing, press on a piece of steel tubing. Go to the hardware store and buy a tapered rubber stopper that will press into the threaded top of the tube. Best if you buy one that you can sort of screw into the threads. Drill the stopper out so the steel tubing is a press fit into the stopper.Take the bulb off the tool, pour in 2 ounces of 30 weight, or ATF fluid, replace the bulb and squeeze. If you don't want the fluid to back up when you release the bulb, pull it off the tool before you let it go. Repeat process until you put in the required amount of fluid. Oh, make sure you put a screw in the side hole of the top tree before beginning.
Thanks all again for the input and suggestions. Great to have yall as a resource. Still working on getting this bike on the road.
Last edited by Rovens77; Oct 20, 2022 at 02:30 PM.
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Advanced
Joined: May 2021
Posts: 99
Likes: 40
From: NY
Success!! Fashioned something resembling what you described above with what I had laying around. Took a rubber stopped off of a air compressor bit, shoved a three inch piece of metal tubing into it. Secured with a hose clamp. Cut a 8 inch piece of translucent tubing and connected that on one end to the metal tube in the stopper and the other end to a 60ml plastic syringe, secured with hose clamps. Worked perfect.
Thanks all again for the input and suggestions. Great to have yall as a resource. Still working on getting this bike on the road.
Thanks all again for the input and suggestions. Great to have yall as a resource. Still working on getting this bike on the road.
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