When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I know the service manual states the fork oil level should be measured with the springs out but unfortunately I do not have a spring compressor to disassemble/assemble the cartridge style in my 2016 Iron.
The manual says 151mm oil level for that fork. Obviously the oil level rises when the springs are installed. I set the oil level to 120mm to account for this but unfortunately did not get a measurement before the oil change so Im not sure how accurate this is.
Does anyone have a measurement on this? Also, how critical is this? I know oil level/viscosity can be used to tune but too far either way can lead to issues. I took the bike for a short ride last night and everything seems alright.
You can remove the whole cartridge without disassembling it. Make sure to pump it to account for the oil inside the cartridge when draining/filling and checking oil level.
You can remove the whole cartridge without disassembling it. Make sure to pump it to account for the oil inside the cartridge when draining/filling and checking oil level.
The problem is filling/checking the oil level with the cartridge assembled. The measurement in the service manual is with the spring removed so filling it to spec with cartridge assembled would leave you with an underfilled fork.
Ah sorry, thought you were just trying to empty it all and fill via volume. If you don't have the tool and want to do it accurately, I would just empty it fully and then fill via volume with an accurate amount of fluid. Then, when you have it in there you can mark the height with the spring in there for future use. It's not an exact science so you can tune it to how you like. More fluid will increase the air spring effect and increase bottoming harshness. Less fluid does the opposite, but too little can run the cartridge dry or leave you without enough progressive air spring so that you hit the oil lock way too hard.
So fork seals were blown on 2016 iron leaving me with an inaccurate amount of oil to replace and I dont have any specialty tools and have spent days searching for the oil amount for this fork with zero luck ! I find it ridiculous that no one has measured and posted the amount of oil they used for the cartridge side just to simplify things but I digress I am in need of this info a ball park amount please bikeis sitting in my shop in pieces and I am stuck
Last edited by themechanic1776; Jul 24, 2019 at 08:50 AM.
I installed the SE fully adjustable fork kit myself recently and that required a spring compressor also so I improvised one using ratcheting tie down straps and some shock wrenches. Looks like for this type you would need to fabricate some sort of simple collar for the top of the spring and attach the straps to that. Also needed a damper extension tool for the job, the bicycle rear axle (plus cone nut) in the photo had the correct 10mm x 1.0 thread for that.
Last edited by 08xl1200r; Jul 24, 2019 at 10:18 AM.
Did u happen to measure how many ounces your poured in ? I cant help but feel example someone uses 10 ounces worth the fluid in the cartridge side everyone else with same work can use same amount as a start point - so why the hell is this information not available ? If everything is supposed to require an exact measurement then it requires the same amount of liquid so I ask why is this amount of liquid not detailed anywhere ?
Nope, as I said it was a new cartridge fork kit installation. The filling process is done with the spring out for good reason, the cartridge needs to be pumped a few dozen times to be sure it is full before checking the level, that would not be possible with the spring compressed and installed...plus adding fork oil with everything assembled would be very slow and messy. It really is not all that difficult to get them apart with an improvised spring compressor...
So taking into consideration that my cartridge is primed and would already have fluid inside of it how would I take the measurement meaning do
i measure from the top lip of the fork tube ?
Man im almost about to just order some progressive springs especially if it will allow me to ditch this cartridge setup
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.
Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.
Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.
Fork Oil Level
