Factory fork oil different in each fork?
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Feb 2021
Posts: 155
Likes: 46
From: SE Michigan, USA
Oh gotcha. I have not. I bought it new from a H-D dealership about 2 hours from me. I'm not really concerned about getting it covered under warranty or anything like that. I just would like to know why it's different in each fork. If it is a problem (not just different oil), I would like to figure out why it happened to prevent it from happening again. I plan to thoroughly inspect the forks and reassemble with the Legend cartridges.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 2,951
Likes: 1,001
From: Winnipeg
Oh gotcha. I have not. I bought it new from a H-D dealership about 2 hours from me. I'm not really concerned about getting it covered under warranty or anything like that. I just would like to know why it's different in each fork. If it is a problem (not just different oil), I would like to figure out why it happened to prevent it from happening again. I plan to thoroughly inspect the forks and reassemble with the Legend cartridges.
Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 1,703
Likes: 909
From: SE Michigan
Gotta tell you, this one peaks the Weird Sh** O Meter for the day.
I was under the same impression internals were different in one leg than another, as they were in my 05…but, they stopped that a while ago I believe.
Weird… For sure.
I was under the same impression internals were different in one leg than another, as they were in my 05…but, they stopped that a while ago I believe.
Weird… For sure.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 38,606
Likes: 6,439
From: Honah Lee
Harley's Hydraulic Fork Oil Type E is died red.
It appears identical, viscosity, color and smell to OEM Honda's rear hydraulic pump rear differential on their 4X4 small SUVs.
Maybe Harley spec it like you see for what two of their heavy viscosity oils would do being too hard a ride and two lighter ones, too soft.
The two shocks are tied together top and bottom. One would not know what other was doing since they work as a pair.
ZBoT, you sure don't give things long to wear out.
It appears identical, viscosity, color and smell to OEM Honda's rear hydraulic pump rear differential on their 4X4 small SUVs.
Maybe Harley spec it like you see for what two of their heavy viscosity oils would do being too hard a ride and two lighter ones, too soft.
The two shocks are tied together top and bottom. One would not know what other was doing since they work as a pair.
ZBoT, you sure don't give things long to wear out.
Last edited by Jackie Paper; Sep 21, 2021 at 02:58 PM.
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Feb 2021
Posts: 155
Likes: 46
From: SE Michigan, USA
Harley's Hydraulic Fork Oil Type E is died red.
It appears identical, viscosity, color and smell to OEM Honda's rear hydraulic pump rear differential on their 4X4 small SUVs.
Maybe Harley spec it like you see for what two of their heavy viscosity oils would do being too hard a ride and two lighter ones, too soft.
The two shocks are tied together top and bottom. One would not know what other was doing since they work as a pair.
ZBoT, you sure don't give things long to wear out.
It appears identical, viscosity, color and smell to OEM Honda's rear hydraulic pump rear differential on their 4X4 small SUVs.
Maybe Harley spec it like you see for what two of their heavy viscosity oils would do being too hard a ride and two lighter ones, too soft.
The two shocks are tied together top and bottom. One would not know what other was doing since they work as a pair.
ZBoT, you sure don't give things long to wear out.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 38,606
Likes: 6,439
From: Honah Lee
That is possible. Wondering why they wouldn't list the two different fork oils in the service manual though. Service manual is only calling for 'TYPE "E" HYDRAULIC FORK OIL (62600026)' in both forks. So based on the service manual both forks should have had red oil in them.
Maybe they changed the formula for the dye. What's in DOT 5 brake fluid for purple turns like that in a year.
Or your bike had a unique build sheet that the owner and your service manual did not address.
I'm just guessing however. Call the mothership. Get someone there to let you email your picture so they can get it to the right source for an answer.
Your not going to get an answer that's worth anything from someone who normally answers a phone.
An don't tell them anything you're doing other then maintenance..
Last edited by Jackie Paper; Sep 22, 2021 at 05:58 AM.
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Feb 2021
Posts: 155
Likes: 46
From: SE Michigan, USA
My thoughts is the fluid supplier probably supplies it in bulk drums and the new one lacked the dye additive.
Maybe they changed the formula for the dye. What's in DOT 5 brake fluid for purple turns like that in a year.
Or your bike had a unique build sheet that the owner and your service manual did not address.
I'm just guessing however. Call the mothership. Get someone there to let you email your picture so they can get it to the right source for an answer.
Your not going to get an answer that's worth anything from someone who normally answers a phone.
An don't tell them anything you're doing other then maintenance..
Maybe they changed the formula for the dye. What's in DOT 5 brake fluid for purple turns like that in a year.
Or your bike had a unique build sheet that the owner and your service manual did not address.
I'm just guessing however. Call the mothership. Get someone there to let you email your picture so they can get it to the right source for an answer.
Your not going to get an answer that's worth anything from someone who normally answers a phone.
An don't tell them anything you're doing other then maintenance..
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 11,476
Likes: 3,003
From: Charleston, SC
Mine was the same way and color (a 2017), but it could have been because the Teflon on the bushings were worn almost completely through.
No idea why, and only on that one leg. After a fluid and bushing change, all was good the next time I opened it up two years later. Weird.
No idea why, and only on that one leg. After a fluid and bushing change, all was good the next time I opened it up two years later. Weird.
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Feb 2021
Posts: 155
Likes: 46
From: SE Michigan, USA
Thanks for the reply! Just curious, how many miles did you have on it when you did the first change (and noticed the different colored oils)? Mine had 6k and the bushings were all like new with all the Teflon still in place. Seals looked good too.