Changing the fork oil!
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Tourer
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 438
Likes: 1
From: Euless, TX
Changing the fork oil!
The manual makes this sound like huge production needing special tools and euipment like a vacuum pump. Is there a simpler way or is this one area that is best done by a mechanic and if so about what is normal costs to have it done?
Road Master
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,004
Likes: 2
From: somewhere
RE: Changing the fork oil!
saw this thread
https://www.hdforums.com/m_1910227/tm.htm
I have an '01 so i just drain and refill. The cartridge types might require the pump method.
https://www.hdforums.com/m_1910227/tm.htm
I have an '01 so i just drain and refill. The cartridge types might require the pump method.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 10,033
Likes: 29
RE: Changing the fork oil!
On an '01 with air in the front forks, it is neither a pain or requires a lot of expensive special tools. You can do it in about 15 minutes with a shop vac and about 3 bucks worth of other stuff.
1.) Drain oil from both sides. Put plug back in one leg.
2.) Take valve out of air fitting on rear of bike and put a 1-2ft length piece of 1/4 inch rubber hose on fitting.
3.) Get a metric bolt the size of the drain plug, cut head off, drill out body. Screw your newly made adapter in fork leg. Put a piece of rubber hose on it.
4.) Measure out correct amount of fork oil and put in glass. Put other end of hose from step #3 in glass.
5.) Get shop vac and stick loose end of hose from step #2 in vac hose and seal with wet rag. Turn on vac. Like magic, the oil gets sucked into leg. When the oil is all the way in, unscrew homemade adapter and replace drain plug.
Repeat for other leg.
1.) Drain oil from both sides. Put plug back in one leg.
2.) Take valve out of air fitting on rear of bike and put a 1-2ft length piece of 1/4 inch rubber hose on fitting.
3.) Get a metric bolt the size of the drain plug, cut head off, drill out body. Screw your newly made adapter in fork leg. Put a piece of rubber hose on it.
4.) Measure out correct amount of fork oil and put in glass. Put other end of hose from step #3 in glass.
5.) Get shop vac and stick loose end of hose from step #2 in vac hose and seal with wet rag. Turn on vac. Like magic, the oil gets sucked into leg. When the oil is all the way in, unscrew homemade adapter and replace drain plug.
Repeat for other leg.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 9,335
Likes: 13
From: MA
RE: Changing the fork oil!
What would the procedure for an '06 RK be? 
ORIGINAL: xxxflhrci
On an '01 with air in the front forks, it is neither a pain or requires a lot of expensive special tools. You can do it in about 15 minutes with a shop vac and about 3 bucks worth of other stuff.
1.) Drain oil from both sides. Put plug back in one leg.
2.) Take valve out of air fitting on rear of bike and put a 1-2ft length piece of 1/4 inch rubber hose on fitting.
3.) Get a metric bolt the size of the drain plug, cut head off, drill out body. Screw your newly made adapter in fork leg. Put a piece of rubber hose on it.
4.) Measure out correct amount of fork oil and put in glass. Put other end of hose from step #3 in glass.
5.) Get shop vac and stick loose end of hose from step #2 in vac hose and seal with wet rag. Turn on vac. Like magic, the oil gets sucked into leg. When the oil is all the way in, unscrew homemade adapter and replace drain plug.
Repeat for other leg.
On an '01 with air in the front forks, it is neither a pain or requires a lot of expensive special tools. You can do it in about 15 minutes with a shop vac and about 3 bucks worth of other stuff.
1.) Drain oil from both sides. Put plug back in one leg.
2.) Take valve out of air fitting on rear of bike and put a 1-2ft length piece of 1/4 inch rubber hose on fitting.
3.) Get a metric bolt the size of the drain plug, cut head off, drill out body. Screw your newly made adapter in fork leg. Put a piece of rubber hose on it.
4.) Measure out correct amount of fork oil and put in glass. Put other end of hose from step #3 in glass.
5.) Get shop vac and stick loose end of hose from step #2 in vac hose and seal with wet rag. Turn on vac. Like magic, the oil gets sucked into leg. When the oil is all the way in, unscrew homemade adapter and replace drain plug.
Repeat for other leg.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 10,033
Likes: 29
RE: Changing the fork oil!
ORIGINAL: petemac
What would the procedure for an '06 RK be?
What would the procedure for an '06 RK be?
ORIGINAL: xxxflhrci
On an '01 with air in the front forks, it is neither a pain or requires a lot of expensive special tools. You can do it in about 15 minutes with a shop vac and about 3 bucks worth of other stuff.
1.) Drain oil from both sides. Put plug back in one leg.
2.) Take valve out of air fitting on rear of bike and put a 1-2ft length piece of 1/4 inch rubber hose on fitting.
3.) Get a metric bolt the size of the drain plug, cut head off, drill out body. Screw your newly made adapter in fork leg. Put a piece of rubber hose on it.
4.) Measure out correct amount of fork oil and put in glass. Put other end of hose from step #3 in glass.
5.) Get shop vac and stick loose end of hose from step #2 in vac hose and seal with wet rag. Turn on vac. Like magic, the oil gets sucked into leg. When the oil is all the way in, unscrew homemade adapter and replace drain plug.
Repeat for other leg.
On an '01 with air in the front forks, it is neither a pain or requires a lot of expensive special tools. You can do it in about 15 minutes with a shop vac and about 3 bucks worth of other stuff.
1.) Drain oil from both sides. Put plug back in one leg.
2.) Take valve out of air fitting on rear of bike and put a 1-2ft length piece of 1/4 inch rubber hose on fitting.
3.) Get a metric bolt the size of the drain plug, cut head off, drill out body. Screw your newly made adapter in fork leg. Put a piece of rubber hose on it.
4.) Measure out correct amount of fork oil and put in glass. Put other end of hose from step #3 in glass.
5.) Get shop vac and stick loose end of hose from step #2 in vac hose and seal with wet rag. Turn on vac. Like magic, the oil gets sucked into leg. When the oil is all the way in, unscrew homemade adapter and replace drain plug.
Repeat for other leg.
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Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 9,335
Likes: 13
From: MA
RE: Changing the fork oil!
Thanks, doesn't sound as tough as I thought it would.
ORIGINAL: xxxflhrci
Well, it won't have a cartridge left leg like the some of the bikes, so that makes it easier. However, it won't have the air like the earlier bikes to make it the easiest. Basically, you just drain the legs, take off the nacelle to get to the fork caps and then take them out so you can pour the oil in. Do it with the bike on a lift so that you take the spring pressure off of the fork cap.
ORIGINAL: petemac
What would the procedure for an '06 RK be?
What would the procedure for an '06 RK be?
ORIGINAL: xxxflhrci
On an '01 with air in the front forks, it is neither a pain or requires a lot of expensive special tools. You can do it in about 15 minutes with a shop vac and about 3 bucks worth of other stuff.
1.) Drain oil from both sides. Put plug back in one leg.
2.) Take valve out of air fitting on rear of bike and put a 1-2ft length piece of 1/4 inch rubber hose on fitting.
3.) Get a metric bolt the size of the drain plug, cut head off, drill out body. Screw your newly made adapter in fork leg. Put a piece of rubber hose on it.
4.) Measure out correct amount of fork oil and put in glass. Put other end of hose from step #3 in glass.
5.) Get shop vac and stick loose end of hose from step #2 in vac hose and seal with wet rag. Turn on vac. Like magic, the oil gets sucked into leg. When the oil is all the way in, unscrew homemade adapter and replace drain plug.
Repeat for other leg.
On an '01 with air in the front forks, it is neither a pain or requires a lot of expensive special tools. You can do it in about 15 minutes with a shop vac and about 3 bucks worth of other stuff.
1.) Drain oil from both sides. Put plug back in one leg.
2.) Take valve out of air fitting on rear of bike and put a 1-2ft length piece of 1/4 inch rubber hose on fitting.
3.) Get a metric bolt the size of the drain plug, cut head off, drill out body. Screw your newly made adapter in fork leg. Put a piece of rubber hose on it.
4.) Measure out correct amount of fork oil and put in glass. Put other end of hose from step #3 in glass.
5.) Get shop vac and stick loose end of hose from step #2 in vac hose and seal with wet rag. Turn on vac. Like magic, the oil gets sucked into leg. When the oil is all the way in, unscrew homemade adapter and replace drain plug.
Repeat for other leg.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 28,524
Likes: 3,953
From: Vermont
RE: Changing the fork oil!
ORIGINAL: petemac
Thanks, doesn't sound as tough as I thought it would.
Thanks, doesn't sound as tough as I thought it would.
ORIGINAL: xxxflhrci
Well, it won't have a cartridge left leg like the some of the bikes, so that makes it easier. However, it won't have the air like the earlier bikes to make it the easiest. Basically, you just drain the legs, take off the nacelle to get to the fork caps and then take them out so you can pour the oil in. Do it with the bike on a lift so that you take the spring pressure off of the fork cap.
ORIGINAL: petemac
What would the procedure for an '06 RK be?
What would the procedure for an '06 RK be?
ORIGINAL: xxxflhrci
On an '01 with air in the front forks, it is neither a pain or requires a lot of expensive special tools. You can do it in about 15 minutes with a shop vac and about 3 bucks worth of other stuff.
1.) Drain oil from both sides. Put plug back in one leg.
2.) Take valve out of air fitting on rear of bike and put a 1-2ft length piece of 1/4 inch rubber hose on fitting.
3.) Get a metric bolt the size of the drain plug, cut head off, drill out body. Screw your newly made adapter in fork leg. Put a piece of rubber hose on it.
4.) Measure out correct amount of fork oil and put in glass. Put other end of hose from step #3 in glass.
5.) Get shop vac and stick loose end of hose from step #2 in vac hose and seal with wet rag. Turn on vac. Like magic, the oil gets sucked into leg. When the oil is all the way in, unscrew homemade adapter and replace drain plug.
Repeat for other leg.
On an '01 with air in the front forks, it is neither a pain or requires a lot of expensive special tools. You can do it in about 15 minutes with a shop vac and about 3 bucks worth of other stuff.
1.) Drain oil from both sides. Put plug back in one leg.
2.) Take valve out of air fitting on rear of bike and put a 1-2ft length piece of 1/4 inch rubber hose on fitting.
3.) Get a metric bolt the size of the drain plug, cut head off, drill out body. Screw your newly made adapter in fork leg. Put a piece of rubber hose on it.
4.) Measure out correct amount of fork oil and put in glass. Put other end of hose from step #3 in glass.
5.) Get shop vac and stick loose end of hose from step #2 in vac hose and seal with wet rag. Turn on vac. Like magic, the oil gets sucked into leg. When the oil is all the way in, unscrew homemade adapter and replace drain plug.
Repeat for other leg.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 3,108
Likes: 9
From: Lincolnton, NC
RE: Changing the fork oil!
Basically, you just drain the legs, take off the nacelle to get to the fork caps and then take them out so you can pour the oil in. Do it with the bike on a lift so that you take the spring pressure off of the fork cap.