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Stick a fork in this Newbie

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    #16
    In regard to using ATF for fork oil, here's a clip from Progressive Suspension's website:


    Most motorcycle manufacturers recommend ATF (automatic transmission fluid) for fork oil. This has excellent lubricating and cleaning qualities but we do not recommend ATF oil for one main reason. When it is manufactured it has no viscosity specification other than it must fall between 5 wgt and 17 wgt. One time you buy ATF it might be 5 wgt and the next time it could be 17 wgt. We do not feel that this is acceptable for motorcycle forks. Therefore we recommend most major brands of motorcycle fork oil. As a general recommendation 10 wgt works well for most motorcycles.

    Thanks,
    Joe
    IBA# 24077
    '15 BMW R1200GS Adventure
    '07 Triumph Tiger 1050 ABS
    '08 Yamaha WR250R
    "Krusty's inner circle is a completely unorganized group of grumpy individuals uninterested in niceties like factual information. Our main purpose, in an unorganized fashion, is to do little more than engage in anecdotal stories and idle chit-chat while providing little or no actual useful information. And, of course, ride a lot and have tons of fun.....in a Krusty manner."

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      #17
      bwringer, I agree with your recommendations to a point; however, my original (79 850) forks have performed well. They got new seals in 93 when I revived the old girl, and again this year when the left one failed. Both times the seals were corroded, I believe as a result of living outside under the "moist" conditions of Vancouver, BC. I use Belray 20wt fork oil and 12 PSI of air, applied through a single Schraeder valve and connecting tube. Maybe I got lucky but these forks work well for me. That said, if they ever do give me a problem, Progressive is the way I'd go. Cheers!

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        #18
        After I thought about it I did do the oil without springs inside the tubes.
        1981 GS650G , all the bike you need
        1980 GS1000G Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely

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          #19
          One of my fork air caps doesn't hold pressure. Where should I look? Is there an O Ring under the cap? I have not checked the schrader valve yet, but I'll change it.

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            #20
            PAB brings up a good point. Many of us don't see Air pressure being as reliable as a good spring, seals, and oil.

            I found that I have the same setup on my bike and could be why my fork depresses a little to much when I brake. I don't want to try and resolve the issue with PSI. So anybody bypassed this and stuck to the spring and oil method?

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              #21
              PABlouin, the cap is o-ringed. Do the soapy water test (brush soapy water around the schraeder valve, cap thread area, and fork seal area) and you should see the leak. Don't overair the fork, 12-15 PSI max, or the fork seal could be damaged.

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