Fork oil capacity... Half a liter???

[groundshock]

Filling one of the forks now with new oil.

Filled, filled and filled until the oil was 5.5 inches from the top of the tube. All is well, and it took around a half a liter to fill it to where it was.

Forks assembled, no springs, perfectly vertical, tubes all the way compressed, and took 500ish ml to get it to the 5.5" level...

Put everything together and put the spacers and cap on, and squished it down with my bodyweight and it feels good, but I'm worried there's too much oil?

Ease my fears please, so I can go outside and finish the other side.

[Nessism]

Sounds about right. Did you look in the service manual for recommended oil height?

[groundshock]

Clymer manual gives no quantity, only type.

Went with 15W Maxima, dead on at 5.5 inches from the top of the tube.

If you say it's ok Nessism, I'm ok with it too.

[Nessism]

Well...service manual for the 850L calls for 350 ml of oil, not 500 ml. Forks were fully compressed right?

[posplayr]

I was about to ask

Forks were fully compressed right?

Posplayr

[groundshock]

Yup, fully compressed. Looks like I have maybe 10-15% of a liter jug left over after doing them.

Tied a hose clamp 5.5 inches up the hose on my suction gun, overfilled then sucked to level.

They seem ok, just making sure it sounds good to you pros.

[renobruce]

Yup, fully compressed. Looks like I have maybe 10-15% of a liter jug left over after doing them.

Tied a hose clamp 5.5 inches up the hose on my suction gun, overfilled then sucked to level.

They seem ok, just making sure it sounds good to you pros.

Sounds like too much to me. The 78 GS1000 uses 240ml per fork, and they are 2mm bigger in diameter.

[Steve]

Yeah, they might be 2 mm wider, but how much longer are the L forks?

.

[chef1366]

Worst you can do is blow out the seals.

[renobruce]

Yeah, they might be 2 mm wider, but how much longer are the L forks?

.

True......

[twr1776]

I went with the 5.5" (140 MM) level and 15W fork oil on both my 1000 & 1100 L forks and have had no problems. I had a little fork oil left over as well. The OEM springs I think are thinner than the new ones and that is why Progressive uses the fluid level method instead of the liquid amount.

[bwringer]

I went with the 5.5" (140 MM) level and 15W fork oil on both my 1000 & 1100 L forks and have had no problems. I had a little fork oil left over as well. The OEM springs I think are thinner than the new ones and that is why Progressive uses the fluid level method instead of the liquid amount.

Bingo.

The quantity of oil is pretty much irrelevant. Set the level as you did and you'll be fine. It's very important to get both sides exactly the same.

If the manual doesn't have a specification for oil level, it's safe to use 140mm from the top with the forks compressed all the way and the springs out.

When you dump in the oil, make sure you pump the forks up and down a few times to get all the air out.

[salty_monk]

Having a higher or lower oil level can also be used to tune the fork a little too. Not sure how much affect it would have on the Suzuki's but the air above the oil is compressed too like a secondary spring so a higher oil level acts to stiffen the fork, lower to soften it.

Dan

[groundshock]

Bingo.

The quantity of oil is pretty much irrelevant. Set the level as you did and you'll be fine. It's very important to get both sides exactly the same.

If the manual doesn't have a specification for oil level, it's safe to use 140mm from the top with the forks compressed all the way and the springs out.

When you dump in the oil, make sure you pump the forks up and down a few times to get all the air out.

bwringer, I've read several of your posts on the subject, and used your input to make my adjustments.

After a good 12 mile ride today, no leaks, and I am so impressed by the handling it's unreal.