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[Fired00d]

d00d,

You might wind up doing that anyway, depending on how it goes.

True!!!

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

[Hoist!]

Yes, this past weekend. When extended, the pressure is nil.

Chief

Thanks Chief. Might as well give it a shot then. Worst case, I'm changing my fork oil this weekend! Hoist!

[Fired00d]

Thanks Chief. Might as well give it a shot then. Worst case, I'm changing my fork oil this weekend! Hoist!

Don't forget the camera.

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

[djkak]

Hey dj, I'm a little slow. It sounds like your saying not to do this. How about one of your astute technical dumps on this?

Hey Jim, would you mind trying it first and have someone there with the camera for us?

Hoist!

I have your technical dump right over here, Hoist! Since the fork is not vented, there is really no way to know what kind of pressure differential will exist when you remove the drain screw. It is my sense that there is a better than fair chance that you will end up refilling the forks; I understand that it’s a substantial pain on the new Touring machines; the springs come out of the fork tubes, which are run down into the sliders and the fluid level is measured from the top of the tube.

If you are committed to doing this, perhaps one way to prevent fluid loss would be to go ahead and remove the nacelle; pull the fork caps and apply vacuum at the top to prevent fluid loss from the drain plug when removed. I believe that the plug retaining the fork spring still has a hole that will allow this.

If you don’t have a vacuum pump, you might try slowly compressing the fork with the fork cap removed, then install the cap and extend the fork to create a little negative pressure in the fork.

If I had actually done this, I could tell you with more confidence which method would work best. It is entirely possible that even with some pressure in the fork, the fluid will not “run” out of this new fork assembly like it would on the earlier machines. The late model forks require you to pump the slider to evacuate the fluid. If the fluid just dribbles out when the plugs are removed, Chief’s method should work OK; either way, have someone ready with a camera!

djkak

[Hoist!]

I have your technical dump right over here, Hoist! Since the fork is not vented, there is really no way to know what kind of pressure differential will exist when you remove the drain screw. It is my sense that there is a better than fair chance that you will end up refilling the forks; I understand that it’s a substantial pain on the new Touring machines; the springs come out of the fork tubes, which are run down into the sliders and the fluid level is measured from the top of the tube.

If you are committed to doing this, perhaps one way to prevent fluid loss would be to go ahead and remove the nacelle; pull the fork caps and apply vacuum at the top to prevent fluid loss from the drain plug when removed. I believe that the plug retaining the fork spring still has a hole that will allow this.

If you don’t have a vacuum pump, you might try slowly compressing the fork with the fork cap removed, then install the cap and extend the fork to create a little negative pressure in the fork.

If I had actually done this, I could tell you with more confidence which method would work best. It is entirely possible that even with some pressure in the fork, the fluid will not “run” out of this new fork assembly like it would on the earlier machines. The late model forks require you to pump the slider to evacuate the fluid. If the fluid just dribbles out when the plugs are removed, Chief’s method should work OK; either way, have someone ready with a camera!

djkak

Thanks for the TD, dj! I'm hoping that Chief's rationale about extending the fork and creating the maximum volume, yields lower fluid pressure. I don't have a vacuum pump, and wouldn't bother with it. If I needed to do that, I'd just change the oil outright.And a dancing Elf is one thing, but you don't really think I'm posting a pic of myself with my face full of fork oil, do you? Hoist!

[Fired00d]

..... And a dancing Elf is one thing, but you don't really think I'm posting a pic of myself with my face full of fork oil, do you? Hoist!

Awww, come on Howie we are all family here. We wouldn't be laughing at you , we would be laughing with you.

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

[Hoist!]

Awww, come on Howie we are all family here. We wouldn't be laughing at you , we would be laughing with you.

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

Thanks d00d, but that means someone standing there while I'm working on it, probably my wife, who would be laughing at me, not with me, when it happens! I know her and I'll have a hard time living that one down! Hoist!

[Midnight Rider]

Pressure inside the fork if fully extended would only be affected by the volume of air trapped in the fork when originally sealed up, if nothing is leaking....soooooo, ride the scoot to Death Valley, extend the forks, remove the drain plug, and no oil should come out, as the outside atmospheric pressure will be greater than it was wherever the fork was originally assembled, because of the altitude delta P...

[Hoist!]

Pressure inside the fork if fully extended would only be affected by the volume of air trapped in the fork when originally sealed up, if nothing is leaking....soooooo, ride the scoot to Death Valley, extend the forks, remove the drain plug, and no oil should come out, as the outside atmospheric pressure will be greater than it was wherever the fork was originally assembled, because of the altitude delta P...

Thanks Terry, makes sense. Gotta love those Delta P's! Are those P's from Louisiana? Front forks are voodoo science to most of us. Changing parts is one thing, but fully understanding the operation and hydraulics involved, is another. That's something I've always left to others. Hoist!

[Midnight Rider]

Thanks Terry, makes sense. Gotta love those Delta P's! Are those P's from Louisiana? Front forks are voodoo science to most of us. Changing parts is one thing, but fully understanding the operation and hydraulics involved, is another. That's something I've always left to others. Hoist!

The best P's are always from the South, Hoist...

[djkak]

If I needed to do that, I'd just change the oil outright.And a dancing Elf is one thing, but you don't really think I'm posting a pic of myself with my face full of fork oil, do you? Hoist!

Why does this feel like bait?? Hoist, you aren’t thinking that I’m going to say that you would look good all oiled up; are you??  Ok, look, you hold the camera and have your wife remove the drain screws….I didn’t say that…who said that?? dOOd, cut it out!!

Oiled up or not, filling the front fork on your machine “by the book” is a fairly substantial pain in the caboose. Check your service manual before you make the commitment to do this.

Now this may sound silly, but wouldn’t a little “okichrome” (aluminum paint or equivalent) work on those two little invisible nubs at the bottom of your sliders for the first….you know what, that does sound silly; forget it.

djkak

[Hoist!]

Why does this feel like bait?? Hoist, you aren’t thinking that I’m going to say that you would look good all oiled up; are you??  Ok, look, you hold the camera and have your wife remove the drain screws….I didn’t say that…who said that?? dOOd, cut it out!!

Oiled up or not, filling the front fork on your machine “by the book” is a fairly substantial pain in the caboose. Check your service manual before you make the commitment to do this.

Now this may sound silly, but wouldn’t a little “okichrome” (aluminum paint or equivalent) work on those two little invisible nubs at the bottom of your sliders for the first….you know what, that does sound silly; forget it.

djkak

Well since I spent the $4 on the screws, I figured I should use them before I lose them. Since CRS kicked in, that's a real possibility! Like I said, since the job's a PIA, I've always had that done in my friends shop. I think I'll do the same with this. When I bring it in to him at 500 mi for service, I'll probably get that crappy stock oil out of there and put in the 15W PJ1 and chrome screws, and be done with it! Thanks for your help and wake-up call on this. You just saved me a face full of oil. Not that I've never had facefulls of worse stuff! Hoist!

[Eqcons]

Yes, this past weekend. When extended, the pressure is nil... at least it was on mine. I only lost a couple of drips, and I had the hole covered with some elec. tape for a couple of minutes.

Chief

Yup, that's what I figured, Chief! 

[Eqcons]

Jim,
With all that bling that showed up...you know I've got to do this to you:
 

Cheers ,
Red

   I know, I was waiting for that!  Soon, soon!

[Eqcons]

Hey dj, I'm a little slow. It sounds like your saying not to do this. How about one of your astute technical dumps on this?

Hey Jim, would you mind trying it first and have someone there with the camera for us?

Hoist!

Hehehe!  I was hoping YOU'D volunteer, H! 

Jim