K11 Owners Group

Saltcreek · Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2009 5:47 pm Post subject: Filling forks

If there's a fork oil change thread I couldn't find it. Has anyone found the perfect container or container and funnel for measuring and adding fork oil without getting it all over the place? I'm thinking like a graduated bottle with a squeeze top but I haven't found one yet.
_________________
Jim

1994 K1100LT Mystic Red, bfd, 37000 miles, sold Sad

2009 Wilderness Systems Zephyr 155 ST
2002 Litespeed titanium

SugarHillCTD · Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2009 6:15 pm Post subject:

Great question, Jim.

I should be at that point within the next few days. Seals are going in tonight and I should have time to put the front end together by the end of the weekend.

John
_________________
John & Cathy

'92 K100RS4V Pearl White SOLD
'04 K1200GT
IBA Several-SS1k, BBG, 50CC NYC to S.F.

Rider · Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2009 6:37 pm Post subject: Filling forks

Jim,

The only way I have come up with to refill the forks is to use a plastic graduated bottle that can be squeezed to expel the oil. You need to find a container that will accept the spout that comes on quart gear oil containers. Then you need two sizes of clear tubing, the larger to fit over the spout and the smaller to fit inside the larger. The problem, as you have discovered, is that the filler hole is small and down under the handle bar. I have tried a funnel and plastic tube but that seems to take forever for the oil to run in. The squeeze bottle and tubing speeds the process and gets all the oil inside the fork.

Ed
_________________
2007 650 Burgman, 2003 400 Burgman

Some days you get the bear, some days the bear gets you.

Rider · Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2009 6:42 pm Post subject: Filling forks

And John you can fill your forks with a small funnel before you install them in the triple clamp.

Ed
_________________
2007 650 Burgman, 2003 400 Burgman

Some days you get the bear, some days the bear gets you.

RAL88 · Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2009 6:43 pm Post subject:

I use a syringe like the kind you get at the grocery store for injecting turkeys.
_________________
Rich

"If it ain't broke, take it apart and make it work better"
*************
'96' K1100LT-SE
'97' R850GS-R

Saltcreek · Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2009 6:44 pm Post subject:

Flying Duck · Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2009 8:12 pm Post subject:

Pyrex measuring cup from the kitchen and a funnel. I'm a "no special tools required" kind of guy. Very Happy

_________________
93 LT (x2)
94 RS
86-97 K75F(K75/100/1100 Frankenbrick)
86 K75C w/paralever, hi perf cams,TURBO!
91 & 92 K75Ss
91 K1
86 custom K100
14 WR250R
IBA #17739 (SS1K, BBG, 50CC)
Buy parts HERE

SugarHillCTD · Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2009 8:37 pm Post subject: Re: Filling forks

endoman100 · Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2009 9:41 pm Post subject:

I use a 30cc slip tip syringe with a 6" small clear tubing like fish tank air tubing. I take my time and no spillage Very Happy

and I leave my forks in the tree also.
_________________
In the words of the stones
Time Is On My Side
Yes It Is
1993 K1100RS

Rider · Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2009 10:10 pm Post subject: Filling forks

Jim,

What you have off the top of the fork tube is the spring retainer which has the fill plug in it. Might as well dump in the measured amount of fork oil and screw it back on. If you can. If you have a strong fork spring you might not be able to get it to go back on and then you will know why there is a fill plug in it. You might get it back together if you have a helper to either turn the wrench or hold the retainer against the tube.

John,

I jumped to the conclusion that you had the forks out of the tree. You have to use the squeeze bottle, syringe or Duck's funnel. The reason I used the squeeze bottle is that it's graduated in ccs and I could put in the 400 or 450 ccs of oil at one shot.

Good luck,

Ed
_________________
2007 650 Burgman, 2003 400 Burgman

Some days you get the bear, some days the bear gets you.

Scott_Anderson · Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2009 11:05 pm Post subject:

I picked up an oversized (50cc) syringe from a local pharmacy for like $1.
I've used it both with and without the plunger. Either way you have to take it slow so you can let the air out of the fork as the oil goes in.
Otherwise you will have a mess. DAMHIK. Rolling Eyes

_________________
Ride safe.

1995 K1100LT 0302044
2017 FLHTK Ultra Limited
Garmin StreetPilot 2820
Garmin Zumo 550
Garmin Zumo XT
"One who does not ask questions is ashamed to learn" Danish proverb
1997 K1100LT 0302488(R.I.P.)
1997 R1100RT ZC62149(sold)

Jim · Posted: Fri Apr 10, 2009 12:02 am Post subject: fork oil

hi Jim - I think there are probably a few fork oil threads - and there should be something about fork oil in one of the tech stickies or on the main page.

It's 350cc and 400cc.
_________________
Jim
1997 K1100LTSE 94,000 - still has gremlins!
1995 R100RT Classic 16,650 crashed - repaired!
1992 K75RTP 46,000

"We shall not all die, but we shall all be changed."

Milton · Posted: Fri Apr 10, 2009 2:41 am Post subject:

I use a baby bottle. Good graduations for measure and just pinch out a larger hole in the nipple. Not too messy.
_________________
Jethro Tull: Thick as a Brick!

1992 K100RS 48K. Dead for now.
1998 Triumph Tiger 43K->56K. Doin it in the dirt.
1978 Honda CB400T 32.5K. For my boys.

SugarHillCTD · Posted: Fri Apr 10, 2009 6:17 am Post subject:

Hey everybody- (Jim, sorry for the hi-jack but I think that your question has been answered)

Thanks for all the tips on the forks.

Yesterday was the turn around from dismantling to reassembly.

The fork seals went in very easily- I warmed the fork legs for slight expansion and found something just the right diameter to tap them home.

This evening the timing cover and valve cover go back on. Then the fork legs with their new gaiters, new tires (Pilot Road 2) and..........a fan switch.

PLUS the new Ram shock should be here SOON.

Hey then back on the road Very Happy

_________________
John & Cathy

'92 K100RS4V Pearl White SOLD
'04 K1200GT
IBA Several-SS1k, BBG, 50CC NYC to S.F.

Saltcreek · Posted: Fri Apr 10, 2009 7:29 am Post subject:

SugarHillCTD · Posted: Fri Apr 10, 2009 7:43 am Post subject:

Sorry about that chief. (You have to be a "geezer" to know where that originally came from)

Now back to the OP's thread........
_________________
John & Cathy

'92 K100RS4V Pearl White SOLD
'04 K1200GT
IBA Several-SS1k, BBG, 50CC NYC to S.F.

Phil Marvin · Posted: Fri Apr 10, 2009 10:03 pm Post subject:

Hi, All,
To change fork oil, I use an old gear oil container (with the spout) with the bottom cut off, in other words, a funnel. I slide a piece of plastic tubing over the end of the spout. I insert the end of the tubing into the fork tube and tie the container so it is upright and reasonably steady. I then use a baby bottle and measure 200cc of fork oil and pour it into the funnel/container. It slowly drains into the fork tube. I measure another 150/200/220cc (depending on side/bike I'm working on) and pour this into the funnel/container. When it has all drained out, I switch sides and tie the container above the other fork tube. I do the same thing and add the proper mount of oil into the other fork tube. I withdraw the plastic tube and remove the funnel/container and replace the fill plugs. I clean the container and put it away until next year.

CAUTION: Don't let the tubing fall off the spout and fall ino the fork tube! It HAS come off the spout, but luckily not gone completely into the fork tube!

Ride Safe,
_________________
Ride Safe,
Phil Marvin in El Paso, TX
'94 K75A/3
'95 K75RTP

Saltcreek · Posted: Sat Apr 11, 2009 7:58 am Post subject:

Phil Marvin · Posted: Sat Apr 11, 2009 1:25 pm Post subject:

Hi, Jim,
It is a small tube. It takes, maybe, 5 minutes for the 200cc to drain into the fork tube. I have never had it overflow, and I've used it on 2 K1100LT's and 3 K75's.
Ride Safe,
_________________
Ride Safe,
Phil Marvin in El Paso, TX
'94 K75A/3
'95 K75RTP

endoman100 · Posted: Sat Apr 11, 2009 4:02 pm Post subject: