K11 Owners Group

hockeyshifter · Posted: Mon May 05, 2008 1:45 am Post subject: NEED to replace fork oil

i have searched the board and can not find how to replace the fork oil

i have a BMW printed shop manual ( clymers is on the way ) but the instruction on how to change just the fork oil is not included.

i can drain it but were is the refill ; i have found the caps and a small hex screw in the center fork cap on the top of the tubes.

i also have formulated that i can drain and then pump fork oil back into the fork via the drain plug.

i am a large man and want to replace the oil with a 10 or 15 wt. grade any suggestion? Rolling Eyes

_________________
fix the problem not the blame ; fix what is messed up ; NO one is to blame.

Sonu · Posted: Mon May 05, 2008 2:24 am Post subject:

Hockeyshifter,

You are on the right track.

The hex screw in the centre fork cap is the refill location. A 6mm allen wrench should fit. I suggest using quality tools (ideally a T top rather than the allen key provide with your bike).

Its important to refill very slowly. The volume of fluid added is different for the two forks. I dont know if you ride a K1100LT or an RS. On my LT I use 400+/- 10cc for the right fork and 350 +/-10cc on the left.

One important tip. Both the drain and refill locations are notorious for stripping the threads. There is no need to over tighten these. Do replace the O rings at the bottom. They're cheap anyway.

Heavier weight oils are used by a lot of other riders. I've not heard of any problems with this.

This is one of the easiest fluid changes on this bike so go for it.

Good luck!

Sanjiv
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1997 K1100LT "Ziggy" _GarminGPS_Corbin saddle_K Guards _Hyperlights_Fog lights_Eastern Beaver Relays_Cee Bailey_4"speakers_Michelin PR4's_MoS2_Spiegler lines_TPMS_VDO

Jim · Posted: Mon May 05, 2008 11:27 am Post subject: fork oil

Hockey,

Sanjiv is right. Here are a few links on the topic (I searched for fork AND oil): http://k11og.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4268&highlight=fork+oil http://k11og.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3723&highlight=fork+oil http://k11og.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2124&highlight=fork+oil

Be very careful with the fill and drain caps - install new o-rings and DON'T overtighten!
_________________
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."

chopper_harris · Posted: Mon May 05, 2008 3:04 pm Post subject:

Hockey

There is no shame in being a large man - there are many of us around Very Happy

Do you know the history of your bike ? If not, I would suggest plan for a fork flush at the same time as you do the refil.

You will likely find that the fork oil is pretty acrid, and badly contaminated. Simple draining does not get this all out, so I buy an extra 500ml of SAE 5, and put 250mm into each leg (after putting the lower drain plug back in Wink

)

Go for a short run, or pump the forks energetically to get the flush oil moving.

Drain again, then fill with your preferred grade. I would not recommend anything over SAE 10, as the majority of your weight will be reflected in the rear suspension sag.

If 10 is too heavy, you can always remove 50% by volume, and replace with SAE 5, this will give you SAE 7.5.

Good luck Cool

_________________
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