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Offline Accolay

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Fork Oil?
« on: August 21, 2008, 06:12:03 PM »
What to use for fork oil in 1977 CB550F? The Clymers says 10W-30, the Service Manual says AFT (ATF I guess?)

Which should I use?
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1977 CB550F

eldar

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Re: Fork Oil?
« Reply #1 on: August 21, 2008, 06:12:48 PM »
Either I suppose but I just got my fork oil from honda. They have 2 weights to choose from, maybe more.
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Offline 78CB750CAFE

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Re: Fork Oil?
« Reply #2 on: August 21, 2008, 06:32:23 PM »
The factory used ATF, these days we have better choices. I am using BelRay fork oil, a mix of 10 and 15 weight. I have heard good things about it, and it was quite a bit cheaper then the Honda stuff, though ingredients looked identical. My parts guy said the service shop uses nothing but the BelRay.
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Offline BobbyR

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Re: Fork Oil?
« Reply #3 on: August 21, 2008, 06:45:55 PM »
You will really have to experiment a bit. The forks will respond differently at differing viscosities. It is really about what feels good to you and suits your riding style. No one size fits all answer to that question. As long as you do not overfill no harm would be done using something other than ATF.
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Offline Spikeybike

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Re: Fork Oil?
« Reply #4 on: August 21, 2008, 06:55:36 PM »
the clymer also tells you to use more then you should (at least for my 550f)
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Offline MCRider

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Re: Fork Oil?
« Reply #5 on: August 21, 2008, 09:13:07 PM »
Quote from: spikeybike on August 21, 2008, 06:55:36 PM
the clymer also tells you to use more then you should (at least for my 550f)

Are you agreeing with the Clymer on that? I would tend to want to error on the side of too little than too much.

FYI: for the thread; ATF has a viscosity of about 5 (I think I read that somewhere) gives a comfortable ride and is friendly to the seals, so its a safe all around factory recommendation. 5 is probably too light if you are aggressive or have a windshield, so experimenting with the fork oils is good. I've never felt the need for more than 10, even on the track. I did use an air fork adapter on my CB750 track bike which was interesting.
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Offline Spikeybike

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Re: Fork Oil?
« Reply #6 on: August 21, 2008, 09:19:19 PM »
Quote from: MCRider1 on August 21, 2008, 09:13:07 PM
Are you agreeing with the Clymer on that? I would tend to want to error on the side of too little than too much.

i don't recall the numbers , but i know the clymer advised an once or so more then i had been using , i tried it.  ......................then had to get new seals cause they were weeping oil

that was years ago, it was the start of me not trusting Clymer/Hanes books 
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Offline MCRider

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Re: Fork Oil?
« Reply #7 on: August 21, 2008, 09:34:22 PM »
Quote from: spikeybike on August 21, 2008, 09:19:19 PM
Quote from: MCRider1 on August 21, 2008, 09:13:07 PM
Are you agreeing with the Clymer on that? I would tend to want to error on the side of too little than too much.

i don't recall the numbers , but i know the clymer advised an once or so more then i had been using , i tried it.  ......................then had to get new seals cause they were weeping oil

that was years ago, it was the start of me not trusting Clymer/Hanes books 

I see, I would have suspected that result, and agree, the manuals have to be doublechecked.

One thing about the airfork idea is that the pressure actually comes up inside the seal and forces it against the tube, causing it to seal better. But the downside is an increase in "stiction" and that may be the ultimate reason airforks didn't survive. I've always wondered as i liked the performance.
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Offline Accolay

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Re: Fork Oil?
« Reply #8 on: August 21, 2008, 10:14:57 PM »
My Clymer is from 1981 and agrees with The Manual with 160cc of fork fluid. Hope that's correct...
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Offline Flying J

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Re: Fork Oil?
« Reply #9 on: August 21, 2008, 10:22:08 PM »
Do i have to take my forks off to change fork oil or is that what the little bolt at the bottom is for?
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Offline Spikeybike

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Re: Fork Oil?
« Reply #10 on: August 21, 2008, 10:43:49 PM »
Quote from: ffjmoore on August 21, 2008, 10:22:08 PM
Do i have to take my forks off to change fork oil or is that what the little bolt at the bottom is for?

bolt at the bottom is to drain it , cap at the top is to fill it
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eldar

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Re: Fork Oil?
« Reply #11 on: August 22, 2008, 06:13:10 AM »
Watch out for that spring though! It can send your cap flying if you are not careful!
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