Topic: Fork Oil Options

[jt1000]

I'm stuck at home in the morning with contractors working on the house, so I'll be in the garage doing some maintenance on the bike.  ANYWAY - fork oil, I've found the capacity for my cb500 (5.4oz) but can't find a type or weight.  and amI mistaking, or did I see they used Auto Trans Fluid from the factory??  If so is that an acceptable alternative?  And also could I use just a med. wt. motor oilo, like SAE 10W-30?  Too many questions...

[Inigo Montoya]

Well you can use tranny fluid. Honda makes different weights of fork fluid, thats what I use. And I think I have heard of motor oil but I would do a synthetic as conventional can thicken and thin depending on temp. A synthetic does not do that nearly as much.

[my78k]

ATF is sort of standard...different weights will make the front end act very differently. If memory serves ATF is like a 7.5 wt or there abouts. Heavier weight oils will stiffen up the forks.

Dennis

[Sporkfly]

You could use hydraulic jack oil, ATF, or one of the many fork specific oils. 10 weight or above would be the ticket I'd say, ATF is about a 9 weight.

[Duke McDukiedook]

They also make fork specific oil to cut down on foaming (their claims).
People use ATF also.

[Sporkfly]

They also make fork specific oil to cut down on foaming (their claims).
People use ATF also.

Yeah, make sure it's anti-foaming. I personally put jack oil in mine as it has anti-foam, anti-oxidization, corrosion inhibitors and anti-wear additives. Seems like a good way to go as it's a very mild oil and won't mess with seals at all.

[jt1000]

Think I'll just do ATF for now.  It's cheap and sounds like a safe bet.  I'm most interested in just puting something fresh in the forks, b/c I have NO idea when they were last freshened up (have only owned for about 4 weeks now).  I'll probably drain out what looks like a combo of Johnny Walker and beef broth

[my78k]

mmmmm.....Johnny Walker and Beef Broth....yummy

Dennis

[MCRider]

Think I'll just do ATF for now.  It's cheap and sounds like a safe bet.  I'm most interested in just puting something fresh in the forks, b/c I have NO idea when they were last freshened up (have only owned for about 4 weeks now).  I'll probably drain out what looks like a combo of Johnny Walker and beef broth

The ATF is a broad based recommendation. It has stuff in it that's friendly to old seals. Commercial branded fork oil does too, usually. Branded fork oil is often 150%+ price of ATF. ATF gives a good ride.

Its viscosity is as mentioned. I've heard 6 to 8w. A little mild if you run hard and/or have a touring fairing, etc.  The more you obsess, as some of us do, the more options you can explore. Branded fork oil for dirt bikes and roadracers runs the gamot.

if you have fish oil in there now, ATF will be a big improvement.