Author Topic: fork oil weight / quantity  (Read 5912 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline luke

  • Full Member
  • *
  • Posts: 5
fork oil weight / quantity
« on: February 20, 2011, 01:12:58 PM »
Can anyone please tell me the fork oil weight and quantity for a 1975 cb500/4

cheers Luke   ???

CU2151

  • Guest
Re: fork oil weight / quantity
« Reply #1 on: February 20, 2011, 02:38:35 PM »
I think there is a lot of info out there on this topic if you do a search.  Some folks use motor oil, others use fork oil at different weights (I use 10w), some use ATF, etc etc.  Also, I would highly recommend you purchase a manual for your bike so you'd have all this info available.  Definitely worth the investment!

Offline luke

  • Full Member
  • *
  • Posts: 5
Re: fork oil weight / quantity
« Reply #2 on: February 20, 2011, 03:22:03 PM »
Thanks, I have researched this but cant find any answers, thanks for the 10wt now all i need is the levels. ive got the haynes manual but it covers 400/4 and 550/4 and the forks are different on the 500/4. typical ;D

cheers Luke

Offline bwaller

  • Really Old Timer ...
  • *******
  • Posts: 7,485
Re: fork oil weight / quantity
« Reply #3 on: February 20, 2011, 03:30:23 PM »
The manual states 160cc's.

Offline Popwood

  • Expert
  • ****
  • Posts: 914
Re: fork oil weight / quantity
« Reply #4 on: February 20, 2011, 06:31:36 PM »
Honda makes a fork oil product. May not be necessary, but you probably can't go wrong with it either. There's also a different amount to add depending on whether you are just replacing what's been drained or doing a fork rebuild where all the oil has been removed. That's in posts here, too.
Current Rides:
1975 cb550K
1975 cb750K
1967 Bridgestone 350GTR

Past Rides:
1988 400 Hawk
195? Schwinn Whizzer

Offline stueveone

  • Hot Shot
  • ***
  • Posts: 346
Re: fork oil weight / quantity
« Reply #5 on: February 20, 2011, 09:53:19 PM »
http://www.strappe.com/suspension.html
3/4 down the page. I've really gotten used to this method. It works awesome IMO!

Offline Deltarider

  • Really Old Timer ...
  • *******
  • Posts: 8,132
  • ... but some animals are more equal than others.
Re: fork oil weight / quantity
« Reply #6 on: February 21, 2011, 12:26:53 AM »
It's ATF or fork oil. Motor oil is a no no.
CB500K2-ED Excel black
"There is enough for everyone's need but not enough for anybody's greed."

Offline cookindaddy

  • I sure love this bike!
  • Expert
  • ****
  • Posts: 1,153
Re: fork oil weight / quantity
« Reply #7 on: February 21, 2011, 04:12:21 AM »
The search function works great here. I just typed in "fork oil" and got lots of hits. Here is a recent thread:

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=75959.0

You should be able to find the Honda service manual here for your make and model. It will give specific recommendations for all sorts of useful things to do with your bike.
George with a black 78 CB750K (in Lion's Head, Ontario, Canada)

Offline Grabcon

  • Hot Shot
  • ***
  • Posts: 354
Re: fork oil weight / quantity
« Reply #8 on: February 21, 2011, 07:49:36 PM »
I want to say that it takes 7 oz per tube. ATF is what is recommended. You can use different weight fork oils if you like. I my CB900F I run 20wt. It really comes down to what type of dampening you want. If you have the original fork springs running a little heavier fork oil will help to a point. But at some point you should replace the springs. There are just old and saggy.

Be sure that before you put the springs in that you pump the tubes a little to get the air out.
CB750   1974 - Gone
CB750F 1976 - Gone :(
CB550   1978 - Gone & now back
CB900F 1981 - Gone
ST1100 1991 - Gone
ST1100 2000 - Gone
VFR800 2008 - Gone
ST1300 2008 - Gone
BMW F700GS - Wife's
VFR1200X 2016 - Mine

Offline splitt

  • Enthusiast
  • **
  • Posts: 178
Re: fork oil weight / quantity
« Reply #9 on: February 21, 2011, 08:02:02 PM »