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07-19-2010, 10:44 PM Abes_CW Joined on 04-17-2007 saskatoon Posts 3,036 10 minute oil change: Forks Well, I always thought it might be possible, but tonight I did it.  The question really was why Honda would supply a drain hole in the bottom of the fork (GL's and IIRC later CX's) and not supply an easier way to replace the fluid without removing the caps. I needed a 10mm wrench, some 1/4 clear tubing, a large syringe and a sealing device to connect the tubing to the fork. First I removed the schrader's from the caps in the forks, 10 mm wrench. mind the o-ring Then I removed the drain bolt at the bottom of the fork.  Both are 10mm. Have a rag handy.  I measured the fluid coming out, only about 180mm (a bit short for my bike) Allow to drain.  Perhaps another ten minutes........ Replace drain bolt. I first tried the syringe and just the tubing, but it didn't get a good seal and allowed significant leaking around the cap as the fluid went down. I scanned the garage, and decided to scavenge the cap from my rear diff gear oil bottle.  I cut a bit of the end off of it, fit the tubing in the wide end, and inserted the narrow end (now open) into the opening in the cap The syringe is only 60mm, so you need to load it 4 times.  the seal worked great at the cap, only leaking came when you pulled the rigged cap out of the hole with a bit of air displaced by the fluid in the fork spitting a tiny amount of fluid back out. Myth confirmed. tool cost, nothing. 1983 GL650i Had 4 CX/GL's at one point this year, down to one, next spring is another adventure! age 38 (29 plus tax)    Report

07-19-2010, 10:58 PM Blindstitch Joined on 03-14-2009 Greenfield Wisconsin Posts 9,862 Re: 10 minute oil change: Forks You know those cans of fix a flat have screw on hose caps. I bet if you had a similar rig and just removed the inside valve you could pump it in just the same. Either way your method was a nice price. 1979 CX500 Supertanker ATGATT makes riding a bike like a sled easier. Quick Reference    Report

07-19-2010, 11:21 PM Abes_CW Joined on 04-17-2007 saskatoon Posts 3,036 Re: 10 minute oil change: Forks Maybe, I might even have an old can of that stuff around to try.  I believe oil is thicker than fix-a-flat though, and in my foggy memory I thought someone had tried that in the past with limited success. The hole through the schrader is much smaller than the hole you get with the schrader totally removed.  I may make an experiment before I tear apart the other fork if I still have that kit......... 1983 GL650i Had 4 CX/GL's at one point this year, down to one, next spring is another adventure! age 38 (29 plus tax)    Report

07-19-2010, 11:36 PM Abes_CW Joined on 04-17-2007 saskatoon Posts 3,036 Re: 10 minute oil change: Forks Just checked the manual, at 180ml, plus/minus some residual, I was about 100 ml short.  Spec is 275 for the GL 650. 1983 GL650i Had 4 CX/GL's at one point this year, down to one, next spring is another adventure! age 38 (29 plus tax)    Report

07-19-2010, 11:59 PM Blindstitch Joined on 03-14-2009 Greenfield Wisconsin Posts 9,862 Re: 10 minute oil change: Forks Did you pump the forks a few times? Or better yet. The last time you did them did you put the right amount in? 1979 CX500 Supertanker ATGATT makes riding a bike like a sled easier. Quick Reference    Report

07-20-2010, 6:21 AM Abes_CW Joined on 04-17-2007 saskatoon Posts 3,036 Re: 10 minute oil change: Forks Last time?  I got this bike last spring, and only on the road in August.  This is first time territory for this one.   The seals weren't very leaky, I didn't notice much last year (barely rode it), and this year I didn't have hemorrhage down the the legs, just lots of gunky residue showing at the top of the sliders from fork travel, a bit of wetness down by the wipers, and of course soft soft front end with squirmy characteristics in corners. Down 40% on fluid, the worst of it had leaked out sometime in the past obviously.  the forks had been apart before as well, thus the springs put in bass akward. 1983 GL650i Had 4 CX/GL's at one point this year, down to one, next spring is another adventure! age 38 (29 plus tax)    Report

07-21-2010, 4:37 PM jayhanig Joined on 08-23-2008 Topsail Beach, NC USA Posts 927 Re: 10 minute oil change: Forks Abes, I had a terrible time when I tried to just change the fluid in my forks last year.  There must have been some sort of chemical reaction between my syringe (pinched from work) and the fork oil because the piston wanted to grab most of the time.  It just wouldn't allow much fluid through... and this was a 60 cc syringe with the catheter (tapered, not screw-on) tip. Removing the fittings for the air line provided a small opening but I think I blew more fork oil back on myself than I did through the opening.  I had zero confidence in how much fluid was in the fork and so I ultimately removed the caps and just poured it in from the top.  That was much easier as far as getting the proper amount of oil in each fork but it was a major PITA getting those caps restarted. What should have been an easy job wasn't.  I spent way too much time playing with the caps getting them reseated properly. Jay 82 GL500 Silverwing (naked) Age 55 Dress for the slide.... not for the ride.    Report

07-22-2010, 12:24 AM RxRC Joined on 06-14-2010 NW Minnesota Posts 17 Re: 10 minute oil change: Forks I always remove the forks, empty them the correct way, and fill by measuring the air gap. I never fill by volume. This is a simple procedure. I never cut corners to try and save a little time when working on suspension, tires, or brakes. My two pennies. "Giving the Ralph to the prairie scrub of Grand Forks is like dressing up drunken monkeys in snowmobile jackets and packing them into the Ordway....."    Report

07-22-2010, 11:21 PM Abes_CW Joined on 04-17-2007 saskatoon Posts 3,036 Re: 10 minute oil change: Forks  jayhanig wrote: Abes, I had a terrible time when I tried to just change the fluid in my forks last year.  There must have been some sort of chemical reaction between my syringe (pinched from work) and the fork oil because the piston wanted to grab most of the time.  It just wouldn't allow much fluid through... and this was a 60 cc syringe with the catheter (tapered, not screw-on) tip. Removing the fittings for the air line provided a small opening but I think I blew more fork oil back on myself than I did through the opening.  I had zero confidence in how much fluid was in the fork and so I ultimately removed the caps and just poured it in from the top.  That was much easier as far as getting the proper amount of oil in each fork but it was a major PITA getting those caps restarted. What should have been an easy job wasn't.  I spent way too much time playing with the caps getting them reseated properly. Interesting. Ive heard of guys having trouble with this, so as I was tearing down my forks, I had to try it anyways.  My above system worked really well, without much spillage what soever.  there was very little spalsh back, perhaps a couple of drops.  The hole on the inside of the gl 650 cap is about 3mm wide........  A good steal and steady slow pressure on the syringe is the key.  If your syringe wouldn't move properly, you probably couldn't put a good push on the plunger.  I coated mine with fork oil before inserting in the tube, and it pushed pretty easy. 1983 GL650i Had 4 CX/GL's at one point this year, down to one, next spring is another adventure! age 38 (29 plus tax)    Report

07-22-2010, 11:27 PM Abes_CW Joined on 04-17-2007 saskatoon Posts 3,036 Re: 10 minute oil change: Forks Thanks for your input RxRC.  As you are new here, you should probably know I am not new at doing forks/seals.  The procedure to do it the "right way" is not that simple.  It requires full front end disassembly.  If you put ATF in for example, and want to switch up to a 20wt fork oil, this method will work.  No corners are cut here.  But thanks for coming out. As in my case, I fully recommend a full disassembly if you don't know the history on your bike.  My springs were totally put back wrong by a PO.  Small spring on the bottom, long spring put in upside down with the wide coils on top.  No wonder the entire bike felt like a gummy bear cornering.  With the right know how, you can effectively change the fluid without taking the top caps off.  1983 GL650i Had 4 CX/GL's at one point this year, down to one, next spring is another adventure! age 38 (29 plus tax)    Report

Yesterday, 2:22 PM elwood440 Joined on 06-20-2007 Cullman, Alabama Posts 95 Re: 10 minute oil change: Forks Here's a handy tip: always let the air out of your forks before removing the drain plug. Don't ask me how I know :) '83 GL650 Interstate '07 Dyna cans, GL1800 seat, HID conversion, Air horn, LED taillights, Carbs rebuilt and tweaked. Triple Bypass done, BT45s I do 100% of my spannering myself.    Report

Yesterday, 2:25 PM Abes_CW Joined on 04-17-2007 saskatoon Posts 3,036 Re: 10 minute oil change: Forks LOL, yep. also don't invert the fork after filling it with oil, then compress it to test it. Don't ask me how I know! Seriously though, another tip with the air forks without balance tube, when you put them back in the tree angle the valve stems outwards. PO had them facing straight forward and they were almost impossible to get my guage on. Note my first photo, and the wiring harness directly in front of the schrader. 1983 GL650i Had 4 CX/GL's at one point this year, down to one, next spring is another adventure! age 38 (29 plus tax)    Report

Yesterday, 2:42 PM SDJohn99 Joined on 08-15-2006 Wagner,SD Posts 43 Re: 10 minute oil change: Forks You guys know how to take the fun out of a fork oil change by not misusing air pressure. Instead of telling my God how huge my storm is, I tell my storm how huge my God is! '79 cx500D '79 XL500S '83 GL650I '84 CH125    Report

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