ZX7 Fork Oil

I know this isn't a ZX fourm but I'm posting here in the hopes that some you may have already done what I'm about to ask or may have access to a service manual.

I just got finished replacing the fork seals in 1990 ZX7 forks that I plan to install on my KZ900. My question. What's the recommended fork oil weight and the amount of oil that I should put in each fork.

I've tried searching the net and other ZX fourms but no luck in getting an answer. I would hate to buy a ZX service manual just for this but I will if I have to.

TW

I've got this info. somewhere. I think I went down to my local Kawi dealership and asked the service guys. They made me copies of the relevant pages in their (nice) service manuals. You might be able to get the info. with a phone call this way.

I'll poke around tonight in my garage, see if I can dig this up.

Thanks, I'll stop by my local dealership on my way home to see if they can provide this info to me.

Hey TW - Found the info., have the Kawi manual pages for the front forks. Sez as follows:

Fork inner tube diameter: 43mm
Fork oil viscosity: SAE5W
Fork oil capacity: 445 +- 4mL (completely dry), approx. 380 mL (when changing oil)
Fork oil level: 135 +- 2 mm below from top of inner tube (fully compressed without main spring)
Main spring free length: 387.5mm (service limit 380mm)

Procedure says:
If necessary, measure the oil level as follows:
- Hold the outer tube vertically in a vise
- Pump inner tube seeveral times to expel air bubbles.
- Using the piston rod puller (special tool), move the piston rod up and down more than ten times in order to expel all the air from the fork oil.
- Wait until the oil level settles
- With the fork fully compressed and the piston rod fully pushed in, insert a tape measure or rod into the inner tube, and measure the distance from the top of the inner tube to the oil.

Attached a scan here, see if it flies. I've got a few other pages, could fax or scan/send 'em to you if you're interested. Hit me with a PM is you want or need 'em.

Good luck.

Full size here: members.cox.net/jmulholland3/zx7forkinfo.jpg

EDITED FOR BAD TYPO: 380ml refill, not 280

Post edited by: elseed, at: 2007/08/23 12:53

Thanks elseed thats all I need to know.

BTW, I stopped by my local dealership to see if they had an answer to my question. Guess what the service rep said? He informed me that they don't keep manuals over 10 years old. So I asked what do you do if someone brings a 10+ year old bike in to have fixed. His response was, "we will look to our older service technicians for the answer. They would have the answer in their head". I just shook my head and walked away. This just further confirms why I work on my own bikes.

Just keep in mind that the fork damping is governed by the viscosity of the oil in the fork. Hope this helps. On my KZ 650 the say use SAE 10W/20W

Post edited by: Hawk_77336, at: 2007/08/23 17:41