Fork/Fliud Help

Please Help,
I have a 1986 GPZ 600, I rebuilt the front dampening system....now, I'm trying to figure out how to add new fluid. Problem is what kind of fluid , how much, and where do I put it in?
Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
deon

First posts are always a welcome site. Welcome to KZR. You'll be hounded for pictures till you post them. It's just what happens around here.

You should get a manual. If your forks are like mine with the anti-dive it recommends the following according to the manual in my signature on page 255:
"The fork oil is checked with forks fully extended, and springs removed. Fork oil is 5w-20. Dry capacity for the '84-> is 7.7 +/- 0.08 US fluid oz. (229 +/- 2.5 cc). Oil level is 18.58 +/- 0.1 inches (472 +/- 2 mm)."

If your front forks are not the same as one the '84=> GPz550, disregard the above. :dry:

After looking up the front forks on www.buykawasaki.com I clicked on a few part numbers, then clicked on the yellow question mark to see what else the part fits. Every one I tried only fits the following:
ZX600-A1 (Ninja 600) (1985)
ZX600-A2 (Ninja 600) (1986)
ZX600-A3 (Ninja 600) (1987)

Looks like mine and yours are not the same.
:blink: Welcome anyways. :whistle:

Hello deon and Welcome to the site! We're glad you're here!

WARNING :ohmy: -- Unsolicited advise follows :lol:

There are various fill and re-fill instructions among various bike models regarding fork oil (including type, weight and volume), some being with springs installed, others without springs installed, some distinguishing between volume needed for a "dry" fill after disassembly and reassembly as opposed to a "wet" refill after draining to change the oil as routine maintenance.

When satisfied that the initial fill volume is correct per Ma Kaw's specs, here's a tip to expedite future maintenance.

With front wheel pointed straight forward and suspended slightly off the floor, remove the fork caps (after assuring the front end is supported without needing the forks, otherwise the front end will collapse :pinch: ) Leave all other fork components fully assembled (leave the springs inside). Use a wooden dowel to fashion a "dip stick" and use it to measure the exact distance from top of forks to surface of oil level. Both forks should measure the same. Mark the dowel in both places (top of forks and at correct oil level). Save the dowel as a tool for future maintenance and no longer worry about the exact oil volume cc's involved, etc. Just drain and refill to the dowel "dip stick" mark. Also handy to maintain fork oil level between changes, or to temporarily replenish fork oil to correct level in event of loss due to leakage.

The caution about assuring front end support without needing forks is intended for others who might be reading this thread and perhaps unaware that removing the fork caps will cause an otherwise unsupported front end to collapse.

I'll shut up now. :woohoo:

Good Luck!


Post edited by: Patton, at: 2008/01/15 07:51

Post edited by: Patton, at: 2008/01/15 07:55

Post edited by: Patton, at: 2008/01/15 07:57

You need to buy a manual for your bike.......answers you are seeking are in it......chris3