Fork Oil Change

2M4Dale isn't alone when it comes to cruddy forks.

My daughter and I decided to change the fork oil last night. First time since I bought the bike in Sept. She was pretty excited about helping out (or at least happy to get out of homework).

Pulled the drain screws and watched black crude dripple out. Knew this wasn't going to be good.:pinch: When we pushed down on the front to "pump" the remaining fluid out....something came flying out, but it wasn't fluid. Fortunately after reading the "Note to self" thread, neither Cassie or I were standing the the way.

Here's a close up of the "stuff". Cassie thinks it's like the black gunk from the Spiderman 3 movie. Fortunately, everything else went ok, except the schrader valve at the top of my left fork get chewed up. Hoping I can find a replacement.

Whats up man? Haven't been up to date with you recently. I see you got yourself a bigger bike now, but not as big as mine, yet! I see that brown glob you got out of your fork(nasty). I had lots of black oil pour out of mine, in fact it was almost silver or gray. I took my forks off and worked those things up and down and repeatedly flushed it with fresh oil till it was clear. I will do that again later on this year, I don't need anythingelse failing on me this year. I am selling the 650 to a guy who works around the block from me. That bike has given me to much trouble while I ownd it. Probably put more money into fixing it than riding it.

Link14 wrote:

....Fortunately after reading the "Note to self" thread, neither Cassie or I were standing the the way...

:woohoo: :laugh:

Yeah, I had brownish-blackish gunk in one of my fork legs, and silvery gunk in the other. I figured one was rust from moisture (from a bad seal) and the other was aluminum grindings (from lack of oil, due to bad seal). I swear it's like a monkey owned these things before we did!
:whistle:

HAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAA

Would say it is just water, rust and dirt. Water and dirt get through the bad fork seals. Those air forks can get water in depending on how you air charge them too though.

Buy an extra bottle of fork oil and waste some flushing more of that out if you're not replacing the seals this time. Loose rust acts like a polishing compound. Don't expect the air charge to hold though until you rebuild the forks though IMHO.

How'd the schrader get messed up?

If you use gas station/convenience store air chances are your gettin water as most of them dont wanna invest the $$$ for a dryer.

I hear ya LTD