Trouble measuring fork oil!?

When changing the fork oil on my KZ750H3, first, a rough amount is poured down the forks and then the distance from the top of the inner tube to the oil level is measured. No matter what I use, be it a wooden dowl, a metal tube or whatever, it is difficult for me to see the actual oil level. I know that part of the problem may be my old eyes, but most oils are dyed a color, yet when spread out thin, the coloring is nearly invisable. What tricks do folks here use to measure (see) it? I was thinking maybe paint whatever I use a flat white? Thanks!

sneak the wifes metric measuring cup out to the garage! :laugh: i always use 30w synthetic motor oil,pretty easy to see

No wife (good), no measuring cup (maybe bad), and the spec calles for 10wt. The measurment of the fluid in the tube is more important on this bike then the actual oil amount, and is measured at 436mm below the top, tubes fully extended. The problem for me is that new fork oil, regardless of the color it is dyed, is all but clear on the measuring rod. I was thinking that I might paint the end of the rod I'm using a flat white, marked at 436mm, and see if that helps. Wadaya think?

I've always used a baby bottle to measure the correct amount of oil to use.

I use a section cut off of a very narrow tape measure which is flat white with numbers on it. It is hard to see the oil on it.

polkat wrote:

...new fork oil, regardless of the color it is dyed, is all but clear on the measuring rod. I was thinking that I might paint the end of the rod I'm using a flat white, marked at 436mm, and see if that helps. Wadaya think?

The flat white sounds like a good idea.

Serves ya right for having nice clean new fork oil! :laugh:

Good Luck!

You can get these cheap and they work great but if you see how they work you can make one for less than $5. You just fill the fork tube up and suck out the excess. The syringes are available at most co-op's in the veterinarian section.

www.bikebandit.com/progressive-suspensio...kit?WT.mc_id=1484958