Forks Call Out

[Sparky84]

Hi All
My forks seals have told me to 'please change me'.
I haven't had the forks out for awhile so a little advice would help.
I'm been reading 10w fork oil is what works best?
Do I put in the recommended 424 or 397ml or top it up by height?

Any thing else while I have them out?

Will my tyre still be OK, its been sitting for about 2 weeks since last ridden

[Pat Conlon]

Fork oil won't hurt your tire. It will mess up your brake pads and rotor, so be careful there.

Now would be a good time to consider updating your damper rod forks.
If you can swing it, RPM valves/springs have proven to be popular. At the very least, get some stronger progressive fork springs.
Use only OEM Yamaha fork oil seals (no aftermarket) and new inner/outer bushings are a good start.
Avoid getting stuff off of FleaBay. Many of us have learned the hard way, aftermarket fork oil seals suck.
Exception: Aviation Fred reports favorably on these aftermarket dust seals (not oil seals)
See this post:  http://www.fjowners.com/index.php?topic=14969.msg151220#msg151220
These are a good idea to keep bugs, rocks and shit off your fork tubes, protecting the lower oil seals.
A fork brace is a also good idea.

RPM has everything you need for your forks, good stuff, good prices, fast shipping.

Measure your fork oil level with the fork springs removed and the fork collapsed.

I'll let others chime in on fork oil weight. I have cartridge forks so my experience is not applicable.

[Sparky84]

Thanks Pat,
Good to know my tyre is ok, I'll give it a good scrub before I put it back on.
Oil is over outside of calipers but on visual inspection to see if any made it to Pads - None evident and also Rotor clean.

I installed Whitepower springs asap after purchasing bike some 29 years ago

I have not got OEM seals or bought any from ebay but I do have Parts Unlimited brand, if anybody has had bad experience with these Please speak up
Someone mentioned level should be 130mm from the top compressed

Might look into RPM Damper Rods but I'm still trying to get ready for Aust Rally if work permits.

[Arnie]

I'm the one who mentioned 130mm, but that was my setup for my forks.

I'd suggest you start with 150mm and then determine for yourself what the best height is for your setup.

I think that I also mentioned that I was using ATF in my forks.  ATF is a high detergent, temperature stable, hydraulic oil and comes in 3 designations that have equivalent viscosities of.

> Chrysler ATF+3 = 10W

> Dextron 3/Mercon = 15W

> Type F = 20W

ATF is more widely available, just as good, and much cheaper.

AND the fork protectors mentioned can be Yamaha branded items for XJR forks, or Triumph items that are a bit taller.  Check whichever motorcycle dealer is closest to you.

Arnie

[ribbert]

I have not got OEM seals or bought any from ebay but I do have Parts Unlimited brand, if anybody has had bad experience with these Please speak up

Sparky, I'm not locked into OEM stuff but I would be wary of unknown brands, not that fork seals are a life or death or big budget item but it would be nice to think you were going to get maximum life from them.

A blanket warning of anything other than OEM seals is probably not warranted as Yamaha don't make seals and in all likelihood, change suppliers from time to time, they buy them in from a third party manufacturer. I would heed though the advice to not buy from eBay as the sort of manufacturers you want would not be selling on there.

I have bought all my seals for decades from bearing services. These places sell to the trade, automotive, manufacturing etc. They can't afford to sell anything but the best.

I have what appears to be a well above average life from my current fork seals, 100,000 hard kms and counting, the last 20,000km on the very thin 5W oil and they remain bone dry, they were purchased at my local bearing service.

Most cities or larger towns will have a bearing service shop.

Just another option.

Noel

[Sparky84]

After Inspection of Fork tubes,
The chrome had wear marks and also some pitting on them so I have decided that I need to get them rechromed otherwise I would be needing another set of seals soon. But it will take 2 weeks to do,

So No Rally

It does give me time to get the Taller dust seals and Fork Brace
And time to decide ATF or Fork Oil

Cheers Alan

[oldktmdude]

After Inspection of Fork tubes,
The chrome had wear marks and also some pitting on them so I have decided that I need to get them rechromed otherwise I would be needing another set of seals soon. But it will take 2 weeks to do,

So No Rally

It does give me time to get the Taller dust seals and Fork Brace
And time to decide ATF or Fork Oil

Cheers Alan

Alan, you can't use that for an excuse to miss the Rally,we both know there's a perfectly good FJ, just down the road from you,
just waiting to be ridden to the Rally. 

[The General]

After Inspection of Fork tubes,
The chrome had wear marks and also some pitting on them so I have decided that I need to get them rechromed otherwise I would be needing another set of seals soon. But it will take 2 weeks to do,

So No Rally

It does give me time to get the Taller dust seals and Fork Brace
And time to decide ATF or Fork Oil

Cheers Alan

That`s a bummer mate. (especially as there`s a fork brace & fork oil included in tha Sat`day night chook raffle!)
....in case ya don`t know there has been many an FJ guy turn up by car to this event (don`t ask how I know!...but they`ve come in handy....just ask Danielle!).... handy for backup support of all sorts. (I got a lift home in one from Jindabyne in 2014)....still got ya back covered re accom too! ...have ya got a bus license?...Can ya go passed a winery without salivating?
.....ummmmm, taller dust seals?....where can I get some?  ...and no ya can`t buy raffle tickets by proxy!
....oh, and yeah we got a spare bike with your name on it and I`m phoning your wife just in case she needs to meet real men of FJ steel!   

[ribbert]

   Alan, you can't use that for an excuse to miss the Rally,we both know there's a perfectly good FJ, just down the road from you,
just waiting to be ridden to the Rally. 

.......and if no one's riding it, borrow the forks and wheel complete. 30 mins and you'll be up and running again.

Sorry Alan, not good enough. You'll have to do better, like broken bones or something.

[Troyskie]

Alan, Yummy gets a 17" front end today, ready for you to take her to the rally....just sayin'.

[Sparky84]

That`s a bummer mate. (especially as there`s a fork brace & fork oil included in tha Sat`day night chook raffle!)
....in case ya don`t know there has been many an FJ guy turn up by car to this event (don`t ask how I know!...but they`ve come in handy....just ask Danielle!).... handy for backup support of all sorts. (I got a lift home in one from Jindabyne in 2014)....still got ya back covered re accom too! ...have ya got a bus license?...Can ya go passed a winery without salivating?
.....ummmmm, taller dust seals?....where can I get some?  ...and no ya can`t buy raffle tickets by proxy!
....oh, and yeah we got a spare bike with your name on it and I`m phoning your wife just in case she needs to meet real men of FJ steel!   

The General I must thank you for your attempt at rigging the Chook raffle in my favour!
I don't think I could handle driving the Mishitbus Express Van (thats my car) that far, but it is a Coupe, and if I cleaned it out there is space for a bed.
No Bus license and I have been known to visit wineries and on the way home have a roadie in my jacket pocket (just for the traffic lights).

Cheers
Alan

[Sparky84]

Alan, you can't use that for an excuse to miss the Rally,we both know there's a perfectly good FJ, just down the road from you,
just waiting to be ridden to the Rally. 
[/quote]

Pete, Forks weren't an excuse, just another obstacle and as You have mentioned there is another FJ,
not too far away thanks to Troys Generosity but Work is Still in the way of getting there.
Up to today I thought work was giving me a chance until they said Stage 1 was still on for 29th March handover (no way is it going to be).
It will be a last minute decision, I can't even leave my offsider(Ray) there due to if I go he'll want to go for a ride TOO

Forks are still at Chromers, Just thinking of Polishing the Bottoms and Clear coat afterwards 

Cheers

Alan

[oldktmdude]

   Alan, that's bad luck mate. Work, unfortunately, sometimes has to take priority. I know you weren't looking for an excuse to miss the Rally because I know how keen you are to get there. Keep your fingers crossed, you may still get there. 

[Sparky84]

   Alan, that's bad luck mate. Work, unfortunately, sometimes has to take priority. I know you weren't looking for an excuse to miss the Rally because I know how keen you are to get there. Keep your fingers crossed, you may still get there. 

Pete, You are SO right. Work does get in the way,
Way To Often and I think maybe it shouldn't Take Priority, its a means to Live and survive but shouldn't Rule otherwise you're not Living

On a Lighter note Still waiting for forks to come back from Chromers

Have a Great Rally

[Troyskie]

Al, what chromers did you send them to?