Fork oil level.

[timgray]

Ok what is right. The manual for the progressives say 5.5" of oil from the top with the springs installed. Others here on the site are saying 5.5" from the top without the springs installed.

 

When I did that a ton of oil came out as the spring displaced the oil and now the oil leve is at the very top of the forks.

 

What is right?

[Snaggletooth]

Did you have the forks fully compressed when you set the oil level?

 

I never have installed the springs before getting the level right with forks compressed THEN let the forks extend and insert the springs.

 

And opps..... take another look at the directions. Collasped and springs removed. That would cause the overflow.

 

Oil level is the distance

from the top of the

fork tube to the top of

the oil with the fork

completely collapsed

and the fork spring removed

 

Edited May 4, 2013 by Snaggletooth

[darthandy]

Did you have the forks fully compresses when you set the oil level?

 

I never have installed the springs before getting the level right with forks compressed THEN let the forks extend and insert the springs.

 

Yeah - forks must be fully compressed without the springs in them to check the level otherwise you will be way, way off and grossly overfilled.

 

Andy

[GolfVenture]

Yeah - forks must be fully compressed without the springs in them to check the level otherwise you will be way, way off and grossly overfilled.

 

Andy

 

I agree also.

 

While you are at it you should ask sky_doc if the tight coils go in the bottom or at the top. There is a slight advantage to the ride. Only I can't recall which way it was. But I thought the tight coils go at the bottom. But better ask him.

 

I weight 175 lbs and many riders weight much more, which could impact the length of spacer you use. I ended up not using any spacers. Which then caused a noise as the springs compressed and expanded. See the springs then rubbed on the inside of the forks. So I had some special washers machined that would seat inside the spring opening then widen to the diameter of the inner fork so the springs would not rub on the sides of the fork's inside.

[MiCarl]

Tight coils up results in a bit less unsprung weight. That's the way to go.