Fork Oil

[Lemonhead]

Greetings. I have a multiple question question.........
Can I add oil to my forks without taking them off?
AND IF SO...
Do I have to lift the front tire off the ground?
AND IF SO...
Do I have to bleed the forks?
AND IF SO...
How do I do that with the front tire still on?
Thank you in advance. Ride safe.

[h13man]

At this point a Honda brand service manual is your best friend. It can answer your questions better than I but "yes" is the definite answer to questions 1 & 2.

[jpr1968]

Why do you think you need to add oil? Unlss you have a leak it shouldn't be necessary.

[Lemonhead]

Originally Posted by jpr1968

Why do you think you need to add oil? Unlss you have a leak it shouldn't be necessary.

I just put new (well, new to me) forks on my bike and there appears to be a leak. Not like, "running down to the brake or splashing on my leg" leak but...I can feel the bumps hard and they aren't springing back up like they should if I stand of the front brake and push down. Does that make sense?

[NickN72]

Originally Posted by Lemonhead

I just put new (well, new to me) forks on my bike and there appears to be a leak. Not like, "running down to the brake or splashing on my leg" leak but...I can feel the bumps hard and they aren't springing back up like they should if I stand of the front brake and push down. Does that make sense?

That sounds to me more like your springs are worn out.

[still_bluenoser]

Whats your bike?


If your forks are leaking than they need new seals. If they are leaking bad enough that you need to top up the fluid than you need to stop riding it now.

The fluid will eventually make it to your brake pads and cause major stopping issues.

I have signatures turned off so I dont see what bike you have, but they may be air assisted forks. My vt500 usually has about 8psi, this will fix your soft front end issue if they are in fact air assisted forks.

[jpr1968]

You may actually have too much oil in the forks. Your springs sound like typical Honda front springs. Get a set of Progresive springs, some 15 weight oil and some new seals and you'll get rid of the spongy front end. The oil in the forks just dampens recoil. It's the springs that keep it from diving.

[93gc40]

Originally Posted by Lemonhead

Greetings. I have a multiple question question.........
Can I add oil to my forks without taking them off? YES
AND IF SO...
Do I have to lift the front tire off the ground? NO
AND IF SO...
Do I have to bleed the forks? NO
AND IF SO...
How do I do that with the front tire still on? This is whre the manual comes in, the prcess varies by model and year. my fork as example have a drain at the botom. I just remove the drain plug, reove the top cap and they drain. Some you have to suck the oil out through the top or remove the forlks and pour the oil out. Some you have to remove the wheel to get to the drain plug.
Thank you in advance. Ride safe.

Get a manual and see above..... Honda manual are the best but even a Haynes or Yamaha or Harley, ect, manual will work fine for fork servicing.

[Lemonhead]

Originally Posted by still_bluenoser

Whats your bike?

I have signatures turned off so I dont see what bike you have, but they may be air assisted forks. My vt500 usually has about 8psi, this will fix your soft front end issue if they are in fact air assisted forks.

2003 Shadow 600 VLX. I've not read anywhere about air assist so I don't think they are. I'll double check that, tho.

Thanks for all the advice. I have a manual...it's just so much easier to ask the experts here. I'm getting conflicting answers about lifting the front end but not about seals and springs. So I guess the front end comes of regardless. (d@mm!t..I just put it on!) Oh well, it is what it is. Thanks again!

[jpr1968]

Do not follow what 93gc40 said about tqaking the caps off the forks without raising the front end. No you don't have air assist forks. They were used in the 80's. You need to raise the front end before you even think about taking the caps off the forks, there won't be anything holding the springs in and the oil and springs and other components will go flying. You shouldn't definitely replace the seals in the forks, no use just replacing lost oil because it's going to keep coming out and the leak will probably get worse.