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Old February 7th, 2016, 12:52 PM   #1
daverdfw
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Can I measure fork oil while the forks are installed?

I cleaned my forks and then put them back in the triple before filling with oil. I have the motion pro measuring tool. Will the measurments still be accurate even though the forks are at an angle? I imagine it should be fine since the tool mounts flush against the top of the tube.
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Old February 7th, 2016, 01:13 PM   #2
SLOWn60
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I use a clear plastic turkey baster I mark with a scratch & black felt pen! I overfill them then draw out the excess.
Make sure you pump the tubes several times to get any trapped air out then take your measurement!
The measurement is not super critical keeping in mind you can fine tune your suspension by adding or removing a little oil.
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Old February 7th, 2016, 01:15 PM   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SLOWn60 View Post
I use a clear plastic turkey baster I mark with a scratch & black felt pen!
Make sure you pump the tubes several times to get any trapped air out then take your measurement!
The measurement is not super critical keeping in mind you can fine tune your suspension by adding or removing a little oil.
but do you do it while the forks are installed in the triple? Or when you have them out? I guess I am wondering if the angle will affect the measurement.
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Old February 7th, 2016, 01:19 PM   #4
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Yes it will affect the measurment, just take off the forks and do it right the first time.
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Old February 7th, 2016, 01:24 PM   #5
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Either. What I'm saying is the measurement is not so critical you can't do it with the forks mounted.
For consistency; your technique should be the same every time.
I.e.: if the tubes are angled and you measure at the front of the tube you will have a little more oil than if you measured at the back of the tube so you want to measure the same way every time. But a little more or less oil will not make much of a difference.
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Old February 7th, 2016, 04:45 PM   #6
daverdfw
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SLOWn60 View Post
Either. What I'm saying is the measurement is not so critical you can't do it with the forks mounted.
For consistency; your technique should be the same every time.
I.e.: if the tubes are angled and you measure at the front of the tube you will have a little more oil than if you measured at the back of the tube so you want to measure the same way every time. But a little more or less oil will not make much of a difference.
makes sense. I measured it on the bike. I dont think a 1-2mm difference will matter much.
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Old February 7th, 2016, 05:04 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by daverdfw View Post
makes sense. I measured it on the bike. I dont think a 1-2mm difference will matter much.
The correct answer is no.

The inner chrome tube needs to be compressed fully and spring removed to measure the correct level of fork oil. Per the factory manual. You don't measure 130mm from the top of the tube with the fork fully extended.....

Quote:
Hold the outer tube vertically in a vise and compress the
fork completely.
•Wait until the oil level stabilizes.
•Use the fork oil level gauge [A] to measure the distance
between the top of the inner tube to the oil level.
Special Tool - Fork Oil Level Gauge: 57001-1290

○Set the oil level gauge stopper [B] so that the distance [C]
from the bottom of the stopper to the lower end of the pipe
is the standard oil level distance.

○A correct measurement can not be obtained unless the
level gauge pipe is placed in the center of the inner tube.
Oil Level (fully compressed, without spring)
Standard: 108 ±2 mm (4.3 ±0.08 in.)
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Old February 7th, 2016, 05:11 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RacinNinja View Post
The inner chrome tube needs to be compressed fully and spring removed to measure the correct level of fork oil. Per the factory manual. You don't measure 130mm from the top of the tube with the fork fully extended.....
This was assumed.
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Old February 7th, 2016, 05:12 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SLOWn60 View Post
This was assumed.
I fully compressed the fork on the bike, it was totally dry from when I cleaned it out when the fork was off the bike. I had a helper hold the bottom of the fork compressed when I put the oil in.
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Old February 7th, 2016, 05:18 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SLOWn60 View Post
This was assumed.
My years of helping others by phone and by internet have taught me to assume absolutely nothing.

Looks like the OP did it right.
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Old February 7th, 2016, 06:24 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RacinNinja View Post
My years of helping others by phone and by internet have taught me to assume absolutely nothing.

Looks like the OP did it right.
True!

I answer most of these on my phone so brevity trumps a full explanation!
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Old February 7th, 2016, 09:07 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by daverdfw View Post
I cleaned my forks and then put them back in the triple before filling with oil. I have the motion pro measuring tool. Will the measurments still be accurate even though the forks are at an angle? I imagine it should be fine since the tool mounts flush against the top of the tube.
Yes you (we) can...
Take all the measurements from the forks (don't forget the angle), make the calculation and you're good to go.
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Old February 8th, 2016, 09:33 AM   #13
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MOTM - Nov '15
Quote:
Originally Posted by daverdfw View Post
I fully compressed the fork on the bike, it was totally dry from when I cleaned it out when the fork was off the bike. I had a helper hold the bottom of the fork compressed when I put the oil in.
Why did your helper have to hold the bottom of the fork compressed? It should stay that way all on its own.
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Old February 8th, 2016, 10:30 PM   #14
daverdfw
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tgold View Post
Why did your helper have to hold the bottom of the fork compressed? It should stay that way all on its own.
it was staying that way, I just wanted to make sure I didnt move it as to get an accurate measurement.
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