I'm confused about my forks....

I've noticed it may be time to replace the fork oil and possibly check air in my forks... they don't bounce as nicely as they once did. The seals appear okay. So... after reading the manual I popped the caps off expecting to see an air valve but all I see is a flat steel disk at the top of each fork!

Anyone have a clue how to remove these to change the oil or (perish the thought!) add air? Maybe 1980 model doesn't have an air valve !? But there has to be a way to add oil...

 

No air valves on the '80-'81.

Do you have the factory manual? If so ignore the first section which is the supplement for the 82-83 models. It'll mess you up with an '80.

If you press those steel discs (spring seats) down just a bit you'll see a circlip. It's a lot of fun to dig out :!: It only takes 3 hands. I use a bar clamp with a deep socket to hold the spring seat compressed while I dig the clip out.

Then, there is a small phillips screw near the bottom of each fork. Pull them and the oil will drain. Put the screws back in after the oil is drained.

Pour 262ml 10 weight fork oil into the top of each fork. Push the spring seats back in and install the circlip. This is just a bit easier than getting them out.

 

Now you tell me :lol: I had to figure that one out last week. The bar clamp and socket works well but I had 4 hands. I had my wife hold the clamp from slipping while I dug those pesky clips out.

 

be ready for a big mess when you take the screws out of the bottom of the forks, have a can and some rags ready
push the wheel up and down a few times to get all the old oil out, watch out for more mess
pour in the new oil slowly, work the forks up down with half the oil in them
add the rest of the oil, work the forks, get the air out
slide the springs back in slowly
if theres air trapped in there and you drop the springs in the oil comes flying out
ask me how i know this

 

I do believe Gamuru went over this a few months back.

 

I might add: Be SURE you can actually get the caps/plugs OUT of the forks BEFORE you drain the oil. Mine are horribly rusted in place and I've been working on a "process" to free them up. (Long story.)

 

Just a little tip, loosen the top triple tree clamps before you try popping out the caps, otherwise they might seem like they are 'stuck' in place

 

Tried that. They're stuck, but this isn't my thread and I didn't want to hijack it.

 

My 81 has air valves on the forks, right under the tripletrees.

 

Yours isn't a 650 Maxim.

 

^^^Right you are MiCarl!

 

touche =) misread the OP