XJ700-X Forks question

Seems like they are dead. No fluid leaks, but i put some air into them, one didn't do anything, the other went up. Didn't notice it fall, but then i let the air out and hardly any was in there on the side that went up. I didn't hear any noise from the other. I thought maybe the seals were blown, but no fluid leaks. I read about some air assisted forks, and replacing O rings? but the 700-X wasn't listed amoungst them. Then what are the schraeder valves for then? I read they aren't as tall as car ones, so maybe that's why my air gage wont tell me anything either.
What is the recommended air pressure in a water cooled, 1985 XJ 700? Also, if somebody can link me to somewhere that tells me how to change the fork fluid, i would appreciate it. Btw just got my bike running for the first time since i bought it!!! If someone can tell me why forks with air valves on them are not air assisted, i would like to know that too. I guess if i have any air leaks the soapy water test will find it? Could it me maybe all the fluid already leaked out of my forks before i bought it? I don't know.

 

I think someone has swapped the forks. To the best of my knowledge, 700's didn't have air assist.

 

the airhead 700 did not have air-assist forks; the MaximX did have air-assist forks.

If you have air-valves, then you have the correct tops. The forks are interchangeable.

It sounds like your seal is blown. Time for a rebuild. You'll thank yourself for it.

Dave

 

Dave, maybe you should do a FORK REBUILD at your upcoming carb clinic and takes lots of pictures and post them up.........

 

Even an old dog like me can learn something. Thanks, Dave.

 

you do have air forks, there is a o-ring on the top, has to be.
no the soapy water test won't work, why? because you can't look for bubbles when you hit a bump and compress the forks and the air pressure goes way up.
one side lifted the bike but not the other.....because the first side already lifted it?
not much air came out.... because not much went in

 

so the presence of the air valves means air assist. i thought every set of forks had them but never heard the words 'air assist' before. i have seen a thread on rebuilding these on some other Yam, i assume it would be about the same. Not nearly as hairy as fork seals, right? i would imagine a complete change of fork oil would be in order too. Totally clueless on how to do this.

 

That's a GREAT idea.....

 

The air pressure for those forks is 5.7 psi in the service manual. If you're planning to do a rebuild, videos on YouTube for some v-max fork rebuilds should help. That's what I used for mine, very similar construction. I would not recommend getting parts from the dealer, there most likely going to be more expensive than chacal and the one I went to didn't have slide bushings for the fork tube, which I believe xj4ever has. If you want a service manual pm me and I'll send it to you.

 

without a correct air pressure gage i didn't know what i was talking about. i had my compressor on too low i guess to pump them up much, that because i have heard how easy it is to blow them out.

so i found a gage that reads down to 5 pounds. low and behold my forks did still have a very small amount of air in one. when you push down on the center stem, the air comes out so fast it is impossible to lower it to just 5 pounds. but checking the pressure with the gage takes out about 5 pounds each time so i was able to pump them up to about 15 and get them down to 5 by doing that. it's seems like a pretty clapped out way of making things. 5 to 7 pounds is such a small amount, i can't imagine it is doing very much. a much different scenario than when i pumped up my virago or seca 750. i now have 5-6 in each one. i hope it stays in there. thanks for the info swifter

 

It doesn't take much extra air to have a big change on the rate of the air spring in the shock. They are meant to be aired up with a hand pump.

 

i tried my little about 8 inch+ one for my football and i guess i couldn't pump enough into it to keep any in there while i was unscrewing it. i had to screw the pump on because the thing came with a needle for a ball screwed into it. hi tech s#i!

 

You need a pump for a a Schrader valve, not a ball pump. Like this :
http://www.amazon.com/Bagger-Werx-07-012-Motorcycle-Shock/dp/B004Y18GKM