To Replace Fork Oil or Not...

[08FJR4ME]

So what is that little brass screw on the bottom fork tube? From what I can tell you should be able to drain your oil by taking it out correct? It would be nice to swap out oil and leave the fork tubes in the triple clamps. I would make this a bi-annual service if that is the case.

Won't really work, Dave. The allen bolt in the bottom of each fork (which isn't really brass) is what holds the cartridge in the lower fork slider. You could probably take it out and then pump some of the oil out of the fork. It would make a ridiculous mess and I don't think you'd get all of the oil out either.

Actually there is aluminum boss on the bottom of the fork which has a brass screw in it. Not to be confused with the Allen cap bolt on the bottom of the fork. I tried to take out the brass screw but it didn't want to turn loose at the time. So I just left it alone since I was enough trouble just doing the maintenance end of things. I may try it again in a couple of years to drain the fluid out and replace it. I am not sure if the Gen1 has this feature or not Fred. After removing the gut of the shock I could see a brass pin which was the end of the the screw at the bottom of the inside of the shock. So I think this will work. We will know in the spring of 2015 unless someone else wants to try it.

Dave

 

[John d]

As a side note - you can't get a torque wrench on the lower triple tree bolts. No way, no how. So I applied the Cajun torque wrench spec - a 1/2 turn before it breaks.

I do use a torque wrench on the lower triple tree allen bolts and it works fine, but you need a special setup. I use a 1/4" drive torque wrench and socket that matches the allen key size. Cut a small piece off an allen key wrench so that when inserted into the socket it protrudes approximately 1/4". It works, but slowly, barely a click at a time working from above. I'm not sure if the Gen1 has the same fairing space as the Gen2, so it may still not work for you.

 

[Fred W]

My regular 3/8" torque wrench fits in there OK using a regular craftsman allen socket (un-shortened) coming at it from underneath. If you have PIAA or other aftermarket horn(s) installed you do have to drop them off their brackets to get in there, but it worked fine with the OEM horns still installed.

 

[Fred W]

Actually there is aluminum boss on the bottom of the fork which has a brass screw in it. Not to be confused with the Allen cap bolt on the bottom of the fork. I tried to take out the brass screw but it didn't want to turn loose at the time. So I just left it alone since I was enough trouble just doing the maintenance end of things. I may try it again in a couple of years to drain the fluid out and replace it. I am not sure if the Gen1 has this feature or not Fred. After removing the gut of the shock I could see a brass pin which was the end of the the screw at the bottom of the inside of the shock. So I think this will work. We will know in the spring of 2015 unless someone else wants to try it.

Hmmm, well it doesn't seem to be shown in the parts breakdown of the 2nd gens so no way of knowing for sure, but I don't recall any such brass screw on the 1st gens.

 

[MCRIDER007]

Actually there is aluminum boss on the bottom of the fork which has a brass screw in it. Not to be confused with the Allen cap bolt on the bottom of the fork. I tried to take out the brass screw but it didn't want to turn loose at the time. So I just left it alone since I was enough trouble just doing the maintenance end of things. I may try it again in a couple of years to drain the fluid out and replace it. I am not sure if the Gen1 has this feature or not Fred. After removing the gut of the shock I could see a brass pin which was the end of the the screw at the bottom of the inside of the shock. So I think this will work. We will know in the spring of 2015 unless someone else wants to try it.

Hmmm, well it doesn't seem to be shown in the parts breakdown of the 2nd gens so no way of knowing for sure, but I don't recall any such brass screw on the 1st gens.

The only brass screw I see on the bottom of the fork is the compression damping adjustment.

 

[hppants]

With my stock horns, my craftsman 3/8 drive with a crafsman socket won't fit. If I shortened the socket, maybe. I'll try that next time.