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Oil in forks?
- Patton
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Okay, I'll give her a try. Oh yea, should the upper fork clamps be loosened to do this?
YES -- The upper fork clamps should be loosened before attempting to remove the caps, and should also be loose when installing the caps.
On some bikes, the caps are almost impossible to unscrew without first loosening the top fork clamps.
Good Luck!
1973 Z1
KZ900 LTD
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- bountyhunter
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1979 KZ-750 Twin
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- bountyhunter
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1982 KZ750H. How does one put oil in the forks, how much, and what kind?
The best oil for my 750 is the 15W fork oil. Bel Ray is good. Don't use motor oil, the viscosity ratings are not the same.
1979 KZ-750 Twin
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- polkat
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Also, the manual says to use "liquid gasket" on the bleed screws and reinstall them with their gaskets!? Neither screw had a gasket! They weren't leaking though. Can I assume that "liquid gasket" means something like Loc-tite? Or can I just spread them with a little Permatex #2?
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- Link14
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I put in 10W like the manual said and it works fine. I think that next year when I change it again, I'll try something a little heavier like 15W. I just used some RTV liquid gasket on the screws and it sealed great.
Have fun!
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- bountyhunter
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Yes, you need real fork oil. All bike shops have it.Got the oil out. Man, came out looking like some old grey substance! I doubt it was changed for some time. My manual says to use 10W oil, doesn't say motor oil or anything else. But you're saying motor oil is a bad idea?
1979 KZ-750 Twin
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- bountyhunter
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I think blue loctite would work, but the typical silicone rubber gasket maker stuff will also work.Got the oil out. Man, came out looking like some old grey substance! I doubt it was changed for some time. My manual says to use 10W oil, doesn't say motor oil or anything else. But you're saying motor oil is a bad idea?
Also, the manual says to use "liquid gasket" on the bleed screws and reinstall them with their gaskets!? Neither screw had a gasket! They weren't leaking though. Can I assume that "liquid gasket" means something like Loc-tite? Or can I just spread them with a little Permatex #2?
1979 KZ-750 Twin
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- bountyhunter
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Everybody does that the first time. Second time, wrapa paper towel around to cover the hole and tape it to hold it on the fork while you pump so the floor won't be covered in oil.Mine did the same thing. I'm glad I wasn't standing in front of the port when I pushed down on the fork. It spewed out about 6 ft and stuck to a table I had leaning against the garage wall:
1979 KZ-750 Twin
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- polkat
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Link14, when you say 10W do you mean engine oil? The manual doesn't specify a "fork" oil. What would happen if I just used 10W? (I already have 10W and I'm poor) !
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- JMKZHI
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I believe the Fork Oil table in the Scheduled Maintenance section implies that you're supposed to use fork oil. One of its attributes is that it's non-foaming....The manual doesn't specify a "fork" oil. What would happen if I just used 10W?...
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- polkat
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Anyway, as I do not have the tools to disassemble the tubes, is there any kind of flush or solvent I can run through them that won't hurt the rubber seals? Thanks!
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- Grantl
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- KZRider is Da Bomb!!!
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1981 KZ1000 CSR
1983 KZ750 Project Bike
1990 550 Zephyr
1994 KZ1000 P
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