FRONT FORK OIL

HI,

CAN ANYONE HELP WITH THIS ONE PLEASE?

I AM CHANGING THE FORK OIL ON MY KZ650 1997 C-1.

I HAVE SEEN CONTRARY AMOUNTS OF OIL REQUIRED RANGING FROM 165CC TO 270CC PER FORK LEG....I HAVE FOUND IT INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT TO FIND THE EXACT AMOUNT FOR THIS MODEL AND YEAR.

I HAVE A WORKSHOP MANUAL BUT IT IS FOR THE D AND H VERSIONS AND THEY HAD THE AIR ASSISTED FORKS...MY KZ HAS NO AIR VALVE.

ANY HELP WOULD BE MOST HELPFUL.

THANKS,

MATT.

FSM says 165cc if you are just changing the oil. 186-194cc if they have been disassembled and completely dry.

The cc of fluid is just an estimate, and really is not an accurate way of adjusting the fluid. The real issue is how high in each fork tube the top of the fluid is. With the front wheel off the ground and the forks fully extended use a rod or thin wooden dowel to measure from the top of the inner fork tube to the top of the fluid level. The correct measurement for the KZ650-C1 is 396 mm. If the forks have been totally disasembled and dried this will take approximately 183 - 191 CC; if you are simply changing the oil it will take approximately 165 CC. But again, just make sure of the 396 mm between the oil and the top of the tube in each fork leg. You do the measurement with the springs in place in the tubes. Ed

650ed, is that with the spring in place or removed?
Just did the Concours with the springs removed, and by the proper oil level, not how much.

With the spring in place. Ed

Kawasaki changes that a few times over the years. One of the newer ones is to measure collapsed and of course no spring.
But oil level is the way to go, not a measured volume.

Thanks for the help guys...I figured the way to go was forks extended and spring in place. I have the front wheel out at the moment but dont think that affects it does it?

I was not sure of the depth of oil in the tube so this helps me out a lot.

Thanks again.

M. WATKINS wrote: Thanks for the help guys...I figured the way to go was forks extended and spring in place. I have the front wheel out at the moment but dont think that affects it does it?I was not sure of the depth of oil in the tube so this helps me out a lot.

Thanks again.

Not really. Just make sure you pull down a bit on the lower fork leg to make sure it's fully extended. Ed

Great stuff guys, thanks again.
I am always truly impressed by the help offered on this forum.

if u have had the fork apart or think u may have introduced air into the for during draining. u should pump the fork about 20 times, after u put the oil in but before u put the spring back in. this will purge the air out and give u an accurate reading.