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Fork Oil Recommendation ?
- SWest
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- 10 22 2014
Steve
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- kzdcw
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- 650ed
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kzdcw wrote: I have 3 different 10 wt. fork oils left over from prior motorcycle builds. Torco, Maxima, & Belray . If I combine all 3 of them, I would have enough to do both fork tubes. Not the recommended weight your guys are advising, but shouldn't pose an issue if I use these ?
What about ATF ?
I don't get it. Why are you bound and determined to put automatic transmission fluid in motorcycle forks instead of motorcycle fork oil? Fork oil doesn't cost a fortune, and since you only change it every 2 years (if the bike is properly maintained), it is not a major investment. So why not just do the right thing and buy a bottle of new fork oil? :blink: Ed
1977 KZ650-C1 Original Owner - Stock (with additional invisible FIAMM horn)
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- The_Proletariat
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650ed wrote:
kzdcw wrote: I have 3 different 10 wt. fork oils left over from prior motorcycle builds. Torco, Maxima, & Belray . If I combine all 3 of them, I would have enough to do both fork tubes. Not the recommended weight your guys are advising, but shouldn't pose an issue if I use these ?
What about ATF ?
I don't get it. Why are you bound and determined to put automatic transmission fluid in motorcycle forks instead of motorcycle fork oil? Fork oil doesn't cost a fortune, and since you only change it every 2 years (if the bike is properly maintained), it is not a major investment. So why not just do the right thing and buy a bottle of new fork oil? :blink: Ed
ATF has a viscosity of a light oil and it contains powerful detergents. In addition as a lubricating oil, it also functions as a hydraulic oil inside a transmission.
Some bikes recommend ATF for fork oil (my Honda did) but I don't know of a KZ that does. If the forks are neglected running ATF for a couple hundred miles is not a bad idea to clean them out.
Some KZ's recommend motor oil for the forks as well. Obviously this does not apply to the OP but just FYI.
if using a heavier wt. fork oil would be better.
The biggest effect of heavier oil will be to slow down the fork rebound. Something to consider.
1982 Kawasaki KZ550 LTD
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- SWest
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Live and learn. :whistle:
Steve
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