Adding oil to your forks
reduces the air volume
. Since air is compressible, a smaller airspace is harder to compress than a larger airspace, which results in a stiffer fork.
Can you top up fork oil?
You can’t just “top the fork off” with oil.
There is a specific height that the oil must be at and it isn’t to the top
. You have no idea how much oil you have lost, so it would be impossible to add the correct amount.
What does heavier fork oil do?
And yes, heavier weight for oil will definitely
help
. It’s an easy and cheap way to stiffen forks. It will make them less supple for small bumps, but it’s fairly easy to swap the oils until you find a weight that is decent for jumps and decent for the trails.
Should I use heavier fork oil?
Fork oil viscosity matters
The fluid’s viscosity (often thought of as its thickness) influences how fast or slow the oil flows through the shock valves. … If you like slower rebounds,
use a heavier fluid
.
What happens if your forks run out of oil?
With no oil in the forks your bike
will slowly start to rust
, starting from the forks themselves. It’s just like cancer.
Can you change fork oil without removing forks?
You will need to remove the caps to refill the fork tubes with oil. Determine if the fork legs have oil drain plugs near the bottom of the legs. If they do, you are in luck and will be
able to change the oil without
removing the fork legs.
Does fork oil go bad?
it’s…. Yes I’ve been using the same open quart of fork oil for almost 10 years.
As long as it’s not contaminated, it’s fine to use
.
How do I know if my fork oil is bad?
The telltale sign of bad fork seals is that
they no longer do their job of keeping the oil in the forks
. Evidence of this is oil on the outside of the fork lowers and sometimes on the brake calipers, pads and discs as well, which is not a good thing when you want to stop.
How often should you change your fork oil?
The oil in your fork loses lubricity, gets dirty, and should be changed every 10,000 miles or
once a year
.
Does fork oil brand matter?
Yes
, fork oil matters.
Does changing fork oil make a difference?
A change in viscosity by just a couple of points makes
a big difference in suspension compliance and action. All that applies to the fork also pertains to the shock (or shocks). The piston wears on the shock body, picking up metal that then travels through the oil and damping circuit.
What weight of fork oil should I use?
Most suspension fluids that are lighter
than 5wt
are designed specifically to be used in a shock. Fork oils heavier than 5wt get too thin when they get hot. Stick with 5wt fork oil.
Will fork oil damage paint?
The
oil will not harm your paint if it gets on it
.
Can I change fork seals without disassembly?
Yes
. Pull the bolt out that secures the cartridge to the lower fork leg and the forks will come apart. Put a seal in with a split type fork seal driver. Then you pull the cap and separate from cartridge to pull the spring to set the fork oil level.
