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Main Area => General GS500 Discussion => Topic started by: MalcolmA on May 20, 2013, 12:11:37 PM

Title: Changing My Fork Seals
Post by: MalcolmA on May 20, 2013, 12:11:37 PM
Hey guys, looking around the forums I've found the video/tutorial for changing my fork seals. The only thing I haven't been able to find out is how much oil I need to put in each fork. Anyone know off the top of their head? Thanks!

EDIT: Oh, and she's a '96 GS500E if that's relevant.  O0
Title: Re: Changing My Fork Seals
Post by: Gorilla on May 20, 2013, 12:48:50 PM
Hey there,

I just did this yesterday. I used the quaker state oil mentioned in the video. Just one container filled up both fork seals. I had bought two and returned one. In summary. JUST ONE!
Title: Re: Changing My Fork Seals
Post by: MalcolmA on May 20, 2013, 12:50:18 PM
You're supposed to leave an air gap though.. The video says how big the gap is but I don't feel like measuring it all
Title: Re: Changing My Fork Seals
Post by: Gorilla on May 20, 2013, 12:56:53 PM
The video will show the man filling it up almost to the top, I did it about 3-4 inches from the top. You use a turkey baster to measure 91 mm down from a point on the turkey baster of your choosing. This way you suck out the excess.
Title: Re: Changing My Fork Seals
Post by: BockinBboy on May 20, 2013, 12:57:58 PM
You need to measure oil height when replacing the fork oil.  The amount to add can be slightly different depending how well they are drained, and other factors. It is more important to have equal heights of oil on both sides.  Fork oil height should be measured with the fork compressed.

- Bboy
Title: Re: Changing My Fork Seals
Post by: adidasguy on May 20, 2013, 02:46:06 PM
Measure with fork compressed and no spring. 110mm is a common figure. Some better springs (Sonic, progressives) say as much as 140mm air gap because when the spring is inserted, it will fill it up more than a stock spring (because better ones are thicker and have more windings so take up more space).

The book says 99mm for standard springs.

Actual specification of oil capacity is 382 ml. How much you pour in depends on how much of the old oil you got out.

While the book says 10w oil, most of us tend to go with 15w oil.