Fork oil conundrum

[billy sugger]

Hi knowledgeable people, I have a fork oil issue and I'm stumped as to which is correct. 

My Haynes manual states fork oil  required as 457cc,+/-2.5cc, or a oil level check with spring removed and leg fully compressed at 149mm.

My issue, I put in 71/2 60ml syringes full (7x6 =42) in the fork, but the level is showing 105mm, so higher up than stated level, so I'm confused. 

 

PS oil is Motul 10W medium

[Mississippi Bullfrog]

Just checking, how did you drain the old oil, and you measure what came out? Unless you dismantled the forks you rarely get all of the old oil out. 

[billy sugger]

Fork was completely dismantled and cleaned, it had been leaking quite badly so had lost some but did not measure what came out. All I can say is I used almost a litre bottle when I last changed them in 2020, then the bike sat unused for a year due to not being able to afford insurance. 

Now it's done I've lost the sag I had after front end braking. After diving the forks would rebound, only to drop maybe 2", now they don't 

[husoi]

Have you action the forks several times to remove all the air from the inner tube?

[billy sugger]

4 hours ago, husoi said:

Have you action the forks several times to remove all the air from the inner tube?

Yes mate, it's a new stantion so maybe the hole layout at the bottom is not exactly the same as the old one and is giving a false reading. Anyway I have put the correct amount in so have gone by that

[Stu]

I have always being told to forget the amount you put in but to concentrate on the air gap 

 

This was by a couple of specialists as I was having the same issue on an old bike 

 

Just ensure you have pumped the damping rod to bleed the air out and also move the stantion up and down too 

[billy sugger]

Ha Ha, Stu, I gave it a damn good pumping, but it did not appear to make a difference. 

I haven't noticed any steering issues so I guess it was OK or has settled down once back together 

[linuxrob]

Air gap is the best way, i use a syringe and a tube the right length down the fork and suck out oil till right level.

[Stu]

1 hour ago, linuxrob said:

 

Love the fork tube holder  

[jedibiker]

I always go to the level not the oil quantity. the air gap is the most important factor