Fork oil, makes me wonder

[speddie3]

I had a seal go out on one of my front forks, 01' 426, so I got both seals, dust and oil, new oil and tore it apart. I was shocked to find that the oil inside was horrid looking. The oil seemed to be extremely thick and almost gooey. I could make "strings" of it between my fingers like you would do with grease. I am pretty sure the previous owner never opened them up because I saw absoutly no tool marks on anything. I replaced it with the recomended "01" suspension oil that the book called for. But heres the interesting part, that wasn't why they were leaking, the metal spacer on the inside top of the shock was rusting, alot, and little bits of rust got down in there. I replaced all necesary parts and cleaned the hell out of everything. I decided to take the other shock apart to make sure and sure enough, it was rusting too. I did the same to it and it rode great out at Buffalo Range (Illinois) on friday. No leaks and it made it through all the table tops flawlessly.

Anyone else ever check their fork oil or encountered the same?

My new advice, check your fork oil!!!!!!

[barch88]

I heard the stuff breaks down pretty bad after awhile, which sounds like what happened to your's.

[GONE1445]

I know what you are talkin about with the spacers on top of the springs mine had some rust spots on it so I cleaned them up no rust now but they are pitted not bad just a rough surface still work fine tho

I gotta do new seals soon also my oil wasn't that bad but it was pretty thick

I ride the same bike

[speddie3]

Good to know I am not the only one, And i love my bike. Happy ridding

[grayracer513]

Absent any leaks, or other problems, a bike that isn't raced on a weekly basis should have the fork oil changed at least annually.

Fresh fork oil (the good stuff, at least) has anti-oxidation properties that will prevent rusting of the internals.

[TheCure]

Does the 'good stuff' involve Mobil 1 ATF? I've been using that with good results now for about a year.

[grayracer513]

It has even more anti-oxidant capabilty than fork oil does, and incredible shear resistance and dispersant ("detergent") abilities, too. I used it for a while, but I went back to Maxima 85-150 (01) fork oil. ATF was too heavy for my taste (7wt vs. 5wt)

[Ga426owner]

You better service that shock asap too!

All mx bikes need fork oil and Shock serviced/ changed at least once a yr or every 6mos depending on how much riding/racing is done...I know some that replace every 15hrs of racing

[Way Fast Whitey]

mine hasn't been touched ?

pretty soon though. i just need the oil.

Question: do i have to take the forks off to fill them with oil?

[grayracer513]

Question: do i have to take the forks off to fill them with oil?

No, but it's more work to do if you leave them on, IMO, and requires more tools.

[Ga426owner]

mine hasn't been touched ?

pretty soon though. i just need the oil.

Question: do i have to take the forks off to fill them with oil?

take the forks off to clean them thoroughly. I completely disassemble them to clean. There is sediment at the bottom of the forks - I remove the compression valve to clean