[NcChopper]

I want to change the fork oil and I was looking for a how to somewhere. Does anybody have it posted anywhere? I have the new style.

Chris

 

[Adrian]

I want to change the fork oil and I was looking for a how to somewhere. Does anybody have it posted anywhere? I have the new style.

Chris

Not sure where you will find the post but I did it and it can be so easy or it can be almost impossible. I think it is in the help file by Wag.

Adrian

Here it is:

According to the Boss Hoss Manual the forks need to have the oil changed every 2 Years on 24,000 miles.
If you follow the instructions that some of us got with our manual it will be a real bear to do.
I did that because I needed to change the springs, because mine had gotten weak allowing the top forks to hit the brackets
that hold the fender. It was serious because it pushed the fender down causing the tire to rub a hole in the top of the fender.
To change the fork oil it is rather easy by loosing up the top pinch bolts on the top tree then remove the top caps.
Then you remove the front tire, fender, top windshield brackets and loosen the other two pinch bolts on each side of the
lower tree.
At this point the fork will slide out of though the bottom allowing you to turn the fork upside down and drain the fluid out.
Don't take the fork apart unless you have leaking seal or need to replace the springs.
(To take the springs out you need a special tool and lots of help. I built one and if you want to borrow it I will send it to you.
It is home made but works like a champ.)
The seals are made by Honda and have a cost of $15.99 each side.
Part number is 51490-MWO-003. Any Questions on this send me an e-mail or call at 209-869-1672

 

[Zenbiker]

Adrian really knows his **** but I'll be long dead before I change the fork oil with the later style forks. The earlier style forks were easy...a simple Allen screw at the bottom and not a total front end disassemble!
I've never felt any difference at all with fork oil changes with any bike
(over 20 in all) I've ever owned. My thought about forks is "if they don't leak..Leave em' alone" This is only a dampening fluid, nothing more. We don't change the fluid in our rear shocks so why are we so concerned about the front?
Only one person's opinion after 43 years of riding and many useless fork oil changes...Joe

 

[V8GRUMPY]

Just a dumb question, does the design of the forks allow for the drilling and taping of a drain??

If not, something we did in the "old" days was to siphon the fluid and refill. I know you don't get it all, but like Joe said......what's the purpose?

Tim

 

[Adrian]

Just a dumb question, does the design of the forks allow for the drilling and taping of a drain??

If not, something we did in the "old" days was to siphon the fluid and refill. I know you don't get it all, but like Joe said......what's the purpose?

Tim

Tim

I had to take the forks apart on Cozaey's 03 trike to replace the springs. The way they are made you will not be able to run a siphon tub down the inside of the tube because of the cap inside that holds the whole thing together. When I was changing the springs I called the factory, the folks that made them and any one else that could help but got no help. Her shock oil was black as the ace of spades so at 16,000 miles they sure needed the changing of the fluid. It is not a big deal, just takes a little time. If your shocks have 15,000 miles and or is a 03 or older they need to be changed. I called a couple of the Boss Hoss dealers and they had no clue.

Adrian

 

[Adrian]

Tim

I think you would be able to drill and tap for a small plug in the bottom but you will need to take them apart and to that I say good luck.

Adrian

 

[Zenbiker]

Adrian...To my knowledge, the lower legs on the late model forks are solid so that drilling and tapping will be useless. The fluid lives in the UPPER static portion of the forks and, therefore cannot ve accesssed via the lower legs...Joe
PS. I don't think that black fork oil means bad fork oil. Probably just rubber material from the seals which is non abrasive and of no consequence. If I change my synthetic engine oil at 2000 miles, it's black but probably very functional....Joe

 

[Adrian]

Adrian...To my knowledge, the lower legs on the late model forks are solid so that drilling and tapping will be useless. The fluid lives in the UPPER static portion of the forks and, therefore cannot ve accesssed via the lower legs...Joe
PS. I don't think that black fork oil means bad fork oil. Probably just rubber material from the seals which is non abrasive and of no consequence. If I change my synthetic engine oil at 2000 miles, it's black but probably very functional....Joe

Joe

They are hollow at the bottom and that is where the spring is. You could put a drain there if you wanted to..

Adrian

 

[Zenbiker]

Adrian...I learn something from you all the time. How high up from the bottom of the late model forks or from the top of the axle would you have to drill and tap? More to the point, why the hell didn't the fork manufacturer put such an obvious feature in so the forks wouldn't have to be removed for an oil change?
Each time you remove these forks you run the risk of damaging the chrome as many have done...Joe