Fork oil and or springs

[dirtysteve]

Wondering if anyone has taken on the fork oil change procedure on their own? Got 27,000 miles on the clock and experiencing lots of fork dive. I've done all my own wrenching so far but taking the front shocks all apart and off the bike makes me queezy. Gadget's cartridge shock procedure seems straight forward. Anyone used it yet? Anyone switch to a progressive spring product for an 05-08 Nomad? Is there a progressive spring for the Nomad cartridge type shock? Thanks in advance.

Steve

[ringadingh]

I changed my fork oil a couple weeks ago, its not that difficult. I removed the forks from the bike , and turned them upside down to drain after removing the top plugs (that was the hardest part, as the plugs were installed very tight). My bike dove a lot and I switched to 15 weight oil which helped. Next oil change I'll put in 20 weight oil, as it still dives a little more than I would like. The fairing may cause it to dive a little more than bikes with just a windsheild. I think there is a progressive spring available, I just can't remember where I saw it.

I've been using 15 weight oil in my forks for 2 years and like it.

At 30,300 miles I still haven't changed mine, and it needs it. I just bought regular Torco 15 wt fork oil, which is what I've used in my bikes for 30 years, but I'm thinking that straight weight fork oil seems sort of archaic. I've never looked for a multi-weight fork oil, but it seems like it would be better if the oil maintained viscosity when hot. Otherwise I may just use a heavier oil and suffer the stiff forks when cold.

[blowndodge]

I've hear of running multi weight oil like 5-30wt and it works? I've never done it because I wonder how much heating up can your forks really do to the oil but I've been wrong many times before...

[macmac]

BD, Thats a pretty good question. I for sure don't know the answer either. But what ever the days temp is, plus direct sun on the forks and then adding in use???

I have checked my rear shocks warm after a run and get spit on by warm oil, warmer than the air. I know I am not supposed to do that warm after riding, but at the time it was the 01 and I was having a problem handling, not knowing the dealer crushed the air line installing a new rear fender.

I had the 'progressive 2 into 1 set up and only one shock was getting any air... and is why I was having a problem.

So that tells me the oil gets warmer than air, but it wasn't like burning hot by any means.

Well, I will say this: many hydraulic systems have oil coolers installed on them. Hydraulic fluid can get hot all right.

Now, do forks get hot enough to warrant multi-weight oil? I dunno. It gets pretty hot where I park at the office though.

[ringadingh]

I don't think your fork oil would ever come close to getting hot enough to affect its performance.Hydraulic systems can run in excess of 3000psi and the oil is pump driven and is working cylinders and motors. It generates heat at a much higher rate than a fork traveling a couple of inches with a comparatively light load on it.

[blowndodge]

Unless Todd's but overweight Butt is in the bike. Theres your 3000lbs of pressure right there!

[ringadingh]

Then it would bottom out and become a hardtail.

Well it probably never develops anything like 3000 psi, but I can feel the fork's performance change from the time I take it out of the garage in the morning untill I put it away after riding in traffic where it's 100^oF+