fork oil. how much oil to fill front forks?

[carbon monoxide]

ok guys my buddy bike a 2001 zx9r has front forks leaking oil. so re purchased new seals and 3 bottles of 10w (500ml) each. how much fluid is poured into the fork tubes? oh any tips for rebuilding the zx9r front forks woulld be a big help as well.

[e1_ZX-9r]

Just did one fork seal replacement on mine.* I purchased a liter of 7w for my E1. Disassembled most of it on my own by jack standing two jacks under both sides of the engine, protected with wood spacers. Removed the cowling fairing, but no others. After the tube was removed and the oil was drained, I had to take it to a shop to air ratchet the 10mm allen head damper bolt loose at the bottom. That was $10. For $20 more I had them also replace the seal and reassemble.

When I got home I splashed in a little fork oil, worked the mechanisms and drained out as much yuck as I could. Then I filled the tube with 234mm of oil -- measured from the top of the compressed tube with the spring removed. To be sure I had it right, I reassembled, compressed/rebounded the tube several times to work any air bubbles out of the system, removed the spring and remeasured. It only used about half a liter.

Now I have to figure out how to tune my suspension, front and rear, because the bike's balance is been upset.

* The old oil was metallic with aluminum and metal particles and stunk like a dead animal. I'm thinking of replacing the oil in the other tube, just as a maintenance thing, since those particles probably promote oil seal deterioration.

[Hammerhead]

I did the same thing, although no seals changed and I used mineral oil to wash out the old metallic munge. e1 is correct- it's a matter of distance from the top of the tube with the leg compressed and no spring, not a matter of amount. Damping can be adjusted by varying the oil weight or adjusting the level slightly-higher level, more damping lower level, less, but don't stray from the factory recommended level by more than 10mm each way.

[carbon monoxide]

e1 zx-9r why did you go with 7w vs 10w? i thought 10w is what is used on the 9r.

[e1_ZX-9r]

You're probably right. I don't know what the proper weight oil is. That's what the shop that I was at had and what they recommended for 9r streetbikes. After pouring out the old oil, the 7w was consistent with its viscosity.

[zx9machine]

http://www.motorcyclecruiser.com/tec...als/index.html

http://www.bluepoof.com/motorcycles/howto/svs_fork_oil/


It is pretty much the same for all. At the end I paid to get mine done.