| Author | Message | ||
     Xbimmer |
Planning on doing my own 10k service coming up, or at least as much as I can. Brushing up on the various procedures in my Service Manual tonight I'm amazed to find that I'll need to remove and partially disassemble the forks just to change the oil! What the heck, is there a simpler (and effective) method, or is this something I'll need to buy special tools for, or worse entrust to the dealer who is really disappointing me in the service area... Whatever happened to drain plugs??? | ||
| Lowflyer |
My dealer used an impact driver with a 16-pt socket on my fork caps. Marred the living shit out of them. They had to order new ones and I had to come back a week later to have them installed. Also, I have noticed my forks bottom out. I am now wondering if they put the right oil in them and enough of it. Beware. | ||
| Nutsosane |
With a 10k service being in the $400 range I would seriously consider ordering the parts and finding an independent suspension tuning facility. 10K includes of note oil change, primary fluid change, primary chain adjust, clutch adjust, tps reset and fork oil change. You can probably do all but the last two by yourself and someone is bound to have the software for the tps near by. Warbaby found a first rate shop to lower his Uly and I'd rather throw a couple hundred $ to a shop that I know is gonna take care of my bike. When the time comes to get that rear shock upgraded you've already got a friendly shop too! Most dealers will charge only 15-30 minutes for a TPS reset if you have to visit them. Endy ranty. NUTS | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
Nutosane, I'm glad that you have visited MOST dealers and know what they will charge for TPS reset. | ||
| Dr_greg |
The forks aren't really THAT big a deal: you need a tool to allow you to compress the spring and a little plate to lock it in position (I made both myself). Plus after you do it yourself you have that great sense of accomplishment! The tools are available from any of the suspension tuning outfits. I think the service manual makes it appear much more involved than it really is. As usual, when you DIY you can make sure everything is just right (fluid levels, etc.) | ||
| Lowflyer |
I would definitely recommend DIY if at all possible. I prepaid my maintenance because I thought I would have no time to work on mine. It worked out for the first service, but since then has been a royal pain in the ass. | ||
| Teeps |
Xbimmer Posted on Saturday, September 30, 2006 I'm amazed to find that I'll need to remove and partially disassemble the forks just to change the oil! Whatever happened to drain plugs??? Upside-down(?) forks. I might be able to lay my hands on the tools. | ||
| Xbimmer |
Upside-down(?) forks. Not IMO, somebody finally got the telescopic fork right and all the others are upside down!  After studying the fork diagrams in the Parts Catalog I don't see why a drain plug can't be part of the picture, but without a disassembled unit in front of me I could be wrong. Thanks for the advice, guys. I have the luxury of free servicing for two years as part of my purchase, so it's not the $$$ I'm trying to save. If I had to pay for service then those guys would NEVER see me until warranty-repairs time... So I take it removal/partial disassembly is the only way... | ||
| Etennuly |
Xbimmer Did you get'er done? | ||
| Nutsosane |
Craig, unfortunately it's been a week since I saw this forum. My response might have been a bit broad, but I was quoted the time for TPS by several dealers. My local dealer is the "middle of the road" type. They play by the rules sometimes it benefits the customer other times it doesn't. I saw earlier this season Stone Mountain HD Buell (a sponsor here) was advertising TPS resets for $15. This is obviously not a survey of the entire Buell network, nonetheless, I feel it was more useful than your retort. Maybe I caught you on a bad day, or maybe you just don't like what I have to say or the manner in which it is conveyed. I feel this is a rider enhancement forum, maybe next time you'll think the same way.  NUTS | ||
| Lowflyer |
Well, I took my bike back to have the forks re-serviced due to the bottoming out problem after the 10k service and after my caps were replaced. The SM said that they could not find anything wrong. They drained the oil, serviced them, but now they don't bottom out any more.  | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
Nuts, Sorry about that, I was a bit harsh. | ||
| Red_chili |
As far as drain plugs, they aren't the great idea they appear to be on first blush. Especially with cartridge or upside down forks, disassembly is really the only way to really clean out the splooge. I was amazed at how much had accumulated on my low-hours KDX, and how little I could get out without pulling it apart. But as stated, forks are really not all that complicated - though I do not speak from Uly experience... yet... Most tools are either readily available or easily fabricated. Oil level is key, and for grins and giggles I would always replace the seals with every disassembly. It ain't hard, it ain't expensive, and it ain't so embarrassing when you see all that new-ish fork oil drooling from your fairly recent fork maintenance. And get to do it all again. | ||
| Red_chili |
Lowflyer, they probably screwed up the oil level first time and wouldn't have known it till they just redid it. | ||
| Lowflyer |
That is what I surmised, but I find it interesting that they would not admit to it. I suspect they don't even have the tool to measure the oil level. | ||
| Lowflyer |
I would have done this myself, but I don't yet have a method of raising the bike, I don't own a single torque wrench, and I don't have a fork clamp for my vice. Oh, and I already paid for the service.  | ||
| Paochow |
I would have done this myself, but I don't yet have a method of raising the bike, I don't own a single torque wrench, and I don't have a fork clamp for my vice. Oh, and I already paid for the service. Excuses, Excuses.  | ||
| Lowflyer |
Okay, the real reason is that my free time is worth more to me than $85/hr.  | ||
| Chrisb |
Lowflyer, That hat of yours is knappy get yourself a new one. http://www.pimphats.com/ | ||
| Red_chili |
d00d, you don't own a floorjack and straps to the ceiling rafters?  | ||
| Lowflyer |
I have a floor jack, but no exposed rafters. My garage is finished. I have been thinking I can use the kids' swing set and winch the bike up with a cargo strap or two. I will take some pics if I swing that way. | ||
| Aeholton |
To the folks that made their own tools for for spring compression and holding plate, please post pictures. Thanks. | ||
| Red_chili |
I have a floor jack, but no exposed rafters. My garage is finished. I used predrilled holes and lag bolts in a similar situation. I also used Uni-Strut with the keeper nuts (dandy stuff, strong as ... well ... me after not showering for a while) to spread the load, since I was putting lag bolts in tension. Worked great, strong, and totally flexible in where you place the 1/4-20 keeper nuts. Used it for a pulley mount and hanger for a rather heavy pickup topper, lifted by a marine hand winch. When I get around to doing the Uly forks, I am sure I will fab something up for spring compression and a holding plate - though I've needed neither in forks gone by...} |
