Shinko tire travesty

[jetmechmarty]

What's the "fetus" method?

[donebysunday]

Festus

I did the fetus method 1st time on my 79 back in 80 something. On my 50+ 650s I always took the caps off and springs out.

[jetmechmarty]

I made a tool for removing the cap on the air forks. It's simply a piece of pvc with a cap on one end. I cut a rectangular hole in the pvc cap to fit the top of the fork. This simple tool gives me the necessary leverage to remove and install the fork top easily.

[Bonz]

Totally correct. I read Courtney's post wrong, and didn't catch the schraeder valve fill point. That's a great tip.

Courtney, you have the rights to the "Qwick Courtney" fork oil change method!

[GLoweVA]

The "Festus" method is pushing the oil in from the bottom thru the drain hole.
Taking the schrader valve out and putting the oil in the top is a better/cleaner way I think.
Of course that'll only work for those of us that have air valves on top of our forks, some do not and have to either take the cap off or push it in from the bottom.

[Bonz]

Yeah, just posting up the "Festus" method since it's in the Tech Tips.

My G and SG were not taken care of in the fork department until I got them, and draining that crap out made it seem like a good thing to do and pull the tubes for full cleaning. Glad I did, got a lot out that draining did not, but yours aren't neglected so that really doesn't play for you.

The small amount of kerosene/gas was used cleaning the tubes on another persons bike (filthy inside) and the tubes weren't taken off for the sake of the time we had to do the work. That really flushed out the junk.

[Courtney]

Great minds think alike....

I was doing that Festus Method 25 yrs ago, long before it was posted here. Works great, and I still have the original fork seals, so not too worried about kerosene and oil filter analogy, but to each his own for sure Bonz!

[Bonz]

That's the "Festus" method in the tech tips, fwiw.

Removing the fork caps is not a big deal, if anything to wipe dirty stuff off the spring itself and pour a bit of kerosene in there after draining the tubes (put drain screws back in), work it up and down to flush out the stubborn stuff you won't get out otherwise. Let it drain a bit more and you are good to go with your fluid of choice.

Not pulling the tops is kinda like not changing the oil filter over years and just draining the oil and replacing it.

[Courtney]

So, its possible to stop the leak without disassembling the forks? I would love to give that a shot. How do you add it to your forks? I know nothing about forks, don't even know how to put the fluid in. Could someone tell me how to add this stop leak to my forks. You could pm me if wanted. Thanks a lot.

Sorry I took so long to answer this, haven't been following the thread. IF your bike is a special you have schraeder valves on top to add air to your front forks. I do, so I simply undid the front fork drains at the bottom of the fork legs, and pumped up and down on the forks until the oil was all out. I let it drain overnight too, and made sure I did it on a hot day to help the oil thin out a bit. Then I took out each schraeder valve and using a big syringe with a big needle on it, (farm supplies places have them) I injected the right amount of this http://www.citiesedge.com/Bel-Ray-Co...ductId=9866284 I had no need to undo the big caps on top of the forks and then try to get them on again. Worked like a charm, and I've done this every couple of years. No leaks yet after 20+ yrs of owning this bike. HTH.

[jjz28]

I did download the manuals but need to do it again since I got a virus and had to redo my computer to like new. I don't know why I am so worried about the forks. I am going to wait till winter and just do the seals. thanks.

[BA80]

will say that there is usually lots of junk/corrosion/slugde in the bottom of the fork tube slider that can not be adequately removed without disassembly.

T.c.

+1.................

[TopCatGr58]

Hey Jeff,

Did you ever find Catatonic Bug's profile and go to his personal webpage and download any manuals..owner's and service?

To drain the fluid, there's a screw/bolt on the lower end/side of the fork lower slider that you remove. However, jack the front of the bike up so that the front wheel is off the ground, reduces the amount of pressure that will cause the fluid to squirt out quite a distance. Then manipulating the forks up and down will facilitate pumping out the remainder of the fluid.

Then, the large caps on the top of the ends of the upper fork tubes is what you have to remove to access them to be able to pour the new fluid into them. Folks need to loosen the upper triple tree clamps to allow the caps to be able to be loosened/removed. There's more special tips with regards to marking the caps for reinstallation to prevent crossthreading, and again jack up front wheel to relax front springs for easier cap install.

Will say that there is usually lots of junk/corrosion/slugde in the bottom of the fork tube slider that can not be adequately removed without disassembly.

T.C.

[jjz28]

So, its possible to stop the leak without disassembling the forks? I would love to give that a shot. How do you add it to your forks? I know nothing about forks, don't even know how to put the fluid in. Could someone tell me how to add this stop leak to my forks. You could pm me if wanted. Thanks a lot.

[Bellerophon]

I am running Shinkos on both my SF and FJR. They seem to be wearing at least as well as any other tires I've used, and handle as good the others too. At about 60% of the cost of most other tires, what's not to like?

[Courtney]

I have a big jug of Bardhal fork oil seal leak stop on my shelf. I put it in 20 yrs ago, and the forks are still holding air on my XS Special, and no leakage at all.