Question about whether I have air forks or not.. hopefully an easy answer

[JeremyL]

I have a 79 Special but it's a Frankenstein of parts. I've already had to address the crazy problems with the carbs since the bike had a 79 frame/title, 80 motor, 79 carbs but with 80 jets. I was going to change my fork oil because I can hear my springs squeaking like an old mattress when going over bumps slowly so I'm better they're probably low or dry in there.

ANYWAYS, I was going to start replacing/filling the oil and noticed at the top of the forks it didn't have a "flat" cap like most regular forks I've seen on my bikes but has a little "spout" coming out, like the ones in the service manual, except instead of an schrader valve there's just a flat-head screw in there. I dunno if someone just took out the valves and put a screw in or what. The screw doesn't stand out and looks like it was stock but I don't know.

If someone just took out the shrader valve and blocked it off with the screw is that a problem? Is it that easy to convert from air forks to regular forks?

[natemoen]

That would be the dampener adjustment screw.

[JeremyL]

That would be the dampener adjustment screw.

Oh wow I was way off then.. So how does that work/what does it adjust? Does that mean I have regular forks and not air forks?

[crazy steve]

A pic would help us tell you for sure.....

[natemoen]

Regular non air forks. There is a set of "ramps" on the bottom side of the cap that sets the preload (sorry not dampening like I said a min ago).

[SFerinTEXAS]

The special forks have a cap over the schrader valve that have a large flat screwdriver slot on top. You may have to post a pic to show exactly what your looking at.

Like these
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1980-Yamaha-...d52fd6&vxp=mtr

[JeremyL]

The special forks have a cap over the schrader valve that have a large flat screwdriver slot on top. You may have to post a pic to show exactly what your looking at.

Like these
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1980-Yamaha-...d52fd6&vxp=mtr

Yup that looks like them. I'm at work now so I can't take a pic but I can later. They look like that and are directly under the handlebar, facing the rider at a 45* angle. I guess I should've tried to unscrew them and see what was underneath but I didn't think about it being a hidden valve lol.

[trdriver71]

I have a 79 Special but it's a Frankenstein of parts. I've already had to address the crazy problems with the carbs since the bike had a 79 frame/title, 80 motor, 79 carbs but with 80 jets. I was going to change my fork oil because I can hear my springs squeaking like an old mattress when going over bumps slowly so I'm better they're probably low or dry in there.

ANYWAYS, I was going to start replacing/filling the oil and noticed at the top of the forks it didn't have a "flat" cap like most regular forks I've seen on my bikes but has a little "spout" coming out, like the ones in the service manual, except instead of an schrader valve there's just a flat-head screw in there. I dunno if someone just took out the valves and put a screw in or what. The screw doesn't stand out and looks like it was stock but I don't know.

If someone just took out the shrader valve and blocked it off with the screw is that a problem? Is it that easy to convert from air forks to regular forks?

does it look like this?

[natemoen]

Didn't know they hid the schrader valve like that.

[ddragon63]

does it look like this?

looks exactly like the top of my 79 special forks. Air valve is under that cap

[trdriver71]

looks exactly like the top of my 79 special forks. Air valve is under that cap

That is what i was trying to show but i haven't seen a response from the op.

[Shockman54]

so would you just fill it with some air if the seals are good?

[ddragon63]

so would you just fill it with some air if the seals are good?

12 to 20 psi depending on load and riding situations. Mine is full bagger and ride 2 up most the time. I run 15w fork oil and 20 psi. Rides great

[fredintoon]

Best use a bicycle pump; there's very little room in there so a shot from an air line can give a serious over-pressure real quick.

[JeremyL]

Hey guys I got the caps off there and they ARE air forks but when I tried to bleed the air out nothing came out. The guy that had the bike before me was a complete idiot and I think he got this bike out of a field. The fork oil I drained (it started raining hard so I had to quit and cover her back up) was nasty looking and was probably the stock fork oil from 1979. I dunno if the forks will hold air yet but i hope so because I don't really want to change the fork seals anytime soon unless necessary.