Wed, 21 Jan 1998 18:11:27 +0100 - Message No. 1999
From: Martin Franz

Subject: Re: Front fork oil


Hi AT riders,

Philip Herzog wrote:
> Is that the same for the RD04? 
As far as I know, there is not much difference between the RD04 fork and
the "old" RD07 fork. I was told, they are pretty much the same. (also:
same WP fork springs, same WP grade, same WP fill level...)

> I just checked the original Honda Shop
> Manual and it tells you everything but the oil type...
About the SAE (info from my Honda mechanix) for _original_ springs:
	0-12.000km   SAE 7.5 
	12.000-36.000km SAE 15
	36.000-	        SAE 20 or 25  depends on "fork usage" (Verschleiss)

After 25 get's too soft --> open fork and change worn out parts (piston
rings, glide pieces, seals...) and start with a "light" oil again.

IMHO: the best time for first oil change is 6.000km and not 12.000. I
know a lot of "new users", who complained about a weak fork BEFORE their
first oil change :-)))  Also, after the run in phase, a lot of "dirt" is
in the oil, better get it out as early as possible (IMHO again).

BTW: this numbers are true for most oil manufactors. An exception seem's
to be the oil from White Power. They number from 5 to 15 and from (bad)
experience, their 15 is hard as a "normal" 25...(somebody has same
experience ??)

regards, Martin


dipper@normans.isd.uni-stuttgart.de