Service time for the Rocket

[ant]

Hi,It's time for the rockets service,oil and filter,plugs and usual checks.I was thinking about changing the fork oil but have been checking the work shop manual and there are 3 special tool required,i am thinking that the 3880160-T0301 is a bit over kill and am sure that you could get the same result using a stick.It looks to be a more complicated job than old type forks,ie undo the drain screws on the side of the lower fork legs and pump the forks to remove the oil then replace the screws undo the top nut fill will required amount of oil replace the nut...easy peasy lemon squeezy lol.

Unless somebody knows of an easy way off changing the fork oil on the rocket..I have heard of people removing the damper rod bolt and seal and draining the oil from there....


The sun is out today so might do a few miles and get stuck in to servicing the bike when i get back..lol

 

[Jeff Cameron]

What about just pulling the forks off and taking them to the dealer to change out the oil....You would save the cost of the R&R of the forks and not have the messy fork oil job to do?

 

[Idaho Red Rocket 3]

I debated the purchase of the tools for several years. They were $40 here in the States. Spring for it, do the job, while you are in there change the springs to the Progressive springs and change the oil to 7W. The result is well worth it.

 

[ant]

I debated the purchase of the tools for several years. They were $40 here in the States. Spring for it, do the job, while you are in there change the springs to the Progressive springs and change the oil to 7W. The result is well worth it.

Thanks for your replies..I did think about trying to improve the forks with new springs..Maybe it's a idea to take the fork to a dealer for them to sort and save cost of buy the correct tool..

 

[zenbiker]

I have owned around 25 big bikes over my 50 years of riding and have never noticed a bit of difference after a fork oil change.
Consider how long your engine oil lasts with searing heat, exposure to exploding air/fuel mixtures and thousands of shear forces per minute acting upon it as opposed to the cool and lazy compression and rebound of the forks at ambient temperatures.The oil just will not break down under such benign conditions..The oil simply acts as a hydraulic dampener and takes no breakdown stresses at all.
I just have not done fork oil changes for the past twenty years and do not intend to do so ever again. No leaks...no problem!
Changing it is simply to invite seal leaks.
JMHO

 

[Zonechamp]

I have owned around 25 big bikes over my 50 years of riding and have never noticed a bit of difference after a fork oil change.
Consider how long your engine oil lasts with searing heat, exposure to exploding air/fuel mixtures and thousands of shear forces per minute acting upon it as opposed to the cool and lazy compression and rebound of the forks at ambient temperatures.The oil just will not break down under such benign conditions..The oil simply acts as a hydraulic dampener and takes no breakdown stresses at all.
I just have not done fork oil changes for the past twenty years and do not intend to do so ever again. No leaks...no problem!
Changing it is simply to invite seal leaks.
JMHO

Amen!

 

[scot in exile]

Have to agree with the last two posts.

 

[ant]

Thanks for your replies..point taken about the oil..Might look to change the spring at a later date..

 

[Rocket3Pilot]

I totally agree with zenbiker. The more important maintenance for the struts is keeping the exposed slider perfectly clean and the seals supple. The internals can't really change that much. There's a similar thing going on in aviation maintenance with wheel bearings that is pretty goofy. Annual inspections require the mechanics to take out, flush and clean, and then repack the wheel bearings every year? Seriously, every year regardless of miles, and airplanes don't even accumulate miles on the wheels, they fly. Been going on for over 50 years now.

 

[MRJ]

You don't need anything fancy for an oil change. Drain, pump em out.
Refill ensuring correct volume and use a syringe with a thin hose to get down past the top plates..