Expert: Mike Wells - 5/31/2007

Question
QUESTION: I would like to change the lower fork legs to chrome.
Can you provide some help? I have already purchased the chrome legs and I am ready to get started.

Thanks,
George

ANSWER: to strat with you will have to jack the bike up so there is no weight ont he forks. Now remove the wheel, fender and brake caliber. remove the top cap of the forks. Inside the lower fork is a allen head bolt. Remove it. The fork oil will drain out through there. Remove the dust cover at the center of the fork and remove the seal clip. Now the lower fork will slide off. Put the new seal on the upper leg and slide the lower fork on. Install the allen head bolt. Install the seal and clip and install the new fork oil and cap.
Good luck and happy riding
Mike

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi and thanks for the quick response.
However, I have a couple of more questions. How much oil does each fork use and what type?

Also, I know there are chrome sliders and chrome fork legs. I just want to make sure that we are talking about the outside lower leg and not the internal chrome slider; I say this because I have a drain screw on the bottom back side of each leg and you refer to a allen head inside the leg in order to drain the oil. So, before I begin I want to try and make sure.

Finally, from your response it appears that I can do this job while on a lift and not have to remove the forks from the triple clamp. is it safe to assume that?

Thanks again & best regards,
George  

Answer
You can drain the oil from either place. When you remove the allen head bolt the oil will drain.
What I was taking about is the lower forks changing.
On the oil, use standard fork oil. You can get it at any motorcycle shop. Put in 11.5 ozs in each fork.
You dont have to remove the forks from the triple trees to do it.
Good luck and happy riding
Mike