Fred Harmon's DVD Maintenance Videos

[Terry D]

I have Fred's DVD set for Maintenance on the GL1800 Goldwings. I really like these videos because with the Shop Manual and his Videos, although not perfect really help in understanding what needs to be done with certain projects to maintain or fix the Wing. There is one thing I noticed and am not sure he notices when it comes to setting the oil level in the front forks after an oil change or rebuild of the forks.

In Fred's video he shows how he sets the fork level. Honda and Progessive use different figures. Honda says 5.0 inches from the top and Progressive says 5.5 inches from the top. Progressive states that their springs takes up more volume so their level needs to be lower. That makes sense. Fred sets his at 5.25 to split the difference which is his choice to split the difference. But, I'm thinking there is something wrong in how you measure. The forks on the bike are at an angle. There for you you measure the oil level on the forward or front side of the fork it will be lower than on the back or drivers side of the fork. I used a plastic bottle almost the same size as my fork tubes in reference to its circumference. I filled the bottle half full. I strapped it to the front fork and marked the water level at the front of the bottle and again at the back of the bottle. There was a one inch difference between the two markings. Stand the bottle on a level surface and the water level was 1/2" below the upper mark and above the lower mark.
So it seems to me that if anyone doing this with the forks in the triple tree and you do the measurement you can be off by what you put in.

I think to get a more accurate level, the measurement should be taken with the forks off the bike standing perfectly perpendicular and then carefully trying not to spill the oil when installing the forks back onto the bike. Or put your measurement tube down either the down the front side of the slider and put in 5.5" from the top or the backside of the slider and put in 4.5 inches from the top. Doing this will give you the midpoint of 5.0 inches.

[Andy Cote]

So I looked at the service manual.

"Pour the specified amount of the recommended fork fluid in the tube.

"FORK FLUID CAPACITY: 529 +/- 2.5 cm2 (17.9+/- 0.08 US oz)

"Slowly pump the fork tube several times to remove any trapped air from the lower portion of the fork tune.

"Compress the fork tube fully.

"Measure the oil level from the top of the fork tube.

"FORK FLUID LEVEl: 128MM (5.0 IN).

"Pull the fork tube up and install the fork spring with the tightly wound coil side facing down."



Add a measured amount of oil. Verify oil level is correct with fork off bike, vertical, compressed, no spring installed. Then install spring and fork cap so you shouldn't spill anything during insertion on the triple tree.



..

[Terry D]

Yes Andy. But that does not confirm or deny what I stated. I read the manual, too. But you don't have to add oil with forks off the bike. Many do not.

[Ghostman]

I had Progressives and now traxxion springs but I measure my oil level at the center of the fork tube. Whether angled or straight up the center of the fork tube gives the same reading.

[newday777]

Yes Andy. But that does not confirm or deny what I stated. I read the manual, too. But you don't have to add oil with forks off the bike. Many do not.

If you are talking of adding oil as part of fork rebuild process, always add the oil before you put the forks on the bike so you can purge off the air in the forks by putting your hand over the top of the tube and pump the fork to force the oil into the orifices and the air out, thereby getting the correct oil level.
Very foolish to try to do it on the bike.

[Terry D]

I put 5 1/4" in as Fred's Video suggests. Took the bike for a ride and it seems to ride a little more solid up front. I'm happy except, I'm only 5' 6 1/2" and now I seem to be more on my toes coming to a stop than before. Interesting reading about fork oil, though. Progressive gives you a chart and shows the ideal level. If you have less oil its okay to a point. But, too much and the bike rides harsh and you can blow seals.