not necessary if , that is if you have experiance turning wrench's.

001to 003 =tight ,no binds
010 t0 020 =a little gap
030-040 = big gap

torque = strip it out , than back off a half a turn ( takes practice)
little bolts /screws fingertight , plus a little .
big bolts , "on the handle" then as your elbow clicks , stop!!!

If you dont have experiance turning bolts, setting clearance , then read the book , and buy the proper tools ...

 

I keep a old bottle of fork oil around and then i use a small medicine cup. Syringe or baby bottle works too....

 

Hey i used this way for years until i bought a TQ wrench and never had any issues....Torque smorque...

 

This is what you need, get the level spec from your manual - overfill the forks - cycle to remove air - measure the tube and lock it down - suck out the excess oil - DONE and both are the same.

 

Good thread--some really good questions.

How important is a torque wrench?--Well, how much fun is removing a broken fastener? Or repairing a stripped hole? All manufacturers use them. All top-grade mechanics use them. Though a busy professional might develop excellent "feel" for the various fastener torques, everyone else would do well to use a torque wrench.

Torque range.--While service manuals comprehensively list a range of torque values for virtually all fasteners, common sense tells us that some of these fasteners are not torque-sensitive, and can be "eye-balled". Because each wrench has its' own internal tolerances, I set torque in the middle of the specified range, when installing. When checking critical fastener torque, I generally set the wrench to the minimum figure, so as not to unnecessarily disturb any Loctite bond. Critical fasteners should be checked w/ a torque wrench, if for no other reason than that you will know, instantly, when one has begun to loosen, and take steps to correct future problems.

Measuring liquids.--The need to balance and make both fork levels equal should be obvious: the pair of forks must equally share the total workload if precise handling is expected. The affects of improper levels and large differences in oil quantities will be very noticeable. A skinny, graduated measuring container (photo supply) will assure precisely the same amounts. Most hypo-type syringes are graduated. A small precision scale can help, too, when extremely precise quantities are needed.

 

An $80 syringe? Thanks for the info, but I think I'll stick with my graduated cylinder, and since I'm not disassembling the forks I'll use the volume specs.

 

I am a perfectionist, every fastener has a tourque value, and if it say's 350cc's it means 350cc's.

If I wanted it done half assed I let the dealership's work on my stuff.

for real, do everything to the ''t'', and leave no doubt you have done the job properl and to the best of your ability, cut no corners.

 

If you can't find a syringe, a turkey baster (spend the big money and get one with volume measurements ) would work. May need to stick a hose on it for added reach.

 

YOU WOULD ENJOY OBSERVING ME DOIN' MY ATTEMPTS TO GET THINGS RIGHT. TIRE PRESSURE= IF OFF 1/4 PSI, I WILL ADJUST. ONLY CHECK EARLY IN THE DAY, IN THE SHADE. HAVE 3 GAUGES AND USE 2 PER CHECK. USE MY OWN COMPRESSOR AND IT IS STORED IN A COOL LOCATION AND DRAINED OF AIR AFTER EACH USE. I RESIST THE URGE TO CHANGE OUT THE OLD AIR FOR NEW FRESH AND THE LIST JUST GOES ON AND ON. I'M OK WITH THIS ILLNESS/SILLINESS & DON'T GUESS IT HURTS ANYONE.
I WOULD LIKE TO GET WILDCARD AND HIS AVATAR TO HELP ME ON MY ADJUSTMENTS/WORK.

 

I ain't gonna add to the torque wrench discussion. Buy one. Use it. It will be your friend!

Regarding the amount of oil to put in the fork tubes - Maybe I am retarded and not remembering correctly, but I think either my 1965 BSA or my 1972 sportster had a screw in the slider (similar to the drain screw on the modern bikes). When adding fluid, you would take the screw out and dump oil in until it came out the hole. I'd tie a rag around the slider to soak up the excess oil, dump in the oil, go drink a six-pack, come back and reinstall the screw. No need to measure anything. Why doesn't HD use a similar system????