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Fork Oil change: DIY!

99K views 172 replies 35 participants last post by  mako 
#1 · (Edited)
UPDATE: 10/9/2017: Photobucket was the host of the images embedded links of the photos I took of the fork change, however, Photobucket is now requiring account holders to pay and annual fee to allow the photo links to be embedded into third party websites, such as this S1000RR forum. I'm not paying any fee and will try to find a different host to put the photos. Until then, all the photos in the below description will be null. Sorry for the hassle!

How to change fork oil on the BMW S1000RR

This was my first attempt to change fork oil on my own and it seemed to go very well and the biggest advantage was saving money from having a local shop do it for me. I’m somewhat mechanically inclined and decided to give it a try. I bought a RaceTech fork compressor tool for $136 shipped on eBay. If you do not have one of these tools, you’ll need one, or use a homemade fork spring compression tool. (I’ve heard some folks can use c-clamps and ratchet style tie downs to compress fork springs).

I won’t get into the details on how to remove the forks from the bike. If you do not know how to do that, stop right now and don’t attempt this on your own. You’ll want to note your suspension settings and the height the fork extends from the top clamp. Turn the rebound to #1 on the top of the fork. Most importantly, you’ll also need to loosen the top cap of both forks prior to loosening the pinch bolts on the triple tree. Otherwise, you probably won’t be able to loosen the top cap if you remove the fork from the bike first. Don’t completely remove the cap, or you’ll be dealing with fork oil going everywhere when you slide the fork out of the triple tree. I just turned the cap 2 or 3 revolutions to get it started then loosened the pinch bolts and removed the fork from the triple tree.

Once you’ve got the fork removed from the bike, you can completely unscrew the top nut then slide the upper tube down on the lower tube to see the internals. At this point, you have the option of draining the fluid out prior to compressing the spring, or you can drain the fluid later. I chose to leave the fluid in so I could take a measurement of how much fluid was in the fork prior to draining it just for my own curiosity.

With that said, I put the fork in the compressor tool and cranked it down to expose the locknut for the top cap.

Loosen the lock nut and then unscrew the top nut to remove if from the damper inside the fork. I removed the plastic spacer, metal washer, and spring then took a measurement of the current fork oil using small tape measure with mm on it.


I then drained the fluid out by turning the fork upside down. There is another metal washer that’ll come out of the fork too which is positioned just below the spring. I laid out the internals in order.

Once drained, remove axle pinch bolts to access the bolt from the bottom of the fork that holds the damper inside the fork. Loosen it all the way and remove the damper.

Here's the link to all the photos I took during the procedure: https://photos.app.goo.gl/YKYms1CJFu3sUxXW2
 

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#2 · (Edited)
Continued:

UPDATE 10/9/17: The embedded photos below are no longer valid. I'm unable to embed the photos within the text, so here's a link to the album showing all photos I took during the procedure: https://photos.app.goo.gl/YKYms1CJFu3sUxXW2

Pump the damper several times to remove all the oil inside of it. See how dark the old oil is in the cup?


Here are all the internals:


Now it’s time to reinstall the parts, starting with the damper. Make sure the end of the damper lines up correctly inside the fork leg so it’s properly seated.



Reinstall the bolt in the bottom of the fork to secure the damper (30Nm). Again, make sure the damper was lined up correctly to properly seat in the bottom of the fork leg. Now it’s time to fill with fork oil. I went with Silkolene Racing SAE 10. OEM is SAE 7.5 and Dave Moss recommends SAE 15. If I feel #10 is still too light, I’ll go with #15 when I change the fluid again. The quantity to fill is 602ml. Since I don’t have precise measuring cups, I filled an empty fork oil bottle to about 600 ml and slowly poured it into the fork tube.


You now have to pump the damping rod several times to get the fluid inside the rod. Again, not having the proper tool to thread on top of the rod, I simply used needle nose pliers and gently gripped the top of the damper rod and pulled it up and down several times. I then let the oil settle for about 15 minutes before I took my first measurement. Using my high tech tape measure, I took a few measurements and found the oil level just a few mm low from recommended air space (90mm). I poured a little more oil in to get it set right at 90mm from the surface of the oil to the top of the lower fork leg (not the top of the upper fork leg!). I forgot to take a photo showing the correct level. Sorry!

Now it’s time to put the rest of the internals back in. Start with the metal washer that goes below the spring, then the spring itself, then the washer on top of the spring, then the plastic spacer. Put the fork back in the spring compression tool and crank down on the spring until the damping rod and lock nut will extend out of the plastic spacer. I used needle nose pliers to gently pull up the damper rod to thread the top nut on the rod. Be careful not to mess up the threads on the damper rod!


Screw the top nut down until it tightens slightly from “bottom” out on the damper (not on the lock nut!). You may need to use a flat head screw driver (or some other flat tool like the wire cutters you see in the photos) wedged under the lock nut to keep it above the plastic spacer.


Now you need to check the number of clicks for the rebound. If you count 10 total clicks, you’re good to go. I found by tightening the top cap until it was snug (or bottomed out) on the damper rod, that was the correct position to get 10 clicks on rebound settings. However, if you have 9 or less clicks, you need to raise the top nut on the threaded damper rod. Check the number of clicks. If you have 11 or more clicks, you need to lower the top nut on the threaded damper rod. Check the number of clicks each time you raise, or lower the top cap on the damper rod to get it set at 10 clicks. No more, no less. Once it’s correct, tighten the lock nut to 20Nm and set the rebound to the number you noted at the beginning of the project.

Release the spring compression tool and the internals should be tight against each other.


Continued in the next reply:
 
#3 · (Edited)
Continued:

UPDATE 10/9/17: The embedded photos below are no longer valid. I'm unable to embed the photos within the text, so here's a link to the album showing all photos I took during the procedure: https://photos.app.goo.gl/YKYms1CJFu3sUxXW2


Raise the upper fork tube and start threading it on the top cap.


Be careful not to pinch or kink the rubber O-ring when tightening the top cap down on the fork tube.


Now that the fork is all buttoned up, check it for smooth compression and rebound by holding the fork firmly on the floor and push down on the top tube as the bike would do under braking. If it feels good and does not bottom out on the brake caliper mounts, it’s time to reinstall the fork on your bike. The torque setting for the triple tree bolts is 19Nm. Once the fork is installed in the triple tree, be sure to torque the top cap to 20Nm too!

Now it’s time to repeat this procedure for the other fork!

Time wise for each fork, it took me about 45 minutes from removing the fork from the bike, draining the oil, disassembly, refilling, measuring, reassembly of internals, checking rebound settings and tightening the top cap back on the upper tube. Keep in mind, this was my first time, so experience will certainly reduce the time it takes to change the fluid next time.

Good luck!
 
#50 ·
Continued:
Raise the upper fork tube and start threading it on the top cap.


Be careful not to pinch or kink the rubber O-ring when tightening the top cap down on the fork tube.


Now that the fork is all buttoned up, check it for smooth compression and rebound by holding the fork firmly on the floor and push down on the top tube as the bike would do under braking. If it feels good and does not bottom out on the brake caliper mounts, it’s time to reinstall the fork on your bike. The torque setting for the triple tree bolts is 19Nm. Once the fork is installed in the triple tree, be sure to torque the top cap to 20Nm too!

Now it’s time to repeat this procedure for the other fork!

Time wise for each fork, it took me about 45 minutes from removing the fork from the bike, draining the oil, disassembly, refilling, measuring, reassembly of internals, checking rebound settings and tightening the top cap back on the upper tube. Keep in mind, this was my first time, so experience will certainly reduce the time it takes to change the fluid next time.

Good luck!
thank you! any chance to load the pictures again please?

Also, anyone know where to buy the compression tool in Europe? And the fork seal driver tool for 2010 S1000rr - what diameter we need? Is this suitable https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00V1X5WVC/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=AT7B7UCUVYVLX&psc=1 (I also have a Triumph Street Triple and ideally would buy the set that fits as many as posible bikes, but to a minimum these 2 I have now)
 
#8 ·
Mostly track riding in the A Group with NESBA about mid pack pace. I bought it used from California Superbike School a year ago with 17,500 miles and it now has about 21,000 miles on it. They never changed the fork oil, so it was certainly overdue. I did 14 trackdays this year at various tracks from VIR North and South, Summit Main, Road Atlanta and even did Barber a year ago a few weeks after I got the bike. VIR is my "home" track and I'm generally in the low 1:40s on the North with a few 1:39s and even a couple of 1:38's when I was chasing a rabbit. I plan on changing the oil every year since it's fairly easy and saves me quite a bit from having to take it to a shop. I'll be glad to answer any other questions too!
 
#15 ·
No problem. I'm a tight wad when it comes to spending money. Anytime I can do things to save a buck or two, I'm all over it. Since changing my fork oil, I've done a trackday at Roebling Road in early Dec and 3 days last weekend at JenningsGP and the forks feel fine. The only thing I might do differently is going with the heavier weight oil (SAE 15 vs the SAE 10 I put in) since I'm still getting close to bottoming out under heavy brakes. I'm 220 lbs in gear so a bit heavy. Maybe I should go on a diet....nah....:rolleyes:
 
#17 ·
I just got a response from Mr. Dave Moss on Facebook.

He recommends 15w Motul or Maxima fork oil for my application.

For reference I am using stock 11 fork and I weigh 195-205 without gear, and run my clickers on #6

He said for the track keep the same amount of oil, and for the street, 10-20mm less oil.

Now I can finally order fork oil and do the service!


THANK YOU DAVE!
 
#20 ·
Great write up. I'm planning on doing this soon. My question is how can you tell if the forks are bent/ bad. I was involved in a minor accident. Rear ended a car at 20mph (distracted by phone ringing) I visually checked the forks and both appear straight, no kinks neither. I was wondering if internal damage is possible?
 
#21 ·
Good question. If they appear straight, it's probably OK. If you do change the fluid and things "drag" or don't pull apart correctly, or even if the damping rod appears bent, then you have bad forks. For what it's worth, I had a buddy with 2000 GSXR600 on the track for 5+ years with slightly bent forks and never bothered him.
 
#25 · (Edited)
Damn!
Bike feels lighter and sharper,

The oil wasn't as dirty as I thought it would be after 26K. I'll probably wait until another 30K for the next oil change.

Per Mr. Moss I used Motul 15W and left the level 105mm from the top. Rebound on 5, stock preload. 6 on the bottom of the fork. I bumped the rebound on the rear to 8 to match the front.

I think I still need to play around with settings a little, but it easily feels much better.

Thanks for the write up, everything was just as listed. :thumbup:
Sent from Motorcycle.com Free App
 
#30 ·
Not sure if the '14 forks are much different than the '10-'11 models. Mine was close to not being able to get to the nut with the tool fully compressing the tube just prior to touching the tube. I had to pull up just a little on the internals with my hand to get to the nut to loosen it. Not sure if this will help you get yours done, but figure you have to be close with the tool being just about the only way to get the internals pulled apart. Maybe loosen/remove the bolt on the very bottom of the fork to release the internals from the inside of the tube? You'd have to remove the compression tool to get to the bolt on the bottom of the fork first.
 
#31 ·
Has anyone done fork oil change on 2015+ RR with DDC? Is it any different than OP's DIY?
 
#37 ·
Yep, that appears to be the case, I just found it in the repair manual. So, apparently you would need the $480 BMW compressor (83302152858) "Pretensioning Tool" but also the $80 "Extensions" (83302336777).

I wonder if the stock bushings from a pre-'15 shock (that don't require adapters) are interchangeable.

Also looks like it wouldn't be ridiculously difficult to fab an adapter to work with the racetech compressor. I may first try drilling another set of holes in the stock plastic bushing that are higher up to allow compression.
 
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