Fork Oil ?

[Locksmith]

Acquired some ohlins fork springs off of a member.

Ohlins recommend their 01309 oil which is 19 centistoke at 40 degrees (WTF?)

Now that's not readily available and no doubt will cost a fortune so what SAE fork oil should I use?
I'm guessing 5 or 10W ?

 

[Bon]

Heavier oil will increase the effective damping, in other words the forks will move up and down a little slower and feel stiffer.
Lighter weight oil will do the opposite, allowing the forks to move up and down faster and feel softer.
Ohlins fork oil is apparently megger expensive but is reckoned to be the best. Silkolene is a much more affordable price.
The standard of oil used in Japanese forks is pretty much like using water alledgedly so go for a decent make.

 

[Locksmith]

Should have text you lol

I've always felt confident with silkolene products and that will be my preferred brand. Wonder what weight yammie put in there?

 

[Kinjane]

Silkolene 5W fork oil has a viscosity of 22 centistokes, Silkolene Pro RSF 2.5W is rated at 14.

A 50/50 mix would give you 18

 

[Bon]

Different countries use different viscosities and standards so the same oil the Japanese put in wont necessarily be the same as we have here in England.
They generally use the cheap shite when it comes to budget suspension. Most units can be improved just by draining and refilling with decent oil.
You have to remember that they are budgeting for cheapest they can get away with to suit every weight and riding style, hence why respringing for yourself is better and aftermarket cartridge kits are expensive but so much better as they work how they should. Springs and oil is definitely the way to start.
I went for the whole hog thanks to that nice Mr. Tax Man who sent me some money through the post a while back lol !
Might be worth having a word with a specialist to see what they recommend.
Wouldn't hurt.

 

[Locksmith]

So using kinjanes comparatives, 19 centiwosists is going to be around 4W. So using a 5W would be ever so slightly thicker maybe suiting me at 14 stone in me undies I'm thinking?

 

[My Toy]

Personally I'd go with 15w, and I am going to go with 15w when I get round to changing, something of reasonable quality like Silkolene. 5w will not make any discernible difference to what's in already. 15w has always worked for me in my Hondas and I'm 14 stone.


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[Bon]

5W is probably what was in as standard though again not a quality oil.
10W is probably what I would go for though everyone is different.

 

[flipper]

Silkolene 5W fork oil has a viscosity of 22 centistokes, Silkolene Pro RSF 2.5W is rated at 14.

A 50/50 mix would give you 18

don't mix those 2. RSF is synthetic, tother is mineral.

use the mineral at 22 Cst.

also a 50/50 mix would give you nearer a 20W as viscosity is not a linear measurement.

 

[flipper]

5W is probably what was in as standard though again not a quality oil.
10W is probably what I would go for though everyone is different.

Yamaha 01 oil is standard, It's a Kayaba oil at about 16 Cst. Castrol Grand Prix 10W is also 16 Cst or thereabouts, as is Motorex 2.5W.

I'm using the 5W mineral Silkolene at 22 Cst with .9 springs (same rate as Ohlins) and it works very well.

I think from the feel of it that 10W Silkolene will be too heavy.

 

[flipper]

Personally I'd go with 15w, and I am going to go with 15w when I get round to changing, something of reasonable quality like Silkolene. 5w will not make any discernible difference to what's in already. 15w has always worked for me in my Hondas and I'm 14 stone.


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which Hondas?

a 15W oil is generally around 34 Cst - same as ATF - which is great for damper rod forks. In a cartridge fork it is way too thick and will feel very wooden and stodgy.

as the left hand leg has no damping at all you can use any oil you like in it. if you have some ATF lying around chuck that in. It is only there to provide lubrication. the right hand leg is the one that matters - it provides all the front end damping.

 

[My Toy]

VFR 750 and 800 and Firestorm. Thanks for the info about cartridge forks, I know cack all about em. Cheers.


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[flipper]

Acquired some ohlins fork springs off of a member.

Ohlins recommend their 01309 oil which is 19 centistoke at 40 degrees (WTF?)

Now that's not readily available and no doubt will cost a fortune so what SAE fork oil should I use?
I'm guessing 5 or 10W ?

are you fitting these springs yourself? do you have a suitable means of compressing the springs?

 

[Locksmith]

Having them fitted by dealer!

 

[Kinjane]

don't mix those 2. RSF is synthetic, tother is mineral.

Ooops. I blame the internet thats where the info came from.


If the forks are being done by the dealer - won't they have a suitable recommendation ?

 

[Locksmith]

I want to tell them what I want, not the other way round

 

[flipper]

what oil do they sell?

 

[Locksmith]

Silkolene I do believe !

 

[the voices]

i was going to say message flipper, seems you got there already

 

[flipper]

You probably want Silkolene Fork Oil in either Light 5W at 22.3 Cst or Medium 10W at 34.9. Both are heavier than the stock KYB stuff. Possibly the 10W is too thick but you never know, you might prefer it. Only way to find out is to try one. Don't be tempted by anything heavier as they really do get to be like treacle.

Don't go for the Pro RSF stuff. It's a race fluid - very thick at lower (road) temperatures. It's made to thin out at higher (track) temperatures.