KymcoForum.com
Scooters - 125 to 300 => Downtown 300 => Topic started by: Adept on May 28, 2014, 07:18:19 PM
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I would like to check out the front fork, and do some cleaning and oil change. No leaking, no demage, so nothing serious work on it, as I expect...
Can anybody help about disassembling, measure the oil level, or any tip and tricks?
So anyting and everything please...
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Try to get hold of the service manual, it should help you in the pull down as well as the spec/quantity of oil etc.
Having read in a magazine recently about suspension, seems factory fill fork oil has little in friction eliminators, so an aftermarket fork oil would help in making the fork work as it should.
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In the chapter 14, I found this
spcified oil: SS#8
capacity: 185cc
But there isn't a single word about disassembling... :( (I have too different manual)
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According to my DownTown 200 service manual, the section you should look for is Section 14 (Front Shock Absorber), Pahe 184 onwards.
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FRONT FORK SCOOTER 50CC (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JaL5mQuaoX8#)
This will help. They are all the same.
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I relalize I don't know what does the SS#8 fork oil means??
What type of oil is this?
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I relalize I don't know what does the SS#8 fork oil means??
What type of oil is this?
@Adept
Check this out (Google translate is your friend if you can't understand Chinese)
http://forum.jorsindo.com/forum.php?mod=viewthread&tid=2355702&highlight=nikita%2B%E5%89%8D%E5%8F%89 (http://forum.jorsindo.com/forum.php?mod=viewthread&tid=2355702&highlight=nikita%2B%E5%89%8D%E5%8F%89)
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Get a small syringe, best found at a farm supply store or medical store. I believe that ss#8 means 8w weight oil. I've used 5w fork oil in many of my bikes and it feels a LOT better, you'll be shocked how much better it is. I used Belray fork oil. If you can reach the 14mm pinch bolts on the top of your socks you shouldn't have to take much apart. Remove the wheel and remove the bolts on top of the the shock. Once you have the shock off unscrew the large cap on top, careful there is a large spring and it is under pressure. You can pour the old oil out and let it drain for a while. Move the shock up and down to get all oil out. Replace with recommended quantity. Install in reverse order.
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@Adept
Check this out (Google translate is your friend if you can't understand Chinese)
http://forum.jorsindo.com/forum.php?mod=viewthread&tid=2355702&highlight=nikita%2B%E5%89%8D%E5%8F%89 (http://forum.jorsindo.com/forum.php?mod=viewthread&tid=2355702&highlight=nikita%2B%E5%89%8D%E5%8F%89)
Of course, I do understand, speak and write perfectly in Chinese :D :D :D
I translated it to Hungarian, and English, I try to figured it out the point...
So the less oil (150cc) is rigid, and much oil (200cc) is comfordable?
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Get a small syringe, best found at a farm supply store or medical store. I believe that ss#8 means 8w weight oil. I've used 5w fork oil in many of my bikes and it feels a LOT better, you'll be shocked how much better it is. I used Belray fork oil. If you can reach the 14mm pinch bolts on the top of your socks you shouldn't have to take much apart. Remove the wheel and remove the bolts on top of the the shock. Once you have the shock off unscrew the large cap on top, careful there is a large spring and it is under pressure. You can pour the old oil out and let it drain for a while. Move the shock up and down to get all oil out. Replace with recommended quantity. Install in reverse order.
THANKS!!!
I think weekend will be my fork fixing time :D
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Of course, I do understand, speak and write perfectly in Chinese :D :D :D
I translated it to Hungarian, and English, I try to figured it out the point...
So the less oil (150cc) is rigid, and much oil (200cc) is comfordable?
You don't want to use too much oil, more than spec and you will bottom out early because there is no room for the oil to move. Use the recommended amount, but you can tune the feeling with the weight of oil you buy, thin is softer damping thick is harder. The "stiffness" is tuned with different springs, damping and rebound are controlled by oil.
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I've just red in a BMW forum:
5-10w is good for bikes, 20-30w makes too hard the suspension, affect the driving experience dangeriously...
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SS#8 is "Saybolt Seconds" and it should take 8 seconds for a set quantity to drain through a specified orifice (hole diameter). Check with API to find quantity and hole size.
Karl
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https://www.louis.eu/rund-ums-motorrad/bike-datenbank/kymco-downtown-300i-abs/v2/2137 (https://www.louis.eu/rund-ums-motorrad/bike-datenbank/kymco-downtown-300i-abs/v2/2137)
In this chart they say 20w oil for the DT's fork...
Is it a big difference 5w and 20w?
What do you think?
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I think that's wrong, there manual says ss#8, which from what I've found is about 8.5w. The closest you'll be able to find is 10w.
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I changed the fork oil on tue. on the downtown, remove the top cap , then push down on the top , it is spring loaded, and it is held in with a small ring, push down on the center the side should pop up and pull it out, then wiggle the plug out,drain the oil out, and the spring slides out, put the spring back in and put 185 ml. # 10 fork oil in,put the plug in and compress plug in and replace spring clip, all done!!! you need three hands to put spring clip in, one too hold shock from compressing, one to push down on plug, and one to install clip,. I have a carpenters vice, thats one hand, it has wood face so it will not crush tube
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I find a cap on the top of the fork, not a screw...
How can I take that out?
Now I drained the oil by unscrew the bottom allen screw, and pull apart the fork. I filled up with oil, but now it knocking up (I don't know the english phrase)... Should I fill more oil in it??
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If you can the easiest way is to take out the top mounting bolt on each fork leg. Loosen the bottom ones slightly, to take pressure off the cap, then loosen top cap with allen wrench while forks are still on bike.
Remove fork mounting bolts and remove the forks.
Take off the cap, being careful as it is under spring pressure.
Remove spring and drain forks by turning them upside down.
I use this http://www.chaparral-racing.com/product/pro-honda-suspension-fluid-ss-8-10w/19-1024.aspx (http://www.chaparral-racing.com/product/pro-honda-suspension-fluid-ss-8-10w/19-1024.aspx).
Fill the correct amount and move the forks up and down to release any trapped air.
Put in spring and put cap back on hand tight.
Forks back on bike, snug up bottom mounting bolts, torque caps, put top mounting bolts back in and tighten everything up.
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Yes, I found descriptions on the net too, but now I need practical advice.
What tool can grap that cap? How you take it out???
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the plastic cap comes off with a knife, pry it a little and it come off easy, the plug is harder you have to push down on it and get the little spring clip out, push down on the middle of the --C and the ends pop up,
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the plastic cap comes off with a knife, pry it a little and it come off easy, the plug is harder you have to push down on it and get the little spring clip out, push down on the middle of the --C and the ends pop up,
Infinite beers for you!!!! :-* :-* :-*
I pushed down very hard (my fingers are healing well thank you). So there is a circlip in it, I took that out. It pushed out some oil, so I have to drain down all of it, so I can measure exactly the 185ml...
One final question. In the first round I put 185ml in the fork, and I was still weak, couldn't hold the weight of the bike.
What should I do now? I drain the oil, I fill it up, push it a few time to push out the air bubbles, I close with the cap. Is there any trick??
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I have done everything, but still too soft. The fork can't hold the weight of the bike...
Is it possible It needs more oil? What could be the problem???
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the springs could be too short, I have a set of springs coming in on the 8th of may I will post the measurments of the springs, how much does your springs compress when you sit on your scoot, the book says there is 4 1/2 inches of compression, total, I am 220 lb. and I think it goes down 1 1/2 inches when I sit , and the other thing I will do is try # 15 shock oil,. also I will compress spring 4 inches on a scale to see the diference with new springs and old springs,. any other thoughts??
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So we are in the same weight category (I mean featherweight 8) 8) )
The funny thing is my fork was all right before this oil change, I just tought I needed a new oil after 4 years... So it must be an assembly problem, not a broken part in it or something like that.
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Okay I have fix a lot again... I have a theory...
In this fork, there is not a screw, but this sh**ty cap, what you have to push down very hard to put its place (and after that the circlip)
So if I don't hold against the rod hardly, while I push down the cap, I press a little air out, and I already lost some pressure, the fork will be shorter, and softer...
If there would be a screw it wasn't a problem.
I hope you get it... :)
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I dont know if the air makes any difference,. I hung the shock from my vice, so it was fully extended, when I put the top plug in,. I over filled ,I put 190 ml. in the shock, and the ride is so much better,. the factory only put 160 ml. in,. I did not see a leak,.
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Wait, wait...
The factory quantity is 185ml in the manual, not 160...
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only 160 ml. measured, must have been friday 5 oclock when my scooter was filled, in a hurry to go home,
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De dee, will you use any spring preload?? I think about a1 inch metal ring (spacer?) what I would put between the metal cap and the spring. That would give a little preload to the spring. The question what size would be fine? I tought I make 2 smaller pieces per rod, so I can try a little.
What did you say, how many inches the normal compression of the spring under our weight??
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good question , I just got someone to measure and it is 3/4 inch, so that leaves 3 3/4 inch , how much does your scoot compress
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I took my measurements.
Under my weight (just sitting on the bike) it compresses 4cm (1,58 inches)
The biggest compression after a 100km city ride 8cm (3,15 inches)
Is it okay?
I feel it very comfy for me so far. A little soft, but okay.
Does anyone see any missing parts from the fork (especially between the spring and the metal cap)??
https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/yourphotos?pid=6144541437391799298&oid=114162653462901977400
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maybe keeping your spring fully extended is best, when you install the top cap and spring clip, that makes it air over oil suspention, what if I installed a air valve in the top cap and put in 5 or ten lb,s of pressure,. how long would the pressure last,. thinking about it 1 lb. might be good,. 15 lb.s in my van keeps it level with 600 lb.s in the back, with air lift bags,
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Air valve? Is there anything like that?
Preloading the spring is much more easy...
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easy is not fun , different is fun to play with, at 82 I need to have some fun, and I like to take things apart,
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easy is not fun , different is fun to play with, at 82 I need to have some fun, and I like to take things apart,
82 what?? Are you 82 years old? (Sorry I am hungarian, so sometimes I misunderstand the english...)
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yes I am 82 years old going to ride till I am 90, hope I wont need 4 wheels then, I call my downtown my mobility scooter,
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Very big RESPECT for you!!!! Who would have tought?