How precise do you need to be with fork oil?

[Gazz]

Just changed my fork oil on the Deauville tonight, but after I had sat the oil container down for a wee while a fair amount of oil collected at the base. Usually with engine oil changes I would not be concerned about this, but don't know specific this should be when doing forks since the recommended amount only gives one figure (not between Xml and Yml for example). The amount required was 480ml per leg, so would say 5ml less be anything to worry about.

[Ollie1995]

I doubt 5ml would make and difference.
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[iMark]

I doubt you could ever get the exact amount in due to the nature of oil.. unless you put that exact amount in a container and let it drain for quite a while to get all of it out, which inevitably will still result in some still in the container..

I doubt a few ML will make a noticeable difference.
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[MarJay]

volume of oil is always inaccurate because it is totally impossible to drain the old oil. The best bet is to find out the air gap and then use that to get the right level. I've got a fork oil tool which is a steel tube with graduations on it, and if the air gap is say 20mm, you set the length of the tube through a metal disc with a thumb screw on it to 50mm, dip it in the end of the tube with the tube compressed and suck out the excess. You can be guaranteed the air gap will be correct, and that the two fork legs have an identical amount of oil.
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[Gazz]

I should probably add a note that if anyone is looking for a measuring jug for doing fork oil - DO NOT buy the Tesco Value gravy jug. I bought this specifically for doing these forks because the numbers on the side go up to 500mls and it is easy to see where 480ml would be. However, thankfully I tried a few other containers first (4 in total) and it turns out that the gravy jug is a mile out with its figures. If I had used the jug first, then this thread might have been saying 'is it ok to be about 100ml out with fork oil volume'.

[Old Git Racing]

Another for air gap, measuring jugs are useless except to get you somewhere near.

OGR
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[andym]

That's one of the reasons I pump the stanchion a few times and then measure the distance rather than measure how many ml's

[Yoyo]

According to Hyo. Half the correct oil is alright.

Wouldn't worry about a few mil.
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[G]

You can 'tune' forks by adjusting the airgap - it affects how they work when heavily compressed mostly I believe - at the point the air compressing starts to work as a spring.

You'd think that'd it'd be important to get the oil consistent each side, but as per mountain bikes forks, a few motorbike forks have completely different actions in each side.

So if you're a bit off, it may make it a little worse - or it may actually make it a little better .

If it seems worse, adjust.
If you can't tell the difference, it's probably not an issue .

[Richy CB1000]

I just use the air gap, I place a tube to the correct length for gap down the fork get the level about where you need it and suck out any excess is the best method I've found.

Put it this way mine hadn't been done for a few years, it should have around 480ml in and when I drained them out of interest I kept what drained out upside down overnight. I got 300 out of one leg, 325 out of the other and had ridden it a year so 5ml out................