brendasue555
Expert Class
Posts: 436
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posted September 11, 2009 03:48 PM
Help me understand forking!
I am trying very hard to understand fork oil and I just don't get it. In the manual for my 1993 zx11d It says this for fork oil: Viscosity: SAE 10W-20 it then goes on to tell the amount per side ect..... So my first thought is oh wow it isnt fork oil at all but simply motor oil. Well I get to the Bike place to buy some and they tell me that forks do not use motor oil and probably what I am supposed to have is Fork oil that can range from 10 weight to 20 weight. Now I am so confused can anybody explain. what is the difference in fork oil and motor oil and how do you tell if it is supposed to be motor oil or fork oil by reading SAE 10W-20? I dont mean to be a dumb ole girl and woulld love to be educated.
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Brenda
  
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tcchin
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posted September 11, 2009 04:12 PM
 Edited By: tcchin on 12 Sep 2009 00:21
Motor oils and fork oils use different base stocks and additives to achieve different operational goals. Specifically, fork oils need to be resistant to foaming and viscosity change within their limited operating temperature range. Your forks are of a damping rod design that uses fixed-sized bleed holes to control fluid motion. As such, they are not as picky about fork oils as cartridge forks, which use variable orifices (shim stacks) in addition to adjustable-sized bleed holes, to control fluid motion. Your manual is telling you that any fork oil in the 10W to 20W range will work fine. 10W is probably the best place to start. 15W and 20W oils will provide more damping, which may give you better wheel control at the expense of a harsher ride. Fork oils come in a single viscosity grade, as their operating temp range is relatively narrow compared with motor oil. Multi-viscosity motor oil's two numbers (e.g., 10W-40) refer to its cold pour point equivalent viscosity in winter conditions (10W) and its nominal viscosity at normal operating temp (40).
It boils down to this: If you're adding oil to your motor, use motor oil; if you're adding oil to your forks, use fork oil.
BTW, if the manual mentions a fluid level in addition to an oil volume, use the fluid level numbers, as they are more accurate than the volume numbers.
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brendasue555
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posted September 11, 2009 04:55 PM
Wow, that makes perfect sense, so what is the SAE for because that is what threw me off. And thanks for the tip about fluid level.
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Brenda
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ZRXDean
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posted September 11, 2009 05:37 PM
Wow, I was totally about to explain something totally different.
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tcchin
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posted September 11, 2009 05:58 PM
That requires an aqueous lubricant...
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tcchin
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posted September 11, 2009 06:08 PM
SAE is the organization that maintains the viscosity test procedures and standards. This is not to be confused with the API, which sets and maintains performance standards for oils. By saying that the oil's viscosity is SAE 10, you are given a reference context for the viscosity units of the oil in question. Most people are familiar with the SAE viscosity numbers, but not the underlying viscosity data, which is usually expressed in terms of centistokes (cSt) as measured at a specified temperature (usually 40C or 100C), depending on the application.
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entropy
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posted September 11, 2009 06:25 PM
Edited By: entropy on 12 Sep 2009 02:29
Proper Use of Knife, Fork, and Spoon
The European, or "Continental," style of using knife and fork is somewhat more efficient, and its practice is also slightly used in the United States, where left-handed children are no longer forced to learn to wield a fork with their right hands. According to this method, the fork is held continuously in the left hand and used for eating. When food must be cut, the fork is used exactly as in the American style, except that once the bite has been separated from the whole, it is conveyed directly to the mouth on the downward-facing fork.
Regardless of which style is used to operate fork and knife, it is important never to cut more than one or two bites at one time.
Another significant difference between the American and the European styles of using knife and fork is the American insistence that even the most awkward foods (peas being a great example) must be captured by the unaided fork. In Europe it is permitted to use the knife or a small piece of bread to ease an item onto the fork.
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whitehendrix
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posted September 11, 2009 07:49 PM
epic post Karl!!!
ya, bren. ( not sure if anyone will argue this or not.. haha) but fork oil is "basically" hydraulic fluid.
basic hyd. fluid ( like for a bobcat or forklift or something, like AW46) is a pettroleum based 10 weight oil.
motor oil however, even though it may be of the same weight, has different chemical characteristics that are suited more towards the harsh engine environment.
as Tim said, different viscusities ( ability to flow) wil laffect the dampning rate. a "thicker" more vicous oil will slow te rate down... makes the shock a bit less responsive but adds a bit of control. conversely, a lighter oil will react much faster.. like for running maxton!!
fork oils can be blended to achieve youur vicscosity goal as well. 50% 10W and 50% 5W will yield 7.5W
theres a variety of different viscosities out as well. big bikes liek goldwings use 15W. small, light bikes like R6s or whatever may use 10 or 7.5, and (road)race bikes may have 5w in their forks.
____________
Duct tape is the handyman's secret
weapon. The black is for formal
occasions. - ZRXDean
ill never own a busa unless
someone gives me one.... and then
ill sell it -KZScott
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KZScott
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posted September 12, 2009 09:26 AM
spooning can lead to forking :P
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01 ZX-12R 8.84 @ 156.3 no bars, DOT tires. Pump Gas, NA.... turbo 8.47 @ 164.
00 ZX-12R 8.62 @ 165.2 no bars, slicks, Pump Gas, 55 shot.... turbo 8.32 @173
00 ZX-12R Fastest NA Kawasaki in the world 1: 222.046 1.5: 226.390 Loring AFB
00 ZX-12R street turbo 1: 227.9 1.5: 234.1 Loring AFB
00 ZX-12R LSR turbo 1: 263.1 1.5: 266.5 Loring AFB Worlds fastest ZX-12R
CMG Racing RCC Turbos
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Dane
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posted September 12, 2009 10:24 AM
Brenda, i knew when I clicked on this thread there was going to be some interesting, yet knowledgeable responses.
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brendasue555
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posted September 12, 2009 11:08 AM
omg ya'll are killin me. lol Thanks to all!
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Brenda
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shiphteey
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posted September 12, 2009 11:20 AM
Brenda, if you have stock front fork springs in there, they are just under .85
If you weigh what I do, about 120 no gear then for street riding its ok, although .90 would do you better. Even if you are a couple/few pounds over you should still be fine.
May want to go with 15W to help compensate for the slightly softer than optimal stock front fork springs in your ZX-11...again presuming they are stock.
A.
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Gemini Motorcycles
Topping out everything from Ninja 250s to nitrous ZX-14s.
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brendasue555
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Posts: 436
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posted September 12, 2009 06:49 PM
I am going with 20 because I was told to go with the top weight that it gave so 20 it is. It is a pretty heavy bike and I like it stiff.
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Brenda
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Halvefast
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posted September 12, 2009 07:15 PM
quote:
It is a pretty heavy bike and I like it stiff.
 Girl you crack me up! 
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entropy
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posted September 22, 2009 10:02 AM
Brenda,
when are you going to give a ride report on yr newly built, painted, and tuned Legend Bike????
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brendasue555
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posted September 22, 2009 03:33 PM
soon karl but first i must some how have it removed from my ass!
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Brenda
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KZScott
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high on speed
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posted September 22, 2009 03:42 PM
quote:
and I like it stiff.
quote:
but first i must some how have it removed from my ass!
yup, this is the forking thread for sure!
____________
01 ZX-12R 8.84 @ 156.3 no bars, DOT tires. Pump Gas, NA.... turbo 8.47 @ 164.
00 ZX-12R 8.62 @ 165.2 no bars, slicks, Pump Gas, 55 shot.... turbo 8.32 @173
00 ZX-12R Fastest NA Kawasaki in the world 1: 222.046 1.5: 226.390 Loring AFB
00 ZX-12R street turbo 1: 227.9 1.5: 234.1 Loring AFB
00 ZX-12R LSR turbo 1: 263.1 1.5: 266.5 Loring AFB Worlds fastest ZX-12R
CMG Racing RCC Turbos
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brendasue555
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Posts: 436
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posted September 22, 2009 03:46 PM
OMG
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Brenda
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KZScott
Needs a life
high on speed
Posts: 7235
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posted September 22, 2009 04:10 PM
hey you said it not me lol
____________
01 ZX-12R 8.84 @ 156.3 no bars, DOT tires. Pump Gas, NA.... turbo 8.47 @ 164.
00 ZX-12R 8.62 @ 165.2 no bars, slicks, Pump Gas, 55 shot.... turbo 8.32 @173
00 ZX-12R Fastest NA Kawasaki in the world 1: 222.046 1.5: 226.390 Loring AFB
00 ZX-12R street turbo 1: 227.9 1.5: 234.1 Loring AFB
00 ZX-12R LSR turbo 1: 263.1 1.5: 266.5 Loring AFB Worlds fastest ZX-12R
CMG Racing RCC Turbos
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tcchin
Zone Head
Posts: 867
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posted September 22, 2009 04:36 PM
I'd like a report on the removal process, please.
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whitehendrix
Zone Head
fails!
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posted September 24, 2009 08:09 PM
and pics.
____________
Duct tape is the handyman's secret
weapon. The black is for formal
occasions. - ZRXDean
ill never own a busa unless
someone gives me one.... and then
ill sell it -KZScott
|
brendasue555
Expert Class
Posts: 436
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posted September 24, 2009 08:53 PM
Ya'll are a riot!
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Brenda
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