Front shocks refill

[Ruffus]

Inspired by Stigs "Seal Mate" topic, and of course some spare time as a retiree l thought it would an good idea to check my front shock absorbers.

Up front; they where not leaking, no strange sound when compressed, only a little bit too soft during braking.
As it is in such cases, the stuff to be removed around to get to is the real job. (pls. see pics)
All front and the mudguard has to be removed, which is not rocket science but time consuming not to brake this PP-parts and noses.
A) make sure to open the big top screw before you take the shocks off, otherwise its very hard to fix them

B) you need not to remove both fixing bolts which hold the shocks on top only take the upper one out since it fixes the shock at a groove

C) avoid to fix the shock in a vice, paint and chrome are pretty vulnerable
After taken out, emptied from old fork oil, pump them several times over a bucket or similar, there is still some oil in it.
I refilled each of them with 80 ml of SAE 20 forkoil.
If you have, spend them new O-rings to seal.

In my case there was only very little old oil in it. Most probably the previous owners didn't check. During a testride following completion I felt a little bit more resistance and not that deep diving when braking.
Happy shocking and safe riding, Ruffus

[Iahawk]

very nice pictures, thanks! I have the same front forks (shocks) on my People S200 but I don't think I've ever seen them apart!

[Stig / Major Tom]

Ruffus,
You may just be the only forum member who is ever going to perform this service on a LIKE!!
Good for you!
Thanks for posting.


I note from the cylcepedia manual :
"quantity of fork oil 97 cc. Use fork oil type SS#8 (10W)."

Stig

[Ruffus]

Stig@ thank you for this data.
 Followed for quantity local dealers advice. Took SAE 20 because an unopened can of it was sitting on my workshop shelf since ages.
Ah, btw: comes in my mind this dealer recommends according to his data sheet 900 ml of SAE 10W-40 of motoroil for Like 200i.
Have a good one, Ruffus

[Iahawk]

First Stig got me thinking about new forks as a Christmas present to myself..then Ruffus got me thinking about starting with a fork oil change to begin with to see if that helps..

So I removed a fork (very easy job) and of course my fork cap is the more difficult type to remove! Mine has a rubber cap that you pry off to reveal a cap that is held in place with a clip. i would prefer a simple hex head that can be unscrewed.
Mine requires one hand to hold the fork tube, the other to push down with a lot of force to push the cap down about 1/2 inch, and the 3rd hand to pry out the clip that holds the cap in!

I found a youtube video where a guy puts a screwdriver in a vise and wedges the fork between a stool and the screwdriver to push the cap down...hmmmm....

The other question is about fork oil volume. Stig mentioned 97 ml in the Cyclepedia manual and Ruffus had a document with 80 ml.  Any thoughts on this? Maybe split the difference?

[Stig / Major Tom]

First Stig got me thinking about new forks as a Christmas present to myself..then Ruffus got me thinking about starting with a fork oil change to begin with to see if that helps..

So I removed a fork (very easy job) and of course my fork cap is the more difficult type to remove! Mine has a rubber cap that you pry off to reveal a cap that is held in place with a clip. i would prefer a simple hex head that can be unscrewed.
Mine requires one hand to hold the fork tube, the other to push down with a lot of force to push the cap down about 1/2 inch, and the 3rd hand to pry out the clip that holds the cap in!

I found a youtube video where a guy puts a screwdriver in a vise and wedges the fork between a stool and the screwdriver to push the cap down...hmmmm....

The other question is about fork oil volume. Stig mentioned 97 ml in the Cyclepedia manual and Ruffus had a document with 80 ml.  Any thoughts on this? Maybe split the difference?

As to the proper volume for your People....what does cyclepedia say? My figure was for a LIKE.

Stig

[Iahawk]

Stig - forks are the same on a Like and  People S200 per all the online parts sites. The only difference I see is the Like LF fork has a tiny bracket up top on it to attach the brake line to. All internals are the same. All the sites I've looked at even show mine as having the hex head, screw on type of cap, like your Like.

Strangely enough my manual (I believe it's Cyclepedia) makes no mention of fork oil volume. Very frustrating..I'll attach a pic on the only info in the entire manual on the front forks. even in the front section where it lists capacities and specs it makes no mention of fork oil volume.

[Ruffus]

@lahawk
looks like there would different upper ends circulate, maybe a different country require..
(pls see pic)
for oil quantity l would go somewhere in the middle but equal on both dampers...
Happy scootering, Ruffus

[Iahawk]

I went ahead and changed my fork oil in both front forks today...like many things in life, once I figured out how to get the first fork cap off the rest of it was easy!

I took a few pics and will make a separate post about how I did it and what I found.

[Ruffus]

@Sealmate/Stigs tread
Got a nice letter from Sacramento (CA)
today within mentioned tool to clean out
sealmuck. (pls see pic)
Even if it does not do 100% its job, it was nice to get a letter from a place where we lived long time ago.

[Iahawk]

those seal cleaners are supposed to work beautifully!  Tell us more about your previous life in California! I assumed you were always in Italy.