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flushing fork tubes

Discussion in 'XJ Technical Chat' started by skillet, Mar 19, 2010.

  1. skillet

    skillet Active Member

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    I was gonna change out oil seals in my forks. Thinking about using PB Blaster to flush them out. Any pros or cons to this idea???

    skillet
     
    skillet, Mar 19, 2010
    #1
  2. BlackMax

    BlackMax Member

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    I used brake cleaner,it evaporates fast and gets rid of the sludge in the bottom.I let mine soak for awhile(they were really bad)
     
    BlackMax, Mar 19, 2010
    #2
  3. bigfitz52

    bigfitz52 Well-Known Member Premium Member

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    I vote Brake & Contact cleaner over PB Blaster. Blaster contains oil you don't want to leave behind to pollute the fork oil.
     
    bigfitz52, Mar 19, 2010
    #3
  4. lowlifexj

    lowlifexj Member

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    +1 on the brake clean your going to replace all the rubbers in there anyway so there's nothing to damage.(some brake cleaners will eat rubber the good ones do atleast)
     
    lowlifexj, Mar 19, 2010
    #4
  5. Polock

    Polock Well-Known Member

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    why don't you start out with kerosene till you get them clean then use your brake clean to rinse out the kerosene
    ya might save a few bucks
     
    Polock, Mar 19, 2010
    #5
  6. skillet

    skillet Active Member

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    Thanks everyone!!!

    skillet
     
    skillet, Mar 19, 2010
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  7. Ross1bd

    Ross1bd Member

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    skillet[/QUOTE]
    Resurrecting this thread. If kerosene will work, then is leftover Seafoam adequate? Plus, in terms of today's out-of-pocket dollars, free?

    Speaking of free, or at least cheap, (like the idiot I too frequently seem to be, with these machines), wanted to flush the forks on my recently acquired XJ900, while waiting for the caliper paint to get here.
    Took the rubber fork cap off and saw what I thought was a busted tube cap. While looking for a hex key tool I meandered over to XS11.com.
    Figured that no combination of cultures could figure out how to save some money while effectively solving a motorcycle than a bunch of Brits, some Scots and a few Yanks for good luck.

    Someone talked about buying his tool on Ebay, a couple discussed Motion-Pro's version (don't care for their valve tool, myself) and then one gentleman mentioned using a bolt head with a couple of nuts tightened together for the wrench to turn. They differed on the size needed, 15mm, 17 or 21.
    So, before going to the Despot, I took a picture with a tape measure across the gap and then used the always reliable tool. Put my finger into the space and used that to size bolts - 17mm.

    Cost of the bolt plus two nuts (didn't include the threadlocker, already had the tube, $2.41 including tax. Not as inexpensive as leftover Seafoam, but still pretty cheap.
     

    Attached Files:

    Ross1bd, Aug 4, 2015
    #7
  8. k-moe

    k-moe Pie, Bacon, Bourbon. Moderator Premium Member

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    Seafoam is mainly Naptha, and will work fine to clean out the tubes.
     
    k-moe, Aug 4, 2015
    #8

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