Fork Oil...What are you using..

1fasgsxr

1fasgsxr

Over 1,000 Posts
I have heard of guys using ATF...motor oil etc...I am replacing the fork seals in my 350 F and was curious what works and what dont...My local shop is owned by a big Dick head so he doesn't get any of my money and Idont want to drive 30 miles the another shop if I dont have to go farther than the local auto parts store..
 
ATF is what they used before they made fork oil.


For a 350f you'd probably want 15 or 20 weight.
 
Yup - ATF is just fine and easy to get (auto transmission fluid in case you're wondering). Is likely mentioned in your manual. You do have a manual.... right? :)
 
ATF is for transmissions. If your forks are old and you rebuilt them just like back in the day when they used ATF, your forks will never work better than they did back then. We have better stuff now.
 
Drive the 30 miles and buy decent fork oil or order it on line from Silkolenestore.com

ATF is for transmissions - not forks.
 
Looks like I am going to buy some fork oil..Thanks guys...thats why I ask questions..and no I don't have a manual.
 
Honda used ATF as it was the only oil available anywhere in the world that met specific requirements. In the 60's~70's there was only ATF, not the variations seen today
Personally I use 10w/30 full synthetic engine oil in ordinary damper forks and proper suspension fluid in USD forks.
multigrade stays consistent at all temperatures (forks do get quite warm in use)
 
most atf seem to have a 40 degree c cst rating around 35, which is consistent with 10 weight fork oils.

repsol make (or used to) a 15w30 fork oil that works quite well in old shitters.
 
ATF oil is hydraulic oil with anti-foam and anti-wear ingredients. If you design a damping fork around it, it is fine. I don;t quite get some people who feel if the fork was designed around ATF, it still is a bad idea to use it. If ATF damps too much for you, by all means, a lighter fork oil (or heavier) is fine...But ATF in a hydraulic cylinder designed for ATF is perfectly acceptable.

Fork oil is similar, except it comes in more viscosity ranges.

ATF takes a real beating in an Automatic transmission. Higher heat, gear mesh, pumping. Fork oil would not stand up to the pounding a transmission gives. Probably is too good for forks....

Using ATF (as recommended by Honda) in my CB360, Fork Oil (as Recommended) in my NH 750. I think my CB260 is a little over damped, so I intent to changed to a lighter fork oil in the future.
 
barnett468 said:
actually, bel ray and others made fork oil in the early 70's.
Click to expand...

Yes they did, but, many countries didn't have it available or the price was too high (import duties)
I always thought Bell-Ray was over hyped and used Silkolene or Castrol, tried the more 'exotic' oils but couldn't 'see'/feel any difference
 
I found a bottle of Belray in the cabinet and put it in the Ceriani's a week ago. Was that bottle really that old?
 
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