How do I remove some fork oil?

[The Purple Haze]

I would like to soften the action of the forks on my '97 Standard Trike.  In reading old posts, I learn that removing one CC of fork oil in both tubes will acomplish that.  I loosened the top bolt on the upper tree and unscrewed the left cap.  There is some sort of rod and plunger attached to the cap and it doesn't pull out.  I could not see any fork oil and I couldn't get a hose down past the plunger to try to suck oil out ???

Any advice/instruction will be greatly appreciated!

[hubcapsc]

Here's me mashing (hard) down on that rod to overcome the spring pressure with a plumbing elbow
because with just my hand it felt like the rod was going to come through my hand if I pushed hard enough.
After that you can unscrew the spring retainer (if that's not what it's called, then you can unscrew the thing
that retains the spring  )...



I'm not sure what I think of doing that while the fork is on the bike, hopefully others will chime in.

The right side is different, I don't remember enough about the right side to say anything about what
you might need to do to siphon some fork oil out of the right side... disassembling the right fork
involves a special honda tool, though...

-Mike

[NiteRiderF6]

Get a syringe with a short piece of rubber hose on it and you can pull it out easily.

[The Purple Haze]

"Get a syringe with a short piece of rubber hose on it and you can pull it out easily."

I had a syringe with a hose, but I couldn't find any oil to suck out!  That piece that is screwed to the cap is in the way.  I don't want to disassemble the forks.  How do I get the oil to come up past the plunger that is bolted to the cap, so I can suck some out?  How far below the top of the tube should the oil be?  If I compress the fork as much as possible will there be oil above that plunger (it looks like it has small holes in it that would allow the oil to pass)?

 
 
 

[Valker]

Adding or removing 1cc of oil won't do a thing. The manual calls for (memory here, so it's probably not accurate) 720cc +- 2.5cc in the left fork.
BTW, it is the left fork that needs the special tool.
Just finished rebuilding mine. 

[hubcapsc]

Adding or removing 1cc of oil won't do a thing. The manual calls for (memory here, so it's probably not accurate) 720cc +- 2.5cc in the left fork.
BTW, it is the left fork that needs the special tool.
Just finished rebuilding mine. 

Well... I just looked in DAG's online manual, and you're right! My forks still work good, and I'm glad I rebuilt them
so long ago that I don't remember which one needed the tool 

-Mike "I probably wouldn't remember if it was yesterday"

[GOOSE]

HUBCAPSC.....it's he$$ getting old ain't it?

[Hook#3287]

HUBCAPSC.....it's he$$ getting old ain't it?

That's true!  But it beats the alternative.

[Bad On 3]

Just wondering why you  think it needs to be softer --on a trike with a rake kit their is alot of weight on the front end -- it is normal for the front of the trike to feel stiff if not the nose will dive and not be a good idea --did you buy this bike new if not someone might have put in bigger springs --alot of people put in bigger springs on the front of trikes so they dont nose dive and the trike will sit normal when i replaced my fork seals i used heaver oil in the tubes so the front end would react slower --do you have a rake kit on your trike if not that could be the reason you feel you need a softer front --i have a 8 degree rake kit on mine --the front end of trikes need to be stiffer --air presser in front tire makes a diffrence too  i run 35-37  in mine  --in the photo you can see how far out in front the front tire is on a raked trike   i have ridden with alot of trikers over the years and everyone tries to stiffen the front end -hope the helps

[The Purple Haze]

BINGO!

Bad On 3, you solved the problem.  Yes, I have a 4 degree Trike Shop rake kit and OEM springs.  I was annoyed with the way it ran over small bumps (tar ridges in the asphalt, etc.) and not the overall ride.  Everyone told me I had to run 42psi in the front tire.  Well, I dropped the front tire to 36psi and the ride is as smooth as a baby's butt!   

[Bad On 3]

OK glad to help     i just thought it was funny that you would want to soften up the forks when most trikes want to stiffin up the forks --tire presser is important  on a trike --i run 22 in the back also if 2 up pullin a trailer i run 25  and just so you know i have know trikers that run 30 in the front tire so try diffrent ones   it makes a big diff.    RIDE SAFE  ! ! !