Fork oil level

mxracer591
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31
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9/24/2017
Location
Midland, MI, USA
Edited Date/Time 5/14/2021 4:50am
Long story short I just had my suspension in for service and revalving, got probably 10 hours on it and I lost the air bleeder screw on the start of a race over the weekend. I finished the moto then replaced the screw.

Should I be concerned with oil level? Dirt inside? (Not that I think a ton would have gotten in the little hole but who knows) I don’t REALLY wanna take my forks back to the shop and be without a bike again for weeks, but I also don’t want to mess anything up.
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5/3/2021 4:08am
It would probably be ok. But might be best to take it to the shop and say what happened, they could really replace the oil there and then, definitely shouldn't take weeks.
garasaki
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1/20/2021
Location
Mount Vernon, IA, USA
5/3/2021 6:54am
Well you aren't going to mess anything up by riding on it.

If you don't notice a performance difference, there's no particular reason to get it serviced.

You mentioned the two problems that come to mind for me - loss of fluid, which you will feel in last part of the fork travel, and crap in the oil, which should cause a general degrade of performance. Its most likely dust that would get in the fork rather then larger chunks of oil.

This seems like a good opportunity to buy yourself a set of 15 dollar push button air bleeders

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mxracer591
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31
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9/24/2017
Location
Midland, MI, USA
5/3/2021 4:15pm
garasaki wrote:
Well you aren't going to mess anything up by riding on it. If you don't notice a performance difference, there's no particular reason to get it...
Well you aren't going to mess anything up by riding on it.

If you don't notice a performance difference, there's no particular reason to get it serviced.

You mentioned the two problems that come to mind for me - loss of fluid, which you will feel in last part of the fork travel, and crap in the oil, which should cause a general degrade of performance. Its most likely dust that would get in the fork rather then larger chunks of oil.

This seems like a good opportunity to buy yourself a set of 15 dollar push button air bleeders

I didn’t notice any performance issues, but also I’m a back of the pack C rider so... not really that dialed in yet. Maybe I’ll just plan on having it serviced at the end of the season. I had those sweet motion pro bleeders already, apparently I should of checked how tight they were 🤷‍♂️
MKMX
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496
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Location
Timbuktu, WA, AU
5/4/2021 12:11am
garasaki wrote:
Well you aren't going to mess anything up by riding on it. If you don't notice a performance difference, there's no particular reason to get it...
Well you aren't going to mess anything up by riding on it.

If you don't notice a performance difference, there's no particular reason to get it serviced.

You mentioned the two problems that come to mind for me - loss of fluid, which you will feel in last part of the fork travel, and crap in the oil, which should cause a general degrade of performance. Its most likely dust that would get in the fork rather then larger chunks of oil.

This seems like a good opportunity to buy yourself a set of 15 dollar push button air bleeders

Give Enzo a call and ask them about running fork bleeders.
2

The Shop

CKNY
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406
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2/14/2021
Location
CA
5/4/2021 3:42am
garasaki wrote:
Well you aren't going to mess anything up by riding on it. If you don't notice a performance difference, there's no particular reason to get it...
Well you aren't going to mess anything up by riding on it.

If you don't notice a performance difference, there's no particular reason to get it serviced.

You mentioned the two problems that come to mind for me - loss of fluid, which you will feel in last part of the fork travel, and crap in the oil, which should cause a general degrade of performance. Its most likely dust that would get in the fork rather then larger chunks of oil.

This seems like a good opportunity to buy yourself a set of 15 dollar push button air bleeders

MKMX wrote:
Give Enzo a call and ask them about running fork bleeders.
No.
2
AE448
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116
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4/10/2015
Location
GB
5/4/2021 3:45am
I've ran those push button bleeders before and whilst they're dead quick and easy, I once crashed and snapped one off...same thing happened, lost oil. Now I only use the screw-in type...it's a pain having to undo and tighten them after every ride though. As for whether it will affect your forks, I shouldn't think so. Keep riding and tune into the suspension, if it still feels ok then it is.
1
Skerby
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Location
Mayes County, OK, USA
5/5/2021 7:59am
Those bleeders are a great way to get dirt in your fork oil.

I would change fork bath oil if I were you, it's really easy. Your suspension guy will tell you how much oil to put back in.
1
garasaki
Posts
208
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Location
Mount Vernon, IA, USA
5/6/2021 6:50am
garasaki wrote:
Well you aren't going to mess anything up by riding on it. If you don't notice a performance difference, there's no particular reason to get it...
Well you aren't going to mess anything up by riding on it.

If you don't notice a performance difference, there's no particular reason to get it serviced.

You mentioned the two problems that come to mind for me - loss of fluid, which you will feel in last part of the fork travel, and crap in the oil, which should cause a general degrade of performance. Its most likely dust that would get in the fork rather then larger chunks of oil.

This seems like a good opportunity to buy yourself a set of 15 dollar push button air bleeders

MKMX wrote:
Give Enzo a call and ask them about running fork bleeders.
Maybe you could save me an awkward call and just tell me what the back story is?
MKMX
Posts
496
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3/3/2021
Location
Timbuktu, WA, AU
5/10/2021 1:47pm
garasaki wrote:
Well you aren't going to mess anything up by riding on it. If you don't notice a performance difference, there's no particular reason to get it...
Well you aren't going to mess anything up by riding on it.

If you don't notice a performance difference, there's no particular reason to get it serviced.

You mentioned the two problems that come to mind for me - loss of fluid, which you will feel in last part of the fork travel, and crap in the oil, which should cause a general degrade of performance. Its most likely dust that would get in the fork rather then larger chunks of oil.

This seems like a good opportunity to buy yourself a set of 15 dollar push button air bleeders

MKMX wrote:
Give Enzo a call and ask them about running fork bleeders.
garasaki wrote:
Maybe you could save me an awkward call and just tell me what the back story is?
They’re not a fan of running fork bleeders and they’re passionate about it 😂 They can fail, work their way loose (as seen in this post), draw air in, invite contamination into your forks etc... They’re an improvement on time by adding a component that can fail in more ways than the component it’s replacing.

I don’t personally run them purely for the fact you have to have your bike on a stand anyhow and my flat blade is never usually too far away, so I wouldn’t be saving any time at all really and it’s one less thing I have to worry about failing.
1
jaun
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788
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4/27/2021
Location
MX
5/14/2021 4:50am
MKMX wrote:
Give Enzo a call and ask them about running fork bleeders.
garasaki wrote:
Maybe you could save me an awkward call and just tell me what the back story is?
MKMX wrote:
They’re not a fan of running fork bleeders and they’re passionate about it 😂 They can fail, work their way loose (as seen in this post)...
They’re not a fan of running fork bleeders and they’re passionate about it 😂 They can fail, work their way loose (as seen in this post), draw air in, invite contamination into your forks etc... They’re an improvement on time by adding a component that can fail in more ways than the component it’s replacing.

I don’t personally run them purely for the fact you have to have your bike on a stand anyhow and my flat blade is never usually too far away, so I wouldn’t be saving any time at all really and it’s one less thing I have to worry about failing.
Yeah they're junk, don't ever run them for the above mentioned reasons.
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