Enfield Forks - oil changing

[Diesel Dave]

By special request, a brief description of how to change the oil in the Enfield forks.

Now most will never have done or do this task, indeed most motorcycles don't specify changing the oil in any service schedule but oil thins out over time as it's multi-grade abilities break down.

The top fork top caps should be unscrewed with a HUGE screwdriver - make sure that the 'o' rings are in good order, if in doubt replace them.

Oil is drained by slackening off the cap nuts at the bottom of the forks - Don't try to lever the nuts loose, use a large ring spanner and smack the end with a hammer. If you try to undo them slowly the inners will turn inside the legs.

Loosen the nuts by a few turns and then give the nut a good smack upwards with a hammer, the inners will jump upwards allowing the oil to drain through the gap. Repeat on the other leg and leave to drain whilst you have a cuppa and biscuit.

Once you are bored watching the last reminants of the oil dripping out, tighten the nuts.

Measure out 200ml of your chosen oil and funnel this into the top of the fork leg - replace the caps, job done.

You can choose any oil you like ranging from the super-light SAE5W fork oil through 10w40 and 20w50 engine oils and I have even seen 80W gear oil used in a competition MX Bullet.

Factory recomends 20w50 engine oil.

Cheers
Dave

[Dan J]

Brilliant - cheers Dave.

[Oftenlost]

Hi,

Planning on a winter upgrade (Hopefully) To my Sommer 2011's front forks. They are the late model Royal Enfield EFI type without filling holes at the top???? How much extra would that have cost the factory....Stingy gits!

Anyway, I have a new set of British made springs from Hitchcocks and was wandering if anybody has used these springs and if so what grade of fork oil they found best. From what I can find on the WEB I should be using 200ml/leg of either 20/50 or ATF.

Getting the oil right the first time will save me the hassle of removing and upturning the leg to refill. Perhaps I could look into getting some engineering firm to drill me out a few filling points while I have the forks in bits. Might make life simpler in the future.

cheers, Ian