fork oil

When changing the fork oil using the drain screws how much oil is left in the fork?Also, one of the three screws holding the inner primary cover is stripped-what would be the best fix?
Thanks,Larry

Hi Larry, Joined the Michigan Norton owners Yet? well there's your problem.
Just kidding. If you pump the front end with the front brake held and the plugs out and let it sit for 20 Minutes you should be good but your never perfect. When you pull loose the top bolts to refill the legs the bike will need a jack underneath. At that time you could pour through some fork oil or F type ATF whatever your using leaving the drain screws out and let that oil rinse things out a bit.
A Keen cert or Helicoil will be needed to repair the hole keep the chips out of the motor though some grease on the drill and the tap helps.

My '73 Interstate (22,000 mile) forks have probably never been apart and I got the impression from talking to others that there is probably lots of solid gunk inside the forks of a 35 year old bike that takes up space but provides no benefit to the function of the forks. Since draining and refilling does nothing to clean it out, I was just preparing to rebuild mine. Does this sound about right?

Oh Yea.

Yellow_Cad said:

there is probably lots of solid gunk inside the forks of a 35 year old bike that takes up space but provides no benefit to the function of the forks.

Click to expand...

When I first bought my 850 which hadn't been used for years the fork oil came out like soggy sugar. The only way to get rid of it all is to strip down and clean.

You might as well fit new seals while you have the forks in bits.

Then you start to find that most of the other seals and any other rubber type bits in the bike also need replacing if it hasn't been used for years

mike916sp said:

Yellow_Cad said:

there is probably lots of solid gunk inside the forks of a 35 year old bike that takes up space but provides no benefit to the function of the forks.

Click to expand...

When I first bought my 850 which hadn't been used for years the fork oil came out like soggy sugar. The only way to get rid of it all is to strip down and clean.

You might as well fit new seals while you have the forks in bits.

Then you start to find that most of the other seals and any other rubber type bits in the bike also need replacing if it hasn't been used for years

Click to expand...

Sound advice. A fork rebuild is pretty easy and you will be surprised how much gunk will be at the bottom of your fork sliders. The only hard thing for me was getting the yokes off the damn bike.

Thanks to all for the replies, this forum has been a great help since I bought the bike last fall. Mr. norbsa I have not joined the MI Norton Owners but will. Thanks again,Larry