Fork oil replacement - has anyone drilled and tapped the lower legs?

[locksim]

Hi all,

Poor show having to dismantle each time you replace the fork oil - has anyone tapped and fitted a drain bolt to each lower leg and fancy sharing the techniques/pitfalls to avoid?

Cheers,

Simon

[greywolf]

The tricky part would be to machine the flat that the screw head and gasket would fit. Drilling and tapping would be pretty easy in comparison. A possible alternative would be a tapered pipe plug that wouldn't require a machined flat. Then the trick would be to make sure there is enough meat to hold it. It might be better to add a little weld to build up the area.

[plumber02]

just use a vac pump n suck it out , that's what I used when trying to get my oil weight right

[locksim]

Plumber02- got a link to a vac pump that'll do that? Sounds ideal!

Simon

[Sam]

I just used a large syringe with a piece of pipe fitted to it.
Plenty on ebay for a couple of quid.

[WayneS]

I have always used a Pela 650, because I already have one, and it comes with some different diameter plastic pipes which always seem to do the job. I also use it for the lawnmower, boat engine, car and the bike oil change (I had a nasty time with a with a previous owner over tightening a sump plug and stripping the thread. I do not want to go there again).

[ziggy]

Stripping is a pain but blimey how often do we change the oil?

[locksim]

Yeah, I hear you - strip it is. I was just being lazy. After selling my classic bikes I didn't want to face more spannering but it's no big deal!

Simon

[plumber02]

one of these is what I used with an old damper rod just for rigidity , surely someone you know will have one , even if you have a brake bleeder vac pump its the same thing that's what we use to get the air gap right