Trying to do as much maintenance on the bike as I can and while installing a new front tire I decided I might as well change the front fork tubes oil. The reference owners manual I found online for my 2001 Rev3 with Paioli forks says 60 mm from top fully compressed on the right side and 120 mm from the top on the left (spring) side. It does not indicates to compress the spring side tube for this spec. Does that sound right? I don't want to end up with too much oil and ending up blowing up the seal or worse.
The instructions below clearly ask for the spring to be inserted back in the tube and the picture shows the spring inside the tube in what appears to be a fully extended position. (I just can't copy the picture to paste here from the pdf.)
Left shaft
To replace the oil, proceed as follows:
1) Remove the front wheel
2) Remove the handlebar (see pag. 65)
3) Unloose the shaft lock the screws A
4) Unscrew slider plug
5) Remove the spring and totally empty
the oil
6) Reset the spring and fill with oil
(OJ01 ) up to the level indicated in
figure
Note:
120 mm Oil level 7W fork oil.
Anyone can confirm this? Replies are appreciated, Thanks!
BTW, when I drained the fork I got some 300 ml out which is what Jim at the Gas Gas USA site indicates to use on their bikes. I just don't know if these are the same forks as used by Gas Gas in some of their older bikes. To get to the indicated 120mm from the top fully extended will take some 400ml. I can go back with 300 ml but that is part of the reason I am doing this as the front end felt a bit weak/soft. My weight is 76 Kilos with gear, in case that it matter