Any hints on getting ALL the old fluid out of the forks?

 

Slide them out individually and turn them upside down?

 

After draining the forks like that there is a considerable amount of oil that gets left inside the valves and etc. usually you take the forks entirely apart and clean all the partsbut I don't want to do that I just want to swap springs and change the oil.

 

red, from recently doing the full Gold Valve deal on my KLX fork, it's probably impossible to get every bit of old oil out without total disassembly. That said, you can flush the fork with a little fresh oil that you're going to use once you have the fork legs out of the clamps. I usually like to do this with a fork that I'm not doing a total teardown. I buy a little extra oil and put just a few ounces of the new oil in, pump the fork many times, and then drain out the flush oil while continuing to pump the fork.

 

sorry, I just dropped mine off at Moto-pro! can't wait to get them back!!!!

 

Thanks guys,
I just looked at the new and old springs side by side and the new ones are a good 1.5 inches longer than the stock ones. I have an 09 and there is a spacer at the bottom of the fork to shorten the stroke ie ashorter spring. Looks like I need to remove the spacers which means pulling the whole thing apart. Anyone taken their forks apart without a special tool to stop the pod from spinning?
Race tech doesn't have a listing for a 2009 just a listing for the klx 300.
Rats!! I will give the shock guy a call tomorrow

 

red, I made that special tool that holds the damper out of an old aluminum bicycle seatpost I had around the house. Bike seatposts come in many different sizes. I made mine out of aluminum, as it isn't going to be a shop tool for years and multiples of use. I used a hacksaw and a file to make those 4 prongs. They don't have to be exact. This homemade tool worked just fine, and it was relatively easy to make. I drilled a hole in the other and stuck a phillips screwdriver through the hole to keep the post from turning.

 

I've always used a small 3/8 drive air impact wrench to spin those without a holder. have also got them loose by just wackiing the end of a socket drive or allen wrench sharply. Might give it a try?

On your 09 I wouldn't lengthen your forks unless you plan on raising the back also (links), or it'll upset the balance.

Fwiw, not 09 related, kawasaki uses a 1/2" more preload (longer spring) on thier S bikes, than the R for the added bike weight free sag. So if your using a R spring (racetech, etc) etc), use some spacers. racetech includes enough washers for 1/4", just ask for another set when you order.

 

should have gone with motopro, they knew the diffrence.

 

shoulda coulda woulda

I have them now, I could return them I suppose. I will call the shop today adn see what he says. Punky, what is the number of the Motopro springs that you have?