Author Topic: List of proper fluids?  (Read 4510 times)

Offline tradrockrat

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 63
  • Country: us
    • One World Karate
List of proper fluids?
« on: April 02, 2015, 03:32:29 PM »
Hi - I know I need a manual for the bike, but I need to order it and I just can't leave it alone.  I'm in the process of adjusting the valves, and since I just bought this lovely 1987 Connie, I think it might be nice to check and replace all the fluids while this mass of plastic is already off.  I've already discovered it did not come with a tool kit, so I'm off the the store for an 18mm deep well so I can pull the sparkplugs.

So!  Forgive me if this has already been listed, but I couldn't find it.

Could I possibly get a list of fluids, both type and amount for my new girl?  That way I can grab them while I'm out.

oil:
Fork oil:
coolant:
brake fluid:
clutch/ tranny?:
others?:

Other mild concern - I think the rubber boot for cylinder #1 spark plug was askew - the well had LOTS of wet crud in it.  Please tell me that sparkplug well isn't where we find cracked heads?  Please?


"This is where I place a funny comment."

Offline Jim __

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 132
  • Country: us
Re: List of proper fluids?
« Reply #1 on: April 03, 2015, 05:46:01 AM »
Enjoy your new bike....

Wet crud in the spark plug well is probably oil which has leaked from the valve cover.  Besides the big gasket around the valve cover, each spark plug hole has a small round gasket.  This is assuming the spark plug was torqued properly in the first place (10 ft/lb).  Be gentle with the valve cover bolts. (87 INCH/lb). 
Make sure your spark plug socket is thin walled, otherwise it may not fit into the hole.

Oil:  I've been using Mobil 1 Motorcycle oil, 10w-40.  I personally wouldn't Do NOT use automotive oil.  Some contain The additives for higher fuel mileage which may will cause clutch problems (slippage).  It takes 3.2 qt. with a filter change if you pull both drain plugs.  Some folks don't bother with the front drain because you only get a couple more ounces out of the engine.  They just put in 3 qt. and they're good to go.  You should be approx. half way up in the sight glass after the bike has sat for 20 minutes or so on the center stand.

Crank/Tranny:  Shares oil from the engine.

Fork Oil:  I switched to 15 wt. Belray and like the improvement.  Your lucky, your '87 has drain screws at the trailing edge of each fork.  Be sure to put a little liquid gasket on the threads and do not over tighten after draining the oil (13 INCH/lb).  Be sure the front end is securely suspended off the ground and loosen the upper triple clamp bolts BEFORE trying to remove the fork cap.  (Triple clamp bolt: 11.5 ft/lb, Fork caps: 16.5 ft/lb).

'86 - '93 fork oil capacity:  Approximately 330 mL when changing the oil.  After draining the forks and the springs removed, extend the fork tubes fully.  Pour in the oil until it's close to 355 mm (13.97 inches) from the top of the tube.  Pump the forks to get the air out then adjust the fluid a final time.  A mm off high or low is OK, just as long as both forks are the same.  You can do this with the forks on the bike.

Coolant:  I've be using Preston Extend Life.  It is "silicate free".  That's the important thing.  Get a gallon of distill water to mix a 50/50 mixture.  One gallon of the 50/50 mix will fill the system (3.1L) and reservoir.  The drain plug is in the metal coolant tube under the belly pan.  Be careful with the drain plug, also (69 INCH/lb).  My radiator filled easier with the bike on the side stand.  Once filled, run until hot and the thermostat opens.  Let it cool and top everything off.  There' a bleed valve on the thermostat housing but I've never had to use mine.  Also, the manuals say you have to remove the carbs to get the thermostat out but if you're patient, you can get the thermostat cover bolts out and wiggle the thermostat cover out towards the front of the bike.  Be sure to replace the o-ring, too.  You don't have to buy a $35 Maw Kaw thermostat.  Do google search on "Kawasaki Concours common part numbers".  The o-ring size is also listed.  I got several from "theoringstore.com"

Brake fluid:  Standard Dot 4   Brakes are good for about 2 -3 years but the clutch needs to be bled about every 6 - 8 months or when the fluid begins to look murky.

Final drive:  GL-5 hypoid gear oil (80 wt. for below 40 degrees and 90 wt. above), about 220 mL or until it starts to overflow from the big cap with the bike on the center stand.

Rear wheel splines:  Keep the rear wheel drive splines greased as well as the mating splines of the final drive.  Use a moly grease but not too much.  Honda has a Moly 60 grease which is much better than the stuff you get from the parts store but the other stuff will work OK.  The splines need to be checked about every 6K miles or more ofter if you ride in the rain or dusty conditions.

Suspension linkage:  Grease the torque arm fittings.

Shoot me a PM if you need more details.

Good luck
« Last Edit: April 07, 2015, 05:55:24 AM by Jim __ »

Offline tradrockrat

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 63
  • Country: us
    • One World Karate
Re: List of proper fluids?
« Reply #2 on: April 03, 2015, 09:55:10 AM »
Jim - you are my new hero.  Thanks!


"This is where I place a funny comment."

Offline timsatx

  • Arena
  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 856
  • Country: 00
Re: List of proper fluids?
« Reply #3 on: April 06, 2015, 10:11:40 AM »
Uh oh, here we go with the impromptu motor oil thread. Read around, you will find the vast majority use motor oil for cars and DO NOT have clutch problems. Me included going between two bikes. My C10 and Honda 750 Nighthawk.

Offline tradrockrat

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 63
  • Country: us
    • One World Karate
Re: List of proper fluids?
« Reply #4 on: April 06, 2015, 06:15:25 PM »
You know, I've found that if you ask 100 people their opinion about motorcycle oil, you'll somehow get between 100-150 opinions.  I don't know how that works, but I decided a long time ago I'll just use regular, non-synthetic motorcycle specific oil and change it regularly.  All I really ever want to know is what the experienced owners of a specific motorcycle prefer the weight to be for their bike.  I stay AWAY from oil threads...lol


"This is where I place a funny comment."

Offline Jim __

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 132
  • Country: us
Re: List of proper fluids?
« Reply #5 on: April 07, 2015, 05:45:11 AM »
Yes, you are correct.  There are non-motorcycle, synthetic and non-synthetic oils which work fine if they don't contain that one special additive which might cause a 28 year old clutch, with slightly weaker springs, to slip.  Besides, this is his brand new baby girl.  Give him time for the new to wear off then he can read up on the service classifications and compare bike and auto oils to find the one which works best for him. :stirpot:

FYI: I changed the verbiage in the my original post to better clarify this information for the next reader.

Offline Cholla

  • Arena
  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 363
Re: List of proper fluids?
« Reply #6 on: April 07, 2015, 09:20:17 AM »
Coolant doesn't need to be silicate free. The factory uses th stuff with silicates.
Beware the Black Widows...Feared throughout the land!

Offline tradrockrat

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 63
  • Country: us
    • One World Karate
Re: List of proper fluids?
« Reply #7 on: April 07, 2015, 09:25:39 AM »
I've replaced pretty much all the fluids but the forks (waiting on that) and she's riding just fine.   Needs new front brake rotors (ordered), and a tiny clatter-like noise I don't like still exists on the left side of the engine, but the valves are adjusted properly and the cam chain is too, so as long as there's no change in sound, performance, or exhaust smoke (a little chagrined over that panic attack), I think I should be ok to get it inspected, tagged and on the road.


"This is where I place a funny comment."

Offline Rhino

  • Arena
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3963
  • Country: us
Re: List of proper fluids?
« Reply #8 on: April 07, 2015, 10:06:10 AM »
Another "proper" fluid needed when replacing other fluids is beer.  :chugbeer:

Offline tradrockrat

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 63
  • Country: us
    • One World Karate
Re: List of proper fluids?
« Reply #9 on: April 07, 2015, 10:08:41 AM »
Another "proper" fluid needed when replacing other fluids is beer.  :chugbeer:
Oh indeed it is... :chugbeer:


"This is where I place a funny comment."

Offline LessPaul

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 32
  • Country: us
Re: List of proper fluids?
« Reply #10 on: April 07, 2015, 11:39:07 AM »
Alcohol is not the answer. Alcohol is the question.

Beer is the answer.