Shrader Valve on Fork Fluid Filler

[Ted]

I changed the fluid on the front forks on my 501XE Camel (the old fluid looked just fine - so that's good). Put in standard 10W oil.

I have the factory manual, which leaves out a few details on this bike it seems. When I pulled off the covers at the top of the forks, I found that the fill ports had shrader valves on them. There was effectively no pressure in the system, but the manual also doesn't talk about it. Before I add air and blow anything up, I'm wondering if these have an intended use, like being able to firm up the front forks without changing fluid?

Any insight appreciated.

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['It must be a .....']

Hi, have never seen any pressure values for the 501 forks

Start with the weight off the front wheel and the forks fully extended, bleed the valves and see how it feels with the max air volume at atrmospheric pressure (as with the earlier 500 Camel 38mm forks) I've found this fine on the 501

Or experiment using an air shock pump (bicycle shock pumps are quite cheap)

Unless you've a balance pipe between the fork valves you'll never get the pressures equal using a tyre type pump

Have fun