Fork/suspension oil for ETZ 250

[arny]

I'm interested what oil should I put in my forks and rear suspension units / dampers / shocks?

Factory calls for 8-11 cSt @50°C shock absorber oil, which corresponds to 2.5-5W fork oil (depending on the manufacturer). Haynes recommends 10W fork oil, which should have several time the cSt value at the similar temperature (about 30 cSt). Others (like here: http://www.sweller.co.uk/mz/workshop/wrk_shock.html) recommend ATF, which should have viscosity similar to the 7.5-10w fork oil.

So the main question is, should I put some light oil (apparently about 2.5w), per the factory recommendation, or should I go for those other recommendations and put heavier oil like 10w... in which case I could really use ATF because it has all the required properties (anti-foaming, friction modification, temperature stability etc.) and it's easiliy obtainable and very affordable...?

[DAVID THOMPSON]

over the years i have found 10 w to be a bit stiff 5w is closer to what i like in a ride

the roads here where i live have lots of pot holes
some so big that it is surprising no one has gone missing in one
dave

[Puffs]

Following a biased and flawed moderator choice (someone posting aggressive personal attacks is rewarded, while my technical posts are removed - behind my back & without any justification!), I have withdrawn from this forum.

[arny]

Well, since I'm quite heavy and I'll be mostly riding on... heh, paved roads - not perfect mind you, but acceptable quality - so I guess I might start on the thicker oil side. I'm not a plush ride freak anyway and I can stand up if needed - if 100 years people managed to ride fixed frame bikes on bad macadam, who am I to complain now...

But the question is - what exactly oil viscosities are "plush" and which the "hard" side?

The original factory spec calls for viscosity similar to 2.5w fork oil. OTOH, many people use 10w (or ATF which should be similar). Is it very soft with factory recommendation? Is it too hard with 10w... or more...?

[Puffs]

Well, try 275cc of SAE10 then.

[arny]

Thanks all, I'll play with the viscosities and try to find the best values...

[parrbd]

I have always run ATF in my ETZ forks. It still seems pretty plush, then again I used to run SAE90 gear oil in my BSA B40 forks.

[Puffs]

My ATF (Q8 Auto 15) has a viscosity not dissimilar to SAE10, yet seems a bit thinner. SAE10 is what Haynes recommend for both the ETZ forks and the shocks.

[arny]

Ok, so I've decided to try ATF too. It has all the good properties forks should need, so it's just the matter of viscosity. It's also cheap. If I find it too thick, I'll try a thinner grade fork oil (say, 5w).

[Kruh]

My ATF (Q8 Auto 15) has a viscosity not dissimilar to SAE10, yet seems a bit thinner. SAE10 is what Haynes recommend for both the ETZ forks and the shocks.

Can you even dissassemble the rear shocks and change the oil?
If yes, how?

[Puffs]

Following a biased and flawed moderator choice (someone posting aggressive personal attacks is rewarded, while my technical posts are removed - behind my back & without any justification!), I have withdrawn from this forum.

[Kruh]

Ah, I see
Thank you