Can anyone advise on the correct replacement fork oil for a MY 2018 MTS 1260S with the skyhook set up. Owners manual states Shell Donax TA (34.9 cST @40C) which is no longer available. I've a weeping left leg seal so intend to do a full fork overhall and seal replacement on both legs.
The only workshop manual I have is for a 1200 DVT (MY 2015-2017). I assume the front forks are similar but they may not be idenical there the oil type and volumes may be different for the 1260. Hopefully someone can confirm the requirements for a 1260. Refitting the right fork Fill in the fork by positioning it vertically and pouring oil OJ RACING SPECIAL FORK Sae 3.6 at 100 - 14.4 at 40°, quantity 660 cc ± 5 cc for the RH leg. Refitting the left fork Fill in the fork by positioning it vertically and pouring oil OJ RACING SPECIAL FORK Sae 3.6 at 100° at 40° 14.4, quantity 239 cc ± 5 cc for the left leg. Attention The amount of fluid affects the behaviour of the fork at the end of its compression travel. A high fluid level increases the compression load, a low level decreases it.
In the 1200 Manual, there is a conflict between the table of fluids which states 7.5W oil and the text accompanying the procedure which states OJ Racing 3.6w as stated above. you can get the OJ racing oil but its about £20 + P&P per 500ml bottle (you'd need 2) I ve tried 7.5W, far to hard IMO, I'm not small by any manner of means and I was running the suspension at "Softest" Ive also tried Rock Oil 3.5W fork oil, which gives a far better ride (again IMO ) and I'm now running the settings at STD the caveat is that this all applies to the 1200 DVT and whilst the 1260 is identical in lots of ways, its not guaranteed
For 1260S the servicemanual states to use the "Shell Donax TA" this ATF oil is replaced by: "Shell Spirax S2 ATF D2" So, why not use this recommended oil?
The recommended oil has got to be the way to go because it has always being my understanding that across various manufacturers fork oil weight is not necessary a like for like comparison of viscosity. See http://www.peterverdone.com/wiki/index.php?title=Suspension_Fluid#SAE_Oil_Weight
So Andy you mean to use the "Shell Spirax S2 ATF D2" as be the equivelent for the expired Donax? This winter my bike is due to fork oil change (seals, bushings etc) I only want to do this job once and not for a second time because I did choose the wrong oil
Bertus... I have no experience of the 1200/1260 so apologies for butting into the thread... but I was wanting to mention to be aware that oils of the same weight (or marked as the same) may not necessarily be the same viscosity. So with that being the case the recommended oil has got to be the better option.
The Donax TA has now been renamed Spirax S2 iirc. It's an ATF. 5W fork oil works pretty well as a comparable oil in performance. You can of course tweak it as mentioned above, buut for a straight service and availability, I'd go 5W
This issue is unnecessarily complicated IMO , because of a lack of standardization . For my bike , both the owners manual and the workshop manual recommend Showa SS8 but unfortunately this is made from unobtainium . So idiot boy here orders some SAE 8W hydraulic oil . Result ? ..... forks were as solid as a rock ! So to all you tech people at Ducati HQ ...... gee thanks guys !
