ATF

[Coyote]

Anyone know the approximate viscosity of automatic transmission fluid? I am looking for a relatively soft front end. I only weigh about 135.

[yeadon_m]

Coyote,
I believe they vary quite a bit depending on the application.
For a softer fork, try a 5W fork like Silkolene Pro RSF. I have 10W of this in my GT750A and its firm but OK (a heavier bike - I'm around 160lb naked). I use 5W in the GT380B else its harsh.
You can also vary the volume a little. Try emptying the forks and go for a cautious ride - how bouncy is it? how far will it bottom its forks (place a cable tie above the fork dust seal to compare)? then pop the fork tops off and add something to experiment with, say half volume of 5W. Ride again. Better? not enough? etc. Empirical testing will set it once for all for you and your bike. When you're good, buy a couple of sealed bottles of the stuff for coming years
Cheers,
Mike

[Coyote]

I noticed one of my upper tubes has a very deep score mark on the inside -- where the spring goes. It runs full length from just under where the plug goes all the way to the bottom floor of the tube. I can't imagine what may have caused this. Also when I drained that fork it appeared someone had put black molly grease in the fork along with oil. I got maybe 3 - 4 tablespoons out of it. The other fork has 2 similar score marks on the inside. They are not as deep as the one, but they go all the way to the floor just like it. ???

[Coyote]

There is no burr along the sides of what I thought was a deep score. A score leaves the metal proud on one or both sides. Now actually what I think is it's a seam. I can't believe these forks are made from rolled and welded tubing. Has anyone else noticed this seam? I am certain that's what it is. Rolled and welded tubing is a standard manufacturing process, but the better stuff is seamless tubing which is an extrusion. I would have bet good money that these forks were made from seamless tubing --- and I would have lost.