I let mine drain overnight because the oil was really contaminated. A lot of fine particulate matter in it. The more of that that came out, the longer the fork assembly will last. Mine also had what looked like manufacturing debris in the oil, some aluminum dust and a couple steel chips.

According to the lubricants rep that serviced our shop, Dexron ATF and 15 weight fork oil are the exact same thing. Fork oil just costs more. He did caution against using Type F ATF or the older Chrysler ATF, as they will dissolve the lower oil seals (incompatible rubber formula).

With both the book and the rep saying ATF is acceptable, I figured it was worth a try. Mine will be getting a springer or girder front end in the next couple years anyway. It will be interesting to see how the forks hold up with an ATF fill versus the factory fork oil. For the time being, they are working better than new.
-WD

If you have a battery  or air impact wrench  you can likely loosen the bottom fork bolts by compressing the shocks while you loosen ,this provides resistance.

The oil seal stopper that fits in the groove above the seal is really a piece of wire open at one end and so can be pried out carefull like without denting the inner top of the slider (lower fork tube).

don't under any circumstances try to separate upper & lower tubes without removing this first.

a piece of 1.5 " diameter white schedule 40 pvc works perfectly to push the oil seal into it's seat.
$1.79 for a 2 ft length at H.D.

you may also need this pvc to drive home the bushing that sits below the washer that sits below the oil seal.
simply place the washer between the bushing and pvc pipe and rap the pipe.

when putting the fork tubes back on make sure you route the clutch, throttle cable etc. between the forks .

27mm fork cap bolts, 8mm long allen for bottom
fork bolts

it's easier than it sounds.

if you're stuck P.M. me.

it's 4/30/07 as i write this,having finished putting her together this morning.
I used ATF type F and she rode great today !
Certainly a stiffer feel with the 30 weight type F; but interestingly enough I was riding through some good 30mph gusts  and it was decidedly easier to deal with the wind.

The book says SAE 15 or dextron atf  441 cc (14.91 us oz)fill to 75mm (2.95 in.) thats with the spring out.

Why dont you use regular fork oil, You can get any weight you want.

Ok, I relent. After doing some research I've discovered that the ATF is way to thin for my needs. I had the wife stop by a shop on her way home and she picked up a litre of Motul 15w synthetic fork oil. Now I'm having a heck of a time getting the bolt out of the bottom of the slider to disassemble the fork. The broom handle I'm using keeps twisting in the metering rod when I apply torque to the allen bolt. My Harley came apart much easier. I'll try it again after dinner.

Got everything finished today, replaced both fork seals and changed the fork oil (15w Motul). Pulled the head cover and fixed the oil plug leak, the old one was very loose and the new one is the "new style" and fits much snugger...a little Permatex and I'm sure it's sealed now. It's reassembled and the wife and I were ready for a nice Sunday ride tomorrow, the weather's suppose to be beautiful...then the phone rings, my company needs me to be in Greensboro, NC in the morning, 0530 flight out...oh well, we'll have to make that ride later!