What's with the "bleed screw" on top of the forks?

[redman9]

I'm not used to the telelever set-up. The little black plastic screw on caps cover what? Are those filler plugs? Nah...what are they? Manual seems to call them bleed screws. I'm lost.

[Sofatester]

It's not a bleeding screw but a vent screw.
If manual say it's a bleeding screw the manual is wrong.

BMW original Repair manual says it's a vent screw and that indeed is the function.
As long as you don't replace the slider tubes, the sealant rings between the slider legs or you discover a leak you may just forget that screw.

[roger albert]

+1. Over time, the forks can build up some air pressure inside and it can be worthwhile venting them. I've found that there was significant pressure in there exactly once in about 11 years, so as Sofa says, you can probably just forget them.

[redman9]

Thanks gents...reason being, I have now installed RD's barbacks and where I would LIKE to put them has the original clipons interfering with that plastic cap that covers the "bleed screw". I may make some caps that sit flush or??? (BMW service manual calls them "bleed screws"...?)

[roger albert]

One could pull the caps entirely and replace the schrader valves underneath with an appropriately threaded bolt. Or put a little vacuum cap over the valve and dump the caps.

[redman9]

I figured...and I guess I figured right.
You sir...have told me exactly what I wanted to know.