Fork valve - clean the oil passages?

[dirtballer]

I took apart my forks to install new seals and bushings. Looking at the valve, I noticed some solidified gunk sitting in the holes along the side and wondered if the passages need to be cleaned out? Looks like the fork oil was original :ohmy:.
The hole at the top of the threads looks weird, like it was punched from the factory with a philips screwdriver - what's up with that design? Does oil travel through that hole? Would be cool to know how this little piece of interesting hardware works.

 

[glad2ride]

As best I remember, the staked fastener you are referring to holds the ball and detent mechanism that is adjustable. The holes at the bottom is the bypass/are the bypasses. The holes right under the valving is the exit that is affected by the adjustable mechanism.

Carefully slide the o-ring off, then go to town with brake cleaner.

Also important to note is that the Pittsburgh Penguins won the Stanley Cup!!