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anybody know how to tune/rebuild air shocks?

2K views 21 replies 9 participants last post by  muddyblzr 
#1 ·
i might have a leak in one of mine. anyone know how to rebuild them and tune them (add oil and nitrogen)?
can anyone help me out
 
#4 ·
PM hardline.
 
#7 ·
you need motorcycle fork oil for the shocks, and a syringe to add oil. you need 5 weight oil.

this is for the proper amount of shock rebound or firmness. you will also need a nitrogen filling station, aka a bottle of nitrogen, gauge assy, and hose. the shocks can have no weight on them when filling. inital charge of nitrogen should be in the 200lb range, then test, and see how it works, if they are too stiff take oil out, if they are too soft, add oil. if they sit too low, add nitrogen, if they sit too high, let some out.

and if all that don't work, call somebody who knows WTF they are doing

smokin
 
#8 ·
thanks rastus. is there a way to get oil out without losing the nitrogen?
i wana add a little bit of oil and let out some nitrogen. i'd like to bein the range of about 5" of up travel
this is what it looks like right now
 
#9 ·
No, you can't let oil out without letting nitrogen out.
 
#10 ·
that's what i figured i was hoping there might be some new cool way i didnt know about.
im gonna talk to poly performance and see what they suggest. gonna rebuild that one and check the lower ends to i think the might be contacting the tabs. then just add some oil. that way my front springs will work some.
rastus did you do anything to yours?
 
#11 ·
It would be best to just start over. Catch the oil from each side and measure it to get an idea of how much fluid you will need to reinstall. You'll lose the N2 charge so you need a way to pressurize the shocks again. Check with the mfr on the min and max recommended pressures.

I have a cool tool to help in pressurizing the shocks if you can come up with the nitrogen and a regulator.
 
#12 ·
No, haven't done anything to mine other than add nitrogen. I think it's time for a tune-up on them tho. but that's gonna be a lil while yet.
 
#14 ·
Excellent point.
 
#20 ·
Are these new shocks? If not how old are they? Guys made good points here, if your losing nitrogen it could be your valve cores loose or leaking.

To get oil out you have to let the nitrogen out and take the shock off and lift upside down. Let me make a suggestion, if you take the oil out replace it with either 7.5 wgt or 10 wgt, makes a huge difference. But remember to measure how much you take out, it's easier to add oil then take it out, if it's to floppy add oil, 5-10 cc's at a time. You really should have your shocks extended when adding oil and notrogen, by lifting one corner at a time with a jack or using someone winch to pull you over.

How much shaft you have showing because in the pic it shows to be alot. I think between 3"-5" is the best.

You will also need a limiting strap in the middle of the axle to the frame to keep the shocks from extending on climbs and downhill.

Hardline on here knows a lot about as air shocks and I pmed you Bobby's number.
 
#21 ·
You just about covered it Benji. Looks like you have been paying attention at the shop LOL. Yes very good information in this thread. The oil sets the valving (rebound and compresion only) The nitrogen sets the ride hight only. Looks like the low side is about at the hight that you want. You can burp out the nitrogen of the higher one to match the other but be quick about it. There is not much in there. JJ
 
#22 ·
no they aren't new. i'm not sure when edwin put them but they haven't been on for too long. for ride height i want about 4-5" seems to be a the sweet spot. im gonna pick at it today and see what i find. i hope i get lucky with a simple valve core leak. i'll report back
 
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