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Shock charging

Posted: April 13th, 2010, 3:32 am
by Tharrell
What does it take to put a charge in the shock?
Some tire shops are putting nitrogen in tires now. I was wondering if they could charge a shock?
What's the difference between using nitrogen and argon?

Re: Shock charging

Posted: April 13th, 2010, 8:51 am
by hoofarted
Tharrell wrote:What does it take to put a charge in the shock?
Some tire shops are putting nitrogen in tires now. I was wondering if they could charge a shock?
What's the difference between using nitrogen and argon?
Don't know if a tire shop will do ~150psi. I know bike shops will.

Posted: April 13th, 2010, 11:46 am
by Tharrell
150 psi? Wow, I didn't realize it was that high.

Posted: November 28th, 2010, 4:31 pm
by supermotoflunkie
the answer is no. because the capacity of the bladder is so small, it has to be pressurized and the schrader closed while its pressurized.

just taking the chuck off the valve (the air spurt) is enough to loose most/all pressure.

motion-pro makes a tool but its about $300 bones. find a competent shop with a nitrogen cylinder and get hooked up. should be cheap

...and yea about 175psi.....

Posted: November 28th, 2010, 5:12 pm
by "SOLID Bro!!"
I have a "tool" to do that. I will take a pic of it tomorrow and post it.

It screws on the schrader valve pressing the valve internally and you fill from the other end through a guage charging the shock and the "tool" once you have the desired pressure you unscrew it releasing the pressure from the valve than unscrew the tool from the stem not losing any pressure.

Make sense?

It was used to recharge offroad shocks. I haven't used it for years but I refuse to sell stuff. You never know when you need it. All I need to do is have my nitrogen cylinder refilled.

Easier way is to find a good size fab shop that sells Fox shocks, King shocks ect. They will have the equipment if you know the PSI it requires.

The Flunkie is correct in the amount of time it takes to remove the valve you could lose up to 50 psi.

Posted: November 29th, 2010, 7:06 am
by Tharrell
I think I get an idea of your tool.
I'm thinking of my portable air cylinder.
I can turn the air off at the cylinder which doesen't affect the pressure.
I'm interested to see your tool. Thanks

Posted: November 29th, 2010, 7:31 am
by supermotoflunkie
Tharrell wrote:I think I get an idea of your tool.

I'm interested to see your tool. Thanks
That's what she said. Hmmm

Posted: November 29th, 2010, 9:20 am
by 100hp honda
one quick press of the valve can deplete most of the pressure. after they fill it leave it alone. had 2 filled at bike shops, one was free and the other was $5.

Posted: November 29th, 2010, 8:45 pm
by "SOLID Bro!!"
Image

[/img]Image

sorry for the small pics it from my phone and cant figure out how to make my tool look bigger.

Posted: November 29th, 2010, 8:58 pm
by gregrobo
nice we have the charging gear to do the shocks in the shed the most expensive part is the nitoge regulator ifyou have one protect it like 600 dollars worth

Posted: November 29th, 2010, 9:10 pm
by "SOLID Bro!!"
gregrobo wrote:nice we have the charging gear to do the shocks in the shed the most expensive part is the nitoge regulator ifyou have one protect it like 600 dollars worth
Yeah I have that shit too.

I just use a welding type regulator that goes up to 600psi I think

Posted: November 29th, 2010, 11:29 pm
by gregrobo
yeah same we went and priced a nitrogen reg and said f that mains pressure oxy guage does the trick

Posted: December 2nd, 2010, 9:32 pm
by "SOLID Bro!!"
Regulator set up

Image[/img]

Posted: May 18th, 2011, 6:59 pm
by XR250rdr
gregrobo wrote:nice we have the charging gear to do the shocks in the shed the most expensive part is the nitoge regulator ifyou have one protect it like 600 dollars worth
Its not difficult to piece together a kit for less than half that.

I was able to find an unused regulator secondhand for $50, tank was $80 used + $20 to fill it, no loss chuck and hose was $100.

Posted: May 18th, 2011, 8:44 pm
by gregrobo
XR250rdr wrote:
gregrobo wrote:nice we have the charging gear to do the shocks in the shed the most expensive part is the nitoge regulator ifyou have one protect it like 600 dollars worth
Its not difficult to piece together a kit for less than half that.

I was able to find an unused regulator secondhand for $50, tank was $80 used + $20 to fill it, no loss chuck and hose was $100.
i didnt say i bought mine i pieced mine together also

Re: Shock charging

Posted: May 18th, 2011, 11:58 pm
by sugarshane
Tharrell wrote:What does it take to put a charge in the shock?
Some tire shops are putting nitrogen in tires now. I was wondering if they could charge a shock?
What's the difference between using nitrogen and argon?
Weren't you in the Air Force and if so you still know anyone in the Air Force? We service out jets with nitrogen so if you still know anyone in the AF ask them if they can do it or swing by the cryogenic backshop and ask them. I am sure they will do it for free.

Posted: May 19th, 2011, 2:08 am
by Tharrell
Shit no man, been out since 1980.
I probably would have been at the Khobar towers in Saudi Arabia if I had stayed in though.
Lots of guys from my unit were killed there.
I'm a crusty old fart, 53.
Thanks for responding anyway.

btw-I loved the AF but if I could go back in time I would have joined the Marines, I have that mentality.
I had a family and the AF promised base of choice and 2 stripes after tech school.