Topic: Oil in Stock Air Shocks (Read 6364 times)

jfh · « **on:** January 30, 2007, 05:51:40 PM »

Has anyone ever refilled the oil in the H-D air shocks? I had a spare set that leaked oil from the air fill port when the shocks fell over while in storage. (Yeah, I know - should have placed a threaded plug in the port). The service manual states that if the oil leaks out in this manner, the shocks must be replaced. That makes no sense at all since the oil is not under pressure and can be reintroduced into the shock the same way it leaked out (air port).

I am trying to determine how much oil is required and what type/weight to use?

Thanks,

John

hd-dude · « **Reply #1 on:** January 30, 2007, 11:46:32 PM »

12 ounces.

Here is a thread that discusses it:

http://flhrsei.org/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?num=1153783755/3#3

jfh · « **Reply #2 on:** January 31, 2007, 05:21:45 PM »

Thanks Gary.

SBB · « **Reply #3 on:** January 31, 2007, 06:25:46 PM »

Quote

Thanks Gary.

"Gary"

??
[smiley=nixweiss.gif] [smiley=nixweiss.gif] [smiley=nixweiss.gif] [smiley=nixweiss.gif] [smiley=nixweiss.gif] [smiley=nixweiss.gif] [smiley=nixweiss.gif]

Fired00d · « **Reply #4 on:** January 31, 2007, 06:33:36 PM »

Quote

"Gary" ??
[smiley=nixweiss.gif] [smiley=nixweiss.gif] [smiley=nixweiss.gif] [smiley=nixweiss.gif] [smiley=nixweiss.gif] [smiley=nixweiss.gif] [smiley=nixweiss.gif]

You mean you didn't know? [smiley=nixweiss.gif] [smiley=huepfenlol2.gif]

[smiley=pumpkin.gif]
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
[smiley=fireman.gif]

Midnight Rider · « **Reply #5 on:** January 31, 2007, 06:39:05 PM »

Don't tell me we've got to start a Gary list now...

Fired00d · « **Reply #6 on:** January 31, 2007, 06:41:11 PM »

Quote

Don't tell me we've got to start a Gary list now...

LOL!!!!

[smiley=lipsrsealed.gif] [smiley=lipsrsealed2.gif]

[smiley=pumpkin.gif]
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
[smiley=fireman.gif]

SPIDERMAN · « **Reply #7 on:** January 31, 2007, 09:16:29 PM »

Quote

12 ounces.

Here is a thread that discusses it:

http://flhrsei.org/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?num=1153783755/3#3

Brian,
I thought there was a thread somewhere about a member who took his shocks to Billstein and they filled them for him. ( reread the one above that wasn't it) There's a Billstein factory here in my town, and it wasn't me or Beagle, so maybe there's other Billstein factories and someone will read this and retell the story.

B B

hd-dude · « **Reply #8 on:** January 31, 2007, 09:26:24 PM »

Gary?, Brian?, I'm having an identity crisis [smiley=nervous.gif]

Jim (i think) [smiley=huepfenlol2.gif]

Fired00d · « **Reply #9 on:** January 31, 2007, 09:30:13 PM »

Quote

Gary?, Brian?, I'm having an identity crisis [smiley=nervous.gif]

Jim (i think) [smiley=huepfenlol2.gif]

Been waiting for you to get here and see this. [smiley=huepfenlol2.gif]

[smiley=huepfenlol2.gif]

[smiley=pumpkin.gif]
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
[smiley=fireman.gif]

SPIDERMAN · « **Reply #10 on:** January 31, 2007, 10:56:20 PM »

Quote

Gary?, Brian?, I'm having an identity crisis [smiley=nervous.gif]

Jim (i think) [smiley=huepfenlol2.gif]

Ok, so all you moderators look alike. Is that my fault ? :-/

B B

jfh · « **Reply #11 on:** February 03, 2007, 07:32:26 AM »

My apologies for confusing a dude with a d00d.

hd-dude · « **Reply #12 on:** February 03, 2007, 11:25:59 AM »

Quote

My apologies for confusing a dude with a d00d.

No problem at all, As another member said in another thread as long as we call each other friends it all good!

Puzzled · « **Reply #13 on:** February 07, 2007, 08:21:15 PM »

How did you make out with filling your shocks?

The problem I ran into was knowing how much to put in without completely emptying the shock. For anyone who has filled a shock you know this takes for ever.

jfh · « **Reply #14 on:** February 10, 2007, 10:56:23 AM »

I have not filled them yet for two reasons. First, is the one you mention, not sure how much they require to reach the correct level. Second is that I am not sure what specific type of fluid to use.

Any suggestions.

Thanks

Puzzled · « **Reply #15 on:** February 10, 2007, 02:03:42 PM »

This is purely me thinking out loud here..........

If one were to overfill the shock with oil I would think that when you ran the shock through its cycle it would disperse any excess oil.

just a thought......

jfh · « **Reply #16 on:** February 11, 2007, 11:22:31 AM »

My thoughts exactly. Now - what type oil?

Puzzled · « **Reply #17 on:** February 11, 2007, 11:37:59 AM »

I'm going with fork oil until I'm told otherwise.

jfh · « **Reply #18 on:** February 11, 2007, 11:55:04 AM »

The oil that was in the shocks is not the same color (red) as the H-D fork oil. It must have come from another vendor. Not sure what type oil Showa uses at their factory. Other than that, I agree that fork oil should work fine.

hd-dude · « **Reply #19 on:** February 12, 2007, 01:25:30 AM »

I would stick with a light weight (5 or 7.5) fork oil.

Puzzled · « **Reply #20 on:** February 12, 2007, 06:57:40 PM »

I made my way to the garage today with the intentions of working on my Legends air shocks. As has been stated before I have the conversion shocks made by Legends. I took the system off of my bike last year after Carlisle because the bike was riding rough. I later found one of the shocks to be stuck in the collapsed position. I was able to free the chock of its closed position but in the process I lost an undetermined amount of oil from the chock. So my search began for the correct oil type and amount to go back in the shocks. Well this resulted in mostly "They are unserviceable". My train of thought is if they were built with oil in them than there is no reason I can't change it. I believe it was after speaking with Legends that the 12 ounce amount came out. With this little bit of knowledge I was determined to work on these shocks.

I started by filling the first shock until it wouldn't take any more. This proved to be very messy and time consuming. Even though I was using a brake syringe it was still slow going. What I needed was a third hand.

So over to the lathe I went. This allowed me to mount a shock in the lathe and use the tail stock to compress the spring. This worked well but was still slow going. What I would do is compress the shock and start filling it while i was backing the tail stock out. This created a vacuum of sorts and was sucking the fluid in. However it was difficult to work the syringe one handed and turn the tail stock out at the same time. I still needed the third hand. Now had I been a needle user somewhere in my lifetime this may have not been so difficult.

Puzzled · « **Reply #21 on:** February 12, 2007, 07:00:09 PM »

My next attempt was to remove the plunger from the syringe and gravity feed the shock. This worked well when I collapsed the shock and used the tail stock to relieve pressure. Still a little messy but better.

Puzzled · « **Reply #22 on:** February 12, 2007, 07:04:06 PM »

My final attempt had me using the fork oil bottle with a cap from a gear oil container. This fit the shock hole perfectly and allowed me to squeeze the bottle while backing the tail stock out. This filled the shock rather quickly and with very little mess.

After filling the shock I cycled it in and out to make sure I had it full but not overfilled. I put 10 ounces of new fluid in it. That stands to reason with the 12 ounce full mark as I could hear some fluid in the shock that I was unable to get out before I started

Puzzled · « **Reply #23 on:** February 12, 2007, 07:12:57 PM »

After completing the second shock I placed the first manual filled shock in the lathe. As I cycled it in and out it was apparent that I had overfilled it. I pushed close to two ounces out of the shock. My lathe method may not be correct but at least both shocks are the same now.

As for the shock that was sticking I can no longer tell which one it was. Sure I'm still a little gun shy but hey nothing ventured nothing gained.

As a back up I'll take my stock shocks to Daytona with me just in case I have to change them back.

I ordered all new fittings from the shock fitting all the way to the compressor including the line. McMaster Carr is very fast with their shipping so I should have my order by Wednesday.

What prompted me to get to working on this after almost a year? I called Legends today to see if I can have these shocks rebuilt and was told I could upgrade for $800. While that may be a good deal I'm not ready to give them my coin twice until I know these shocks are toast. I even called Draggin Bagger and as of yet no one has returned my call.

Puzzled · « **Reply #24 on:** February 12, 2007, 07:17:26 PM »

Quote

I would stick with a light weight (5 or 7.5) fork oil.

I went with Medium 20 weight simply because that was what I had here!

Should the shocks actually work but ride a bit harsh I would have no problems with changing the fluid accordingly. Now that I have a half a**ed system I'm good to go.

jfh · « **Reply #25 on:** February 15, 2007, 05:35:13 PM »

Puzzled,

Thanks for the detailed "How-To" report and photos. I don't have a lathe but I can figure something out for manipulating the travel.

iski · « **Reply #26 on:** May 02, 2007, 06:33:39 PM »

Left shock leaked all fluid this past weekend. Bike @ dealer and they have a new shock on order. Warranty.

At first thought it might be brake fluid, so all in all better the shock leaking than brake fluid.

Author Topic: Oil in Stock Air Shocks (Read 6364 times)

SPIDERMAN

SPIDERMAN