Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[flhse]

A previous thread started me thinking, would nitrogen slow the leakage in the shocks?  Anyone ever try running nitrogen?   

Brad

[VaEagle]

I think it would be hard to fill the stock H-D air shocks with Nitrogen since it would have to be relatively low pressure and low volume. Like adding air you need the hand pump not a compressed air line.

[Midnight Rider]

Try Helium...then the upper sprung part of the bike will float...

Nitrogen will accomplish nothing in the POS stock air shocks.  Get some decent shocks and forget about it.

[dlaws01]

I've always used nitrogen in shock struts in the aviation industry. Can't see it causing any problems on motorcycle shocks. It is dry, containing no H2O that can cause corrosion. I would say go for it!

[110tHunDer]

 
Where is Jerry?

[Midnight Rider]

My point is that Nitrogen in shock absorbers that are big, giant turds in the first place will do nothing.  Aviation struts are an entirely different Universe.

If the air shock system is leaking down, Nitrogen will not help, anymore than it does in tires.

Nitrogen has it's place in racing cars/bikes, where extremely small changes in pressure can make a significant difference in handling, or in a high quality shock absorber that is gas charged...and is sealed.  Really sealed.  Not halfway sealed, but sealed.  All other applications are a waste of time, money, and effort.  Simply put, it's a big stinking pile of BS.

[Midnight Rider]

Where is Jerry?

Yea...I was thinking the same thing...

[110tHunDer]

 
You're doing a good job of filling in in the meantime.

[grc]

I still vote for propane instead of nitrogen.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with using nitrogen to fill air shocks.  But don't get all excited thinking you will see some magical difference in shock performance or the amount of time it takes for the shocks to lose pressure, because you will be highly disappointed.  This isn't the same thing as the nitrogen (gas) charged sealed dampers in standard shocks or struts.

What were you planning to use as a source of nitrogen?  Stopping by the tire store for a spritz every time you need to adjust pressure could become a bit of a pain.  I imagine you could get one of those small compressed air tanks and have it filled with N₂, then use the tank to adjust the shock pressure.  Make sure you install a pressure reducer on the line from the tank so you don't blow the shocks. 


Jerry

[flhse]

Well, at least this received a few comments, good and bad.....   

I listened to this argument for over 3 years, talked to tire manufacturers and tried a few things.  Not sure you would ever see an advantage one way or another unless.....  What has made sense is to use nitrogen in applications that will be used for a number of years.  Since oxygen will promote oxidizing of the tire or other components shortening the life of them, not a bad idea.  I know many people that don't ride much on any given year, how old are the tires?  or we may have a bike that isn't ridden for one reason or another, nitrogen will help in the long run to keep the tires in better shape they say.  Motorhome and trailers tires were a couple other examples cited as a good use for nitrogen. 

As far as my shocks, Legends for years on the rear, wouldn't leave home without them.  Nitrogen supply, yup one tank in the garage with a regulator for other applications, its not that hard to find.  A number of folks that do track days will have it available. 

 

[grc]

Well, at least this received a few comments, good and bad.....   

I listened to this argument for over 3 years, talked to tire manufacturers and tried a few things.  Not sure you would ever see an advantage one way or another unless.....  What has made sense is to use nitrogen in applications that will be used for a number of years.  Since oxygen will promote oxidizing of the tire or other components shortening the life of them, not a bad idea.  I know many people that don't ride much on any given year, how old are the tires?  or we may have a bike that isn't ridden for one reason or another, nitrogen will help in the long run to keep the tires in better shape they say.  Motorhome and trailers tires were a couple other examples cited as a good use for nitrogen. 

As far as my shocks, Legends for years on the rear, wouldn't leave home without them.  Nitrogen supply, yup one tank in the garage with a regulator for other applications, its not that hard to find.  A number of folks that do track days will have it available. 

 

That's one of the claims the nitrogen sellers use that floors me.  They obviously think everyone but them is stupid and can't figure out the the entire outer surface of the tire is always exposed not only to that evil atmospheric air, but even worse that truly bad ozone.  So I guess what we need to do is only drive and park our vehicles in enclosed areas that contain nothing but 100% pure nitrogen.  Of course, most of the places that sell nitrogen for tires don't actually install 100% pure nitrogen, but that's just a little oversight when they don't fully disclose that fact.

Next time you have a vehicle with checking and cracking on the sidewalls, have that tire removed so you can inspect the interior.  Bet you won't find the same thing to the same degree on the interior (I never have).  Check with the tire manufacturer's and ask about what they do in the rubber formulations to protect that rubber from the damage the nitrogen folks claim is so common. 

If you're going to waste time and money putting something else in your tires, at least use something that has multiple functions that really are beneficial.  For instance, use helium.  Not only will the tires float over bumps, but you can fill balloons from your tires for the kids birthday parties.  Or use my personal favorite, propane.  You can use your tires as an emergency backup for the gas grill, or you can poke a small hole in the tire and perform some amazing flaming burnouts for the guys down at the local hangout.  Try that with nitrogen.


Jerry

[Gettinold]

Try Helium...then the upper sprung part of the bike will float...

Nitrogen will accomplish nothing in the POS stock air shocks.  Get some decent shocks and forget about it.

[Keats]

The real point of using nitrogen is that it is stable with heat and it is completely dry (no water).
water vapor in tires makes all kinds of issues like rust, corrosion and expansion with heat.

Most compressed air has quite a bit of water in it (nitrogen does not). also the Nitrogen molecule is larger than most of the other inert gases, so leaking is lessened.

It really is not an argument whether it is better, but is it worth the cost.

it can be used in shocks

[Keats]

helium would make a terrible replacement since the molecule of Nitrogen is 3 times bigger and helium would leak out faster

[Twolanerider]

helium would make a terrible replacement since the molecule of Nitrogen is 3 times bigger and helium would leak out faster

Jeff, if I used helium in air shocks would it make their voice go all high and funny?