frankencat said:
How much air pressure do you run in your stock rear air shocks? I am running 15 solo and 20 two-up and I bottom over moderate bumps two-up. Thinking of going to 30-35 for two up but wanted to know what everybody else was running.
The V-Twin Forum "info" section is not working at this time so I don't know hat bike you have. I always had a good quality ride just running the air pressures that HD recommended in the Owner's Manual. For my 1992 FLT that was 0 - solo, and 5 to 10 with passenger and luggage.
I used a HD "syringe" type air pump. I also adjusted the schrader valve so that it JUST came open when the air pump was fully screwed on to the stem. Initially, I had a problem with the schrader valve being held open as the pump hose was being unscrewed from the shock. This resulted in the shock air pressure dropping to zero.
Easiest way to tell if the shock's schrader valve is adjusted properly is to:
1 - attached the pump
2 - pressurize the shock to 10-15 psi
3 - remove the pump completely, then
4 - reattach the pump
If the shock air pressure remains at the psi that you just loaded, the the schrader valve is properly adjusted. If the air pressure is markedly less than you just loaded (like zero), then the air pressure may be dropping as you are unscrewing the pump.
If that's the case, then adjust the schrader valve so that it lies further into the valve stem. You may have to spend some time "tweaking" the position, but you want the schrader valve to JUST open up when the pump is fully screwed on to the valve stem. That way the schrader valve will FULLY CLOSE as-soon-as you BEGIN to disengage the air pump hardware. Do this and the shocks will have the air pressure you intended.
What is the solo ride like with zero pressure in the air shock?