TexasBowhunter,Thanks I will try this mod and post my results .
,Stan:thanks:
,Stan:thanks:
Making Stock Shocks Better
let me kinda bring you guys up to speed on what I've done here...
I am no means a shock expert but I believe I know what I like in the way of a quaility ride...
1 yr. ago I purchased a set of 12" shocks from a member and when they arrived there was fluid all over the box in which they were shipped in...I seemed to remember somewhere that the fluid could be changed or at least put back in, so a search was on the way to re-confirm this...BINGO, I found what I was hoping to find along with the stock shocks are a POS and just go get a new set of Progressives...
Well as cheap as I am, I wanted to try and re-use the stock set first before I invested in a newer set due to the fact that I liked the idea of having the air to adjust the ride...
So I had the shocks in hand and found some 7.5 wt shock fluid from one of the local indy shops and and began my little adventure...First I had to drain all the old fluid out and this I found to be the most time consumming process out of the entire ordeal...I had to create a rocking motion with the shock to get the fluid out...I removed the fluid and measured it and to my amazement, the amount of fluid that I had measured wasn't the same amount that was called for on the search I did...OK no big deal it was close and there was fluid all over the box so this would account for the absence of fluid in the shock that I picked up for the experiment...
After both shocks were full and I had them on the bike and bolted in I tried to pump some air in them but had a leak so as I was fumbling with them I had some of the fluid running out all over me and the shock...never gave it a bit of thought about this...Just alittle to much...
The 12" were on now and for the last year were working beautifully and buy the way still are...Personally I didn't notice how much better the 12" shocks handled because I never got to ride the stock 12" with the factory fluid...I let my friend Karl (KDietz) ride my bike after I overhauled the front forks with the progressive system, when he returned he was in shock as to how well the bike rode with the 12" shocks on...
Fast forward a week or so he had asked for some help with his front end putting in a Raceteck system so we swapped bikes so I could get started before he arrived the following day...The evenning we swapped he had his lovely wife on the back and when he returned he commented on how much nicer the bike rode over his 13"...My reply is I dont understand Ifigured the stock 13" would out perform the stock 12" alltogether...All I did was change the fluid out to something heavier...
After getting a bit more educated on the loss of travel that 12" over the 13" had I wanted to put the 13" back on, however I didn't want the 13" stock riding height...So I ordered a 1" lowering kit form TJ Products which keep the shock angle the same as stock...I proceeded to install it right before the ride in the Rockies along with the group...I was riding alone and had the bags full and had my leathers in the touring pack and there was many times I was bottoming out...Ok I need more air...so I took it from 16# to 20# then up to 22# and still bottomed out...Now this was with just me on it...I felt like it was the dampening system in the shock that needed to be slowed down and corrected very much like I had done on the 12" unknowingly...
I when I got back I talked with Karl about the experience I had with the 13" shocks and to my surprise he was getting the same results...
Went to the indy shop where I got the 1st -7.5 wt quart and they didn't have any...Called Pipers Performance here locally and found that they had some 7.5/10wt synthetic...SWEET Just what I was looking for...Went and picked his brain on what we were doing and he confirmed that we were on the right path to improvement on the stock shocks...Personally I value what Cliff has to say due to the fact that he was Racetechs #1 shop on the west coast for like 10-12 years straight...I figure that in itself speaks for alot as far as a suspension guru...
So Saturday after we (Karl and I) each bought a quart we proceed to install it in our shocks at my house...
We started with his bike since he had 1 side of exhaust and mine had 2...1 shock would be cooler then the other on his bike...We removed the shocks and when they were on the bench we removed the quick release connection for the air line...Now the Rocking began with the shock in hand and this proved to be as slow as I rememebered it the last time I did it...(There has to be a faster more productive method)...There was if I had the fittings so I dug around while he was rocking the shock drainning the fluid slowwwly...Bingo, I found a 1/8" mpt fitting with a barb that would now attach to my mighty vac line...
Oh man, was this to prove to be a great idea...just sucked the fluid right out like nobodys buissness...
(enclosed a pic...)
After the fluid was evactated we proceed to install the new fluid in the shocks with a turkey baster...worked last time and contuned to work this time...
(enclosed a pic...)
After the fluid was at the top of the hole where the quick release fitting was removed, I applied my weight on top of it to allow it to burp and release some of the excess fluid...Very little came out...Ok now on to the next...
repeated process 3 other times because we did mine after we did his...
After the install we went for a ride...I had put 15# of air in the system and found the ride to be extremely firm, firm enough to indicate the ride quality in the lower part of my back...I released half the volume of air that was in the shocks (8#) and when I did the ride improved but still not to my liking...still a bit firmer then what I had hoped for...
Sunday My wife and I and Karl and His wife went for a ride and still with the 8# of air volume in from the day before we both rode around the DFW area and when it did bottom out it wasn't the abrupt bottoming out I had experienced but a much softer more controlled bottoming out which sat alot better with me...The ride did improve with the 2 of us on there...naturally this got me to thinking some more about the shocks and what could be done to improve the ride somemore...
Sunday and Monday I thought about this...
What I came up with was I figured I needed to remove a bit more fluid from the shocks, but I needed to remove the fluid equally...So off to ACE hardware store for some fittings...
I got 2 ea. 1/8" mpt fitting with a 1/4" compressing fitting on the other end
I got 2 ea. 1/8" mpt fitting with a 3/16" barb that would slip into the hose...
1/4 od hose 4' long
Now the mpt fitting with the barb would be attached to thehose and cap of a container while at the other end of the hose was the 1/8" mpt fitting with the compression fitting. This would be screwed into the 1/8" mpt threads where the quick release fitting would go...
Then after both adapters were made, the moment of truth became more pervailent...
I jacked the bike up and removed the quick release fitting, but I left the hose hooked up while I removed the fitting and installed the lasted creation of mine...After both were installed and snugged up, I lowered the bike...With just the weight of the bike there was fluid being pushed out into the lines and container...Then very gingerly I climbed atop the bike and sat on the seat and released yet more fluid...After I was convinced there was no more to flow out with me on it...I climbed off and removed the fittings and reinstalled the quick release fittings...
Note when I finished the volume of fluid were now equal in both shocks and I felt I knew this because the fluid in the containers were not of equal amounts...I believe there was air and some loss of fluid in the beginning which wasn't equalized...I feel that they are equal now because both valves were open and weight was applied, equally applied and uniformity was addressed...
(Enclosed a pic)
I went for a ride with 8# of air in the shocks and let me tell you what a night and day difference I just made was...
The ride was so much better then it was before...I still felt that there was a bit much air in the shocks so I released 3# and now it rides like I had hoped it would with just me on it...No bottoming out and a ride that personally I feel should be what Showa should be shooting for...
What I did with the shocks Monday with my weight applied on them I feel was I set the shocks up for me and my weight...Kinda fine tunning them and not mass producing them with a formula that would work for everybody...
Personally this should work with anyone, anysize and have a shock that is set up for him or her and not have to worry about the lack of ride the stock shocks gave but how they could be improved on and how they should feel...
Food for thought
I'm not saying this would/will work for everyone but it certainnly can't hurt and for the price of a quart and some of your time one morning it's well worth a shot before you go out and spent big $$$ on something else you may not need...
Also while we're on the subject for those of you that have access to the DB system that was such a nightmare for some...The DB system can be incorperated with the stock air shocks so you can adjust on the fly...
Thats yet another story possible to come...
I am no means a shock expert but I believe I know what I like in the way of a quaility ride...
1 yr. ago I purchased a set of 12" shocks from a member and when they arrived there was fluid all over the box in which they were shipped in...I seemed to remember somewhere that the fluid could be changed or at least put back in, so a search was on the way to re-confirm this...BINGO, I found what I was hoping to find along with the stock shocks are a POS and just go get a new set of Progressives...
Well as cheap as I am, I wanted to try and re-use the stock set first before I invested in a newer set due to the fact that I liked the idea of having the air to adjust the ride...
So I had the shocks in hand and found some 7.5 wt shock fluid from one of the local indy shops and and began my little adventure...First I had to drain all the old fluid out and this I found to be the most time consumming process out of the entire ordeal...I had to create a rocking motion with the shock to get the fluid out...I removed the fluid and measured it and to my amazement, the amount of fluid that I had measured wasn't the same amount that was called for on the search I did...OK no big deal it was close and there was fluid all over the box so this would account for the absence of fluid in the shock that I picked up for the experiment...
After both shocks were full and I had them on the bike and bolted in I tried to pump some air in them but had a leak so as I was fumbling with them I had some of the fluid running out all over me and the shock...never gave it a bit of thought about this...Just alittle to much...
The 12" were on now and for the last year were working beautifully and buy the way still are...Personally I didn't notice how much better the 12" shocks handled because I never got to ride the stock 12" with the factory fluid...I let my friend Karl (KDietz) ride my bike after I overhauled the front forks with the progressive system, when he returned he was in shock as to how well the bike rode with the 12" shocks on...
Fast forward a week or so he had asked for some help with his front end putting in a Raceteck system so we swapped bikes so I could get started before he arrived the following day...The evenning we swapped he had his lovely wife on the back and when he returned he commented on how much nicer the bike rode over his 13"...My reply is I dont understand Ifigured the stock 13" would out perform the stock 12" alltogether...All I did was change the fluid out to something heavier...
After getting a bit more educated on the loss of travel that 12" over the 13" had I wanted to put the 13" back on, however I didn't want the 13" stock riding height...So I ordered a 1" lowering kit form TJ Products which keep the shock angle the same as stock...I proceeded to install it right before the ride in the Rockies along with the group...I was riding alone and had the bags full and had my leathers in the touring pack and there was many times I was bottoming out...Ok I need more air...so I took it from 16# to 20# then up to 22# and still bottomed out...Now this was with just me on it...I felt like it was the dampening system in the shock that needed to be slowed down and corrected very much like I had done on the 12" unknowingly...
I when I got back I talked with Karl about the experience I had with the 13" shocks and to my surprise he was getting the same results...
Went to the indy shop where I got the 1st -7.5 wt quart and they didn't have any...Called Pipers Performance here locally and found that they had some 7.5/10wt synthetic...SWEET Just what I was looking for...Went and picked his brain on what we were doing and he confirmed that we were on the right path to improvement on the stock shocks...Personally I value what Cliff has to say due to the fact that he was Racetechs #1 shop on the west coast for like 10-12 years straight...I figure that in itself speaks for alot as far as a suspension guru...
So Saturday after we (Karl and I) each bought a quart we proceed to install it in our shocks at my house...
We started with his bike since he had 1 side of exhaust and mine had 2...1 shock would be cooler then the other on his bike...We removed the shocks and when they were on the bench we removed the quick release connection for the air line...Now the Rocking began with the shock in hand and this proved to be as slow as I rememebered it the last time I did it...(There has to be a faster more productive method)...There was if I had the fittings so I dug around while he was rocking the shock drainning the fluid slowwwly...Bingo, I found a 1/8" mpt fitting with a barb that would now attach to my mighty vac line...
Oh man, was this to prove to be a great idea...just sucked the fluid right out like nobodys buissness...
(enclosed a pic...)
After the fluid was evactated we proceed to install the new fluid in the shocks with a turkey baster...worked last time and contuned to work this time...
(enclosed a pic...)
After the fluid was at the top of the hole where the quick release fitting was removed, I applied my weight on top of it to allow it to burp and release some of the excess fluid...Very little came out...Ok now on to the next...
repeated process 3 other times because we did mine after we did his...
After the install we went for a ride...I had put 15# of air in the system and found the ride to be extremely firm, firm enough to indicate the ride quality in the lower part of my back...I released half the volume of air that was in the shocks (8#) and when I did the ride improved but still not to my liking...still a bit firmer then what I had hoped for...
Sunday My wife and I and Karl and His wife went for a ride and still with the 8# of air volume in from the day before we both rode around the DFW area and when it did bottom out it wasn't the abrupt bottoming out I had experienced but a much softer more controlled bottoming out which sat alot better with me...The ride did improve with the 2 of us on there...naturally this got me to thinking some more about the shocks and what could be done to improve the ride somemore...
Sunday and Monday I thought about this...
What I came up with was I figured I needed to remove a bit more fluid from the shocks, but I needed to remove the fluid equally...So off to ACE hardware store for some fittings...
I got 2 ea. 1/8" mpt fitting with a 1/4" compressing fitting on the other end
I got 2 ea. 1/8" mpt fitting with a 3/16" barb that would slip into the hose...
1/4 od hose 4' long
Now the mpt fitting with the barb would be attached to thehose and cap of a container while at the other end of the hose was the 1/8" mpt fitting with the compression fitting. This would be screwed into the 1/8" mpt threads where the quick release fitting would go...
Then after both adapters were made, the moment of truth became more pervailent...
I jacked the bike up and removed the quick release fitting, but I left the hose hooked up while I removed the fitting and installed the lasted creation of mine...After both were installed and snugged up, I lowered the bike...With just the weight of the bike there was fluid being pushed out into the lines and container...Then very gingerly I climbed atop the bike and sat on the seat and released yet more fluid...After I was convinced there was no more to flow out with me on it...I climbed off and removed the fittings and reinstalled the quick release fittings...
Note when I finished the volume of fluid were now equal in both shocks and I felt I knew this because the fluid in the containers were not of equal amounts...I believe there was air and some loss of fluid in the beginning which wasn't equalized...I feel that they are equal now because both valves were open and weight was applied, equally applied and uniformity was addressed...
(Enclosed a pic)
I went for a ride with 8# of air in the shocks and let me tell you what a night and day difference I just made was...
The ride was so much better then it was before...I still felt that there was a bit much air in the shocks so I released 3# and now it rides like I had hoped it would with just me on it...No bottoming out and a ride that personally I feel should be what Showa should be shooting for...
What I did with the shocks Monday with my weight applied on them I feel was I set the shocks up for me and my weight...Kinda fine tunning them and not mass producing them with a formula that would work for everybody...
Personally this should work with anyone, anysize and have a shock that is set up for him or her and not have to worry about the lack of ride the stock shocks gave but how they could be improved on and how they should feel...
Food for thought
I'm not saying this would/will work for everyone but it certainnly can't hurt and for the price of a quart and some of your time one morning it's well worth a shot before you go out and spent big $$$ on something else you may not need...
Also while we're on the subject for those of you that have access to the DB system that was such a nightmare for some...The DB system can be incorperated with the stock air shocks so you can adjust on the fly...
Thats yet another story possible to come...
21 - 40 of 41 Posts
Bowhunter, can't thank you enough for the info. Did my shocks this weekend and the bike has never ridden better. I went with a straight 10w shock oil I found at Cycle Gear. Bought a quart for less than what I paid for a pint at the dealership. Thanks again.
My understanding is that these shocks have an air bladder so if you are getting oil (out of them and in to them) the bladder may be ruptured. I am using a set of 13" on my sporty and it makes a world of difference.
I am looking for a pair of damaged or worn out RK Shocks. I want to completely disassemble them and determine if they can be rebuild, if parts can be had for them directly from Showa (only the whole shock is available from HD), and if easily disassembled I might send my bodies off to be chromed
.
If anyone has a junker shock let me know.
Of course I will share the results as well as many picture here.
Thanks,
JMS
I am looking for a pair of damaged or worn out RK Shocks. I want to completely disassemble them and determine if they can be rebuild, if parts can be had for them directly from Showa (only the whole shock is available from HD), and if easily disassembled I might send my bodies off to be chromed
.If anyone has a junker shock let me know.
Of course I will share the results as well as many picture here.
Thanks,
JMS
I just found this thread and I have been having the same bottoming out and lack of dampening issues. I have been running 50# air pressure and still bottom out. I weigh 250 and ride solo. I drainded a spare set of shocks I had last night. I tried the rocking motion and If you had the time and arm strength it works. I ended up using a vertical post with a fulcrum arm to a piviot and used it to pump the shock in a inverted position to extract the oil. It was only ndcessary to get a 1/2 inch or so stroke to make it work. It worked quickly. I measured the oil I removed and had 300 ML or 10.1 oz. in each shock. I think puting the shock in the upright position with a short hose attached the pumping action of the shock could be used to suck new oil out of a container into the shock. I will try to find some new oil today and give it a try. I will post my results later with a picture of the fulcrum setup. Just a thought dose any one think synthetic auto trans oil would work. It is a 10 weight hydraulic oil with anti foaming additives?
Excellent post Paul!
Could this mod be done with the stock 13" shocks as well?
You just want the lowered look/feel of the 12"?
Could this mod be done with the stock 13" shocks as well?
You just want the lowered look/feel of the 12"?
cts...keep us posted
Dog...Yes this mod will work with any of the stock shocks that require air...
I have the standard 13" shocks on mine with the lowering kit and have made a world of improvement to the oval ride...
heck just this weekend I didn't put any air in the system and was probably running "0" lbs of air and perhaps just a residuale of air let in the system and the wife went for a ride with me without putting any air in the system and surprisingly had a really decent ride...Go figure... 0- air
I guess another way of looking at this was its kinda like a shock without the air **** a progressive shock with just the fluid and oil but with the riders weight adjusting (setting) the shocks character for the individual themselves...
Yea know if it doesn't work your only out $20 for the fluid and if it works you've saved your self $400...kinda a no brainer...
another way to drain the luid was to rotate the shocks 180* on the bike and sit and then stand on it while dispensing the fluid out the air fitting attachment...put sometype of hose up to it or it will make a mess...
using the same hose and container pout of allow gravity to put the fluid back in...
keep us posted on what you've done and let us know what your thoughts are...
paul
Dog...Yes this mod will work with any of the stock shocks that require air...
I have the standard 13" shocks on mine with the lowering kit and have made a world of improvement to the oval ride...
heck just this weekend I didn't put any air in the system and was probably running "0" lbs of air and perhaps just a residuale of air let in the system and the wife went for a ride with me without putting any air in the system and surprisingly had a really decent ride...Go figure... 0- air
I guess another way of looking at this was its kinda like a shock without the air **** a progressive shock with just the fluid and oil but with the riders weight adjusting (setting) the shocks character for the individual themselves...
Yea know if it doesn't work your only out $20 for the fluid and if it works you've saved your self $400...kinda a no brainer...
another way to drain the luid was to rotate the shocks 180* on the bike and sit and then stand on it while dispensing the fluid out the air fitting attachment...put sometype of hose up to it or it will make a mess...
using the same hose and container pout of allow gravity to put the fluid back in...
keep us posted on what you've done and let us know what your thoughts are...
paul
Paul thanks for the great idea, it got me thinking.
I had to go to the local rice shop to find shock oil. I got a quart of 10w bel-ray hvi racing suspension fluid. 15.00 a ratio rite for measurment 4.99. I found that trying to suck the fluid throgh a 10" tube more trouble than worth It worked but each time I blead the air out of the shock I would have to push the oil out of the whole tube. The second shock I shortened the tube to about 2" and fashoned a funnel to put into the tube. This was much better in bleading out the air. It took about three min. to get it done. After doing this I decided it would be worth the trouble to go to home depot and get parts to fabricate a better press. I will try to post pictures of the press and my method.as soon as I get it finished. I think with this new knowledge It would be reasonable to change shock oil seasonaly. The oil I took out was quite dirty looking compaired to the new.
Chris
I had to go to the local rice shop to find shock oil. I got a quart of 10w bel-ray hvi racing suspension fluid. 15.00 a ratio rite for measurment 4.99. I found that trying to suck the fluid throgh a 10" tube more trouble than worth It worked but each time I blead the air out of the shock I would have to push the oil out of the whole tube. The second shock I shortened the tube to about 2" and fashoned a funnel to put into the tube. This was much better in bleading out the air. It took about three min. to get it done. After doing this I decided it would be worth the trouble to go to home depot and get parts to fabricate a better press. I will try to post pictures of the press and my method.as soon as I get it finished. I think with this new knowledge It would be reasonable to change shock oil seasonaly. The oil I took out was quite dirty looking compaired to the new.
Chris
I like this thread and thank you Tex for being the guinea pig and taking the time to write this up and post pics. I'm doing this during the winter, maybe sooner of I have a rainy weekend.
I plan on using Amsoil Shock Therapy in 10w and 5w, mixing them to about 7 or 8w.
My original stock 12" have 70K on them. I think they're due for new oil!
I plan on using Amsoil Shock Therapy in 10w and 5w, mixing them to about 7 or 8w.
My original stock 12" have 70K on them. I think they're due for new oil!
Ok it took several hours to put the shock press together. Here is how well it worked. 5 compression strokes and the shock was empty in 30 seconds. I flipped the shock over and put in the funnel and 90 seconds to fill the shock. The set up cost 20 dollars to buy the parts at home depot. I hope the pictures will work.
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I'm in the process of doing this right now. I was out riding all day and it's rough, so I decided to just go ahead and do it now. Doesn't take too long when you use a vac. I have the Mityvac, hand pump version.
Tex, I can see what you mean by doing it by hand. Turn it over till some comes out and turn up, then repeat for a LONG time. I tried it to see how much comes out like that. Maybe 1/2 - 1 ounce at a time. With the vac it sucked out many ounces at a time. I'm surprised how much oil is in there. The original was a dark amber color but it flowed well and was clear. Seemed to be about equal amounts in each. I didn't measure either one just because I made emough of a mess as is.
Anyway, I decided to try 15w and run it lower on air. At least see how 15w works. Since it doesn't take much time I can change it out if I don't like it. It'll probably be too hard with 15w but y'all have tried the medium weights so I figure I'll try heavier. Then we'll know how different weights work.
I'll ride it tomorrow and report.
Tex, I can see what you mean by doing it by hand. Turn it over till some comes out and turn up, then repeat for a LONG time. I tried it to see how much comes out like that. Maybe 1/2 - 1 ounce at a time. With the vac it sucked out many ounces at a time. I'm surprised how much oil is in there. The original was a dark amber color but it flowed well and was clear. Seemed to be about equal amounts in each. I didn't measure either one just because I made emough of a mess as is.
Anyway, I decided to try 15w and run it lower on air. At least see how 15w works. Since it doesn't take much time I can change it out if I don't like it. It'll probably be too hard with 15w but y'all have tried the medium weights so I figure I'll try heavier. Then we'll know how different weights work.
I'll ride it tomorrow and report.
Sitting on it and bouncing(while making vroom noises) I can already tell it's going to be a different ride. For the better? Don't know yet.
I had a chance to try mine out today for the first time since changing to 10w. I ran my air pressure at 30 about 20 lower than I had been running. I only noticed a slight bottom out once. The ride has stiffened a little in that I felt more of the road with my seat. I will be riding about 100 miles on back roads tomorrow I think I will try the pressure as 20 psi next. I hope some one with known shocks with no oil loss would measure the oil that the factory puts in them I measured mine at 10 oz. but I am unshure if that was the original amount of oil. I have talked to local Harley mechanics who are interested in this process but they have no way of finding published data on the oil capacity of these shocks. They say the moco just wants you to replace them.
I got some miles in today. Definately an improvement but I've never riden any bike with anything other than stock rear shocks so this is a comparison of high mileage stock and the same shocks with new oil. It's not like I have $10,000 suspension now but for the price($10) and the effort(an hour or two) it is worth it.
With them stock, when I would hit a larger bump and the dampening was very stiff it would cause the rear end to hop up. When it came down and the rebound was also stiff it would drive the rear end up into my spine. Not terribly, mind you, and I've lived with it for 70,000+ miles but there were a few bumps that were horrible, and painful.
When I would hit a dip it would drop hard and them bounce me up. Again, sometimes painfully.
I have the shorter (12") shocks so I can pump these up to 60 lbs. I tried it all and usually kept it around 10lbs.
Now, it just seems to ease into bumps and dips and rebounds nicely but it also feels more planted, more responsive.
I'm still playing with air pressure. I started at 20 and let a little bit out at a time. I'll keep playing with that.
Here's a potential problem, though. They are leaking. The top piece that the air fitting goes into and the mounting bolt is some sort of cap. If you look you can see near the top of the body there is a seam that goes around the whole shock. It's leaking out of there. One side is just a tiny bit wet but the other acually had it running down to the boot but seemed to slow near the end of the ride.
Either I had too much oil in them or too much air pressure and something had to equal out. Hopefully all that foolishness will pass.
With them stock, when I would hit a larger bump and the dampening was very stiff it would cause the rear end to hop up. When it came down and the rebound was also stiff it would drive the rear end up into my spine. Not terribly, mind you, and I've lived with it for 70,000+ miles but there were a few bumps that were horrible, and painful.
When I would hit a dip it would drop hard and them bounce me up. Again, sometimes painfully.
I have the shorter (12") shocks so I can pump these up to 60 lbs. I tried it all and usually kept it around 10lbs.
Now, it just seems to ease into bumps and dips and rebounds nicely but it also feels more planted, more responsive.
I'm still playing with air pressure. I started at 20 and let a little bit out at a time. I'll keep playing with that.
Here's a potential problem, though. They are leaking. The top piece that the air fitting goes into and the mounting bolt is some sort of cap. If you look you can see near the top of the body there is a seam that goes around the whole shock. It's leaking out of there. One side is just a tiny bit wet but the other acually had it running down to the boot but seemed to slow near the end of the ride.
Either I had too much oil in them or too much air pressure and something had to equal out. Hopefully all that foolishness will pass.
hdmarsh
try 0" lbs of air and see what the ride is like...
I'm presently running 0"lbs with the wife and I on and it rides pretty decent
That is as long as I'm on the hwy and not the back roads
However we did the back roads and where the roads weren't maintained well the ride got disappointing but not to the point of dissatisfaction with 0"lbs of air
I'm going to be doing the Hill country ride with a group of friends this weekend and I'll put the normal 13 lbs of air and see how Ma Ma feels and then with 0 lbs of air and see how she feels and let her make the final dissiccion and go from there...
But all in all I'm glad to hear those of you that are and have tried the improvement are pleased with the results...
Ride safe
paul
try 0" lbs of air and see what the ride is like...
I'm presently running 0"lbs with the wife and I on and it rides pretty decent
That is as long as I'm on the hwy and not the back roads
However we did the back roads and where the roads weren't maintained well the ride got disappointing but not to the point of dissatisfaction with 0"lbs of air
I'm going to be doing the Hill country ride with a group of friends this weekend and I'll put the normal 13 lbs of air and see how Ma Ma feels and then with 0 lbs of air and see how she feels and let her make the final dissiccion and go from there...
But all in all I'm glad to hear those of you that are and have tried the improvement are pleased with the results...
Ride safe
paul
Tex, did you ever notice any oil leakage?
Nope...
No
None what so ever...
paul
No
None what so ever...
paul
HDMarsh77
I wonder if you may have over tightened the air fitting into the shock and split the casting (hairline). It would not be hard to do with the tapered threads used and tefflon tape. If this has happened a possible fix would be clean the threads with acitone or similar product and q-tip to flush the oil out of the crack. Then apply lock tight to the threads and put it togeather and put a low pressure air in the shock to drive the lock tight into the crack but not out of the crack. I have done this before on brass fittings and got away with it. The down side it taking it apart in the future. Others may have ideas that might help.
I wonder if you may have over tightened the air fitting into the shock and split the casting (hairline). It would not be hard to do with the tapered threads used and tefflon tape. If this has happened a possible fix would be clean the threads with acitone or similar product and q-tip to flush the oil out of the crack. Then apply lock tight to the threads and put it togeather and put a low pressure air in the shock to drive the lock tight into the crack but not out of the crack. I have done this before on brass fittings and got away with it. The down side it taking it apart in the future. Others may have ideas that might help.
cts1950, that is an excellent suggestion. I changed it out after Tex's suggestion of trying 0 pounds. It was still a little harsh so I changed it to 10w. When I had them apart I checked for cracks very closely. I didn't see anything but I appreciate the thought. I hadn't thought about that before. If I find out it is a crack then at least I can try your fix.
But I think I just had too much oil in them the first time and the pressure from hard bumps had to go somewhere. The air lines also had some oil in them.
So this time I put more weight on them to drain a little more oil out before sealing them up. They don't seem to be leaking amymore but it's getting cold here so my rides aren't as long. I do try to find the roughest roads I can though, just to push them.
I'm not sure how do describe them. They are still a little hard but I can't tell if it's the dampening or rebound that's hard. Sometimes it feels like it's one and another time it the other.
I think it's the dampening because when I hit a dip it drops, then hits pretty hard and then comes back nice and soft. Different air pressures just change it a little.
Anyone know if there is a difference between fork oil and shock fluid? I found a good shop that carries all different weights of fork oil and that's what I'm using but I've read of shock fluid. Is shock fluid what I should be using?
But I think I just had too much oil in them the first time and the pressure from hard bumps had to go somewhere. The air lines also had some oil in them.
So this time I put more weight on them to drain a little more oil out before sealing them up. They don't seem to be leaking amymore but it's getting cold here so my rides aren't as long. I do try to find the roughest roads I can though, just to push them.
I'm not sure how do describe them. They are still a little hard but I can't tell if it's the dampening or rebound that's hard. Sometimes it feels like it's one and another time it the other.
I think it's the dampening because when I hit a dip it drops, then hits pretty hard and then comes back nice and soft. Different air pressures just change it a little.
Anyone know if there is a difference between fork oil and shock fluid? I found a good shop that carries all different weights of fork oil and that's what I'm using but I've read of shock fluid. Is shock fluid what I should be using?
Check out a shop that sells quads they use spring over shocks and they sell the oil for suspension tuning. I am using BEL RAY HVI racing suspension fluid 10W I was told it is diffrent than fork oil. I used 10 oz of oil in each of my shocks this was based on what I had drained out of them. I can not say for shure if that was the amount that was installed at the factory. I hope some one trys this out with a known set of shocks and get a accurate measurement of the original oil. Do you think I should try to get better pictures of my shock press or was the ones I posted self explainitory. I have noticed a major improvement even at 15 psi going over the same bumps I once bottomed out on with 50 psi . I may try putting my Burley lowering mounts back on.
My understanding is that these shocks have an air bladder so if you are getting oil (out of them and in to them) the bladder may be ruptured. I am using a set of 13" on my sporty and it makes a world of difference.
I am looking for a pair of damaged or worn out RK Shocks. I want to completely disassemble them and determine if they can be rebuild, if parts can be had for them directly from Showa (only the whole shock is available from HD), and if easily disassembled I might send my bodies off to be chromed
If anyone has a junker shock let me know.
Of course I will share the results as well as many picture here.
Thanks,
JMS
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