Shock Oil Change - Any Advice?

JG2
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JG2
Edited Date/Time 1/27/2012 5:53pm
I want to change the oil in my 03 CR250 shock. I have the service manual, have found a couple bits on the net about how to do it, and have a local dealer who will recharge my nitrogen for a case of beer.

The only tricky part as I see it is making sure all the air is bled out before bolting it back together.

Anybody have any tips, tricks, or advice for me?
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BIGHEAD1
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BIGHEAD1 4/12/2009 8:32pm
4/12/2009 8:32pm Edited Date/Time 4/12/2009 8:35pm
A case of beer? Do you realize I spend $21 to fill up a tank that will do like a thousand shocks?....Just sayin



Make sure you leave the schrader valve in the bladder cap when you put it back in the resevior this keeps the bladder from being compressed.



Tap the end of the shaft with a mallet to get air bubbles that are trapped in the piston between the valving.



Before you charge it crack the compression adjuster to make sure the shock isn't over filled. Keep the adjuster at the highest point in the vice facing up towards the ceiling, unscrew the adjuster until you see oil coming out, wait until the oil stops coming out and then screw it back in











OH AND STFU NOOB!
lumpy790
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lumpy790 4/12/2009 8:41pm
4/12/2009 8:41pm
A case of beer to charge your shock isn't bad. I dont drink so I charge $20

I dont know about your tank but my Pro Gas setup with an accurate gauge and pin activation head cost $500 20 years ago. The same set up is probably $1000 today.
BIGHEAD1
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BIGHEAD1 4/12/2009 8:46pm
4/12/2009 8:46pm Edited Date/Time 4/12/2009 8:48pm
lumpy790 wrote:
A case of beer to charge your shock isn't bad. I dont drink so I charge $20 I dont know about your tank but my Pro...
A case of beer to charge your shock isn't bad. I dont drink so I charge $20

I dont know about your tank but my Pro Gas setup with an accurate gauge and pin activation head cost $500 20 years ago. The same set up is probably $1000 today.
No one uses that and I am sorry to say you wasted your money. I do nitrogen charges for free. :-P
lumpy790
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lumpy790 4/13/2009 10:37am
4/13/2009 10:37am
Not trying to pick a fight here and if you give this service for free good for you.

I owned and operated a professional suspension shop and required the suspension to work the way it was designed to at the proper pressures and this precise setting changes depending on the riders weight, ability, style of riding and type of racing.

A 5-10 lb difference in the charge will make a difference in the action but...........I guess if your just doing back yard services and dont care if your suspension is performing 100% then the cheaper less accurate air chuck charge is ok for you.



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BIGHEAD1
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BIGHEAD1 4/13/2009 11:04am
4/13/2009 11:04am Edited Date/Time 4/16/2016 11:22pm
lumpy790 wrote:
Not trying to pick a fight here and if you give this service for free good for you. I owned and operated a professional suspension shop...
Not trying to pick a fight here and if you give this service for free good for you.

I owned and operated a professional suspension shop and required the suspension to work the way it was designed to at the proper pressures and this precise setting changes depending on the riders weight, ability, style of riding and type of racing.

A 5-10 lb difference in the charge will make a difference in the action but...........I guess if your just doing back yard services and dont care if your suspension is performing 100% then the cheaper less accurate air chuck charge is ok for you.



LOL


Again, that setup does what any other no loss air chuck does yet for some reason you have to pay big $$$ for it. You can build a no loss air chuck from parts in the grainger catalog for less than $20 a regulator is $60 and a full size nitrogen tank is $120.


Here's what I use...THE SAME THING USED ON BUBBA'S SHOCK....WOW! I am pretty sure the sell for less than 100 bucks?



bigmaico
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bigmaico 4/13/2009 12:02pm
4/13/2009 12:02pm Edited Date/Time 4/16/2016 11:22pm
Back in the day I had Paul Thead build me a recharging tool for $20

I still used it today & one of the local shops has one just like it & they used it every day!

I think Paul just might know what he's doing better then most!
JG2
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JG2 4/13/2009 4:45pm
4/13/2009 4:45pm Edited Date/Time 4/16/2016 11:22pm
Thanks guys. That is helpful advice & interesting too. I will STFU now!
woolster72
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woolster72 6/9/2009 5:17am
6/9/2009 5:17am
I would seriously get it done profesionaly, the $$$ your trying to save doing it your self is tiny compared to if you get it wrong....
Take it to the shop...

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