Shock gas options

[swazi_matt]

There are no suspension guys anywhere near me and my shock needs a service (100+ hours since the last one so guess it is due!)

Anyway I watched it being serviced last time and think I might give it a go, the only hurdle is gassing the shock afterwards
How do you DIY guys do it?
I know some tyre shops offer nitrogen filling, but not sure if they can gas to the required pressure (+- 10 bar I think)

Anywhere else I can consider?

[Jakobi]

Tyre shops won't reach the pressures you need Matt.

Get yourself a lossless chuck and find a fridgey. Dry nitrogen is dry nitrogen. The other option is to simply use air (if you have a compressor that will run up to 10bar), or a shockpump (hand operated).

[webmaster]

"dry air" can be used in a pinch if nitrogen is not available. I bought a nitrogen tank, regulator and a motion pro shock guage/filler - haven't used them in many years. I have Les at LT-Racing do everything for me now...

For DIY - you will need a shock filler/guage (or something similar) along with a needle kit - you need the optional needle for sachs/ohlins.

motion pro parts for nitrogen filling :

http://www.motionpro.com/motorcycle/partno/08-0075

http://www.motionpro.com/motorcycle/partno/08-0072/

You could probably homebrew something together using a "plunger chuck", a gauge and a needle...

jeff

[cbutler]

Try a fire extinguisher service

[Jakobi]

The gauge is a good thing to have, however if your regulator is accurate it shouldn't neccessarily require a 2nd in line gauge. All the Sachs units I've seen use a schrader valve, but the Ohlins and Reigers do require the hyperdermic needle setup.

The other option you have is to contact some dealers (ktm/yamaha/etc) and see if any of them are equipped to regas a shock. Then you simply need to bleed it up yourself and pay them a small fee for the final N2 charge.

[hamilton]

Do yourself a favor and avoid using air. oxygen and oil under pressure = boom
You could buy all the needed tooling for about the same price as a shock service.
Any real dealer should have the equipment to charge the shock for a small fee.
Since I do it all the time, a heavy equipment dealer would have everything except the adapter to fit the shock.