Making the Stock Shocks Better
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Road Warrior
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,416
Likes: 27
From: Northern Part of the Great Lone Star State
Sorry guys...I thought this thread has long gone to bed by now and just used as reference material...
I'm sure there are other fluids that will work just as well...Presently I'm running slick shift ATF non synthetic in my 13" 09 stock shocks...The jury is still out but as far as 1st impressions I'm gonna like this fluid, but have yet another fluid to try...
I've tried the amsoil 5wt and the 10wt and then mixed them together evenly to achieve 7.5wt and just not very satisfied with it...
You know as simple as it is to change the fluid and as inexpensive as it is I have the luxury to change when I so desire...
Still playing though...
I'm sure there are other fluids that will work just as well...Presently I'm running slick shift ATF non synthetic in my 13" 09 stock shocks...The jury is still out but as far as 1st impressions I'm gonna like this fluid, but have yet another fluid to try...
I've tried the amsoil 5wt and the 10wt and then mixed them together evenly to achieve 7.5wt and just not very satisfied with it...
You know as simple as it is to change the fluid and as inexpensive as it is I have the luxury to change when I so desire...
Still playing though...
For what it's worth:
I have read several forums where some individuals and race tuners are using Mobile 1 ATF in their shocks and forks. Naturally there is always the usual arguments over brands and types and all the usual comments from the various brand zealots. However, looking at the chart, there doesn't seem to be too much difference between the Torco RSF Medium recommended in this thread and Mobile 1 ATF and they are both synthetic oils, but Mobile 1 ATF is easier to find at the local auto parts store.
http://www.gasgasrider.org/html/susp-oil.htm
Torco RSF Shock Medium cSt @ 40C =32 cSt @ 100C=9.6
Mobil Mobil 1 ATF cSt @ 40C=35 cSt @ 100C=7.6
I have read several forums where some individuals and race tuners are using Mobile 1 ATF in their shocks and forks. Naturally there is always the usual arguments over brands and types and all the usual comments from the various brand zealots. However, looking at the chart, there doesn't seem to be too much difference between the Torco RSF Medium recommended in this thread and Mobile 1 ATF and they are both synthetic oils, but Mobile 1 ATF is easier to find at the local auto parts store.
http://www.gasgasrider.org/html/susp-oil.htm
Torco RSF Shock Medium cSt @ 40C =32 cSt @ 100C=9.6
Mobil Mobil 1 ATF cSt @ 40C=35 cSt @ 100C=7.6
Thread Starter
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Road Warrior
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,416
Likes: 27
From: Northern Part of the Great Lone Star State
if its to firm then you might want to let some of the air out...try 5lbs and see how she feels...Find that happy medium
TexasBowhunter,
Just changed my shock oil to 10wt. fork oil with 11lbs. of air. The ride home from my buddies house was totally different, the ride is much more firmer and the bumps were smoothed out considerablely.
Thanks for the tip. Thikskn
PS: I used Bel-Ray fork oil.
Just changed my shock oil to 10wt. fork oil with 11lbs. of air. The ride home from my buddies house was totally different, the ride is much more firmer and the bumps were smoothed out considerablely.
Thanks for the tip. Thikskn
PS: I used Bel-Ray fork oil.
Novice
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
From: wisconsin
texasbowhunter, don't know if you are still watching this thread, but i'm wondering if i could simulate your method of expelling extra fluid as follows: 1-take out the air fittings, 2-load the seat with #240 of softener salt bags, 3-fill the shocks to the top with the turkey baster ? '09 ultra, thanks for the info. al
Thread Starter
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Road Warrior
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,416
Likes: 27
From: Northern Part of the Great Lone Star State
texasbowhunter, don't know if you are still watching this thread, but i'm wondering if i could simulate your method of expelling extra fluid as follows: 1-take out the air fittings, 2-load the seat with #240 of softener salt bags, 3-fill the shocks to the top with the turkey baster ? '09 ultra, thanks for the info. al
09 wideswing
yes you could do that...
However try and make shift something to capture the excess fluid that is expelled or it will make a mess all over everything...
FWIW
I have a 09 streetglide with 13" shocks on it along with a 1" lowering kit...I have been playing around with several fluids and wts. from the 10wt. amsoil and then mixed it together with some 5wt. to get a 7.5wt. and haven't quite found what I was seeking with the amsoil brand...I decided to try some of the ATF fluid specifically the trick shift B&M brand and thought this might be the ticket...
I am now running Spectro very light fork/shock fluid which I acquired thru the local dirt bike shop and it has performed the best so far...I had originally started out with 350cc's and dropped down to 325 cc's and then down to 300cc's...I am back up to 350cc's with 5lbs of air and seem to be satisfied now with the way the bike rides in the rear end...
For the 09 shocks the lighter fluids seem to perform better then the heavier fluids for some reason...I have read on here somewhere that the 09 shocks are dampened differently but I have no facts to base this on...The 97c shock seemed to enjoy the heavier fluid I had installed...I still feel if you are a heavy individual or ride 2 up at all times then a heavier fluid would be the ticket but for those of us that ride solo the biggest part of the time the lighter fluids will be the ticket. with the 09 shocks...
I weigh 250lbs so we are comparitive in weight so you might just want to start here and adjust from here...
paul
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,990
Likes: 23
From: NC
Before I sent my shocks to phoenix customs to have them lowered, I drained them first, and it was a PITA to empty them. I too used that rocking motion to do it. It took a while. I shoulda had him put 7 or 10 wt oil back in.
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Thread Starter
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Road Warrior
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,416
Likes: 27
From: Northern Part of the Great Lone Star State
I feel its around the 5wt area...
There was a fluid viscosity chart around here about a year ago and not all manufactures wt. vs. wt's are created equal...
Another example would be Manufacture A has a 5wt fluid and Manufacture B has a 5wt. fluid the actual viscosity's would not be the same although they are advertizing them as the same...
paul
There was a fluid viscosity chart around here about a year ago and not all manufactures wt. vs. wt's are created equal...
Another example would be Manufacture A has a 5wt fluid and Manufacture B has a 5wt. fluid the actual viscosity's would not be the same although they are advertizing them as the same...
paul