Air Pressure
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 14,143
Likes: 11,212
From: San Diego, CA
If they were already blown, I would suspect you would be able to put air into them, but hear it escaping rapidly...
If the valve won't let air in or out (allowing you to check the pressure), first make sure (as someone suggested) that there is enough of the valve stem, protruding from the mount, to allow for the gauge or pump to actually activate the core of the valve by pushing down on the center pin and opening the valve...
Also, don't rule out the schrader valve itself... you can buy a new valve core and swap it out with a special tool.... to ensure the valve itself is working properly....
Something like this...
They are available at any bike/auto parts place..
Not on my old air shocks, but on my road bicycle, I've had a valve core become loose, and it causes all sorts of leaks, filling, and pressure checking issues...
Good luck with the repair...
Last edited by hattitude; Jan 18, 2021 at 11:25 PM.
Tourer
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 391
Likes: 52
From: Pittsburgh, Pa.
I would have to guess that maybe most cheap bicycle pump valves won't go on deep enough to release the schrader valve. That would explain why you couldn't add any air to them. I have the the HD pump and keep it in the saddlebag in case I ever need to add any air out on the road. It screws on tight & very little, if any air loss when removing.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 21,051
Likes: 19,180
From: The Wasteland
You might have blown your shocks when you used the bicycle pump. The low volume hand pumps only pump out about 1-2 pounds each time you pump it so as not to overinflate the shocks.
A bike pump or air compressor will pump out a higher volume and can possibly damage the shock. I bet you either blew them or you have a severe leak somewhere in the lines.
A bike pump or air compressor will pump out a higher volume and can possibly damage the shock. I bet you either blew them or you have a severe leak somewhere in the lines.
Thanks to everyone for all of the information. I'll likely look at replacing the shocks down the road with something besides the OEM air shocks. In the meantime, I'll try the HD pump and if that doesn't work out, I'll check the air lines.
HDF Community Team
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 1,434
Likes: 800
From: Colorado
Pull the schrader valves stems and clean then. The channels can get blocked up with crap over time, and will not allow any air to pass through them.
Also, once cleaned, use a little fork fluid on the end seals to re-lube them, so the seal correctly.
As for shock pump, if someone installed too short of a schrader valve stems, the pump will not depress the end button to open the channels.
So ends of tips of the stems should only be about 1/8" below the end of the stem.
Pull the schrader valves stems and clean then. The channels can get blocked up with crap over time, and will not allow any air to pass through them.
Also, once cleaned, use a little fork fluid on the end seals to re-lube them, so the seal correctly.
As for shock pump, if someone installed too short of a schrader valve stems, the pump will not depress the end button to open the channels.
So ends of tips of the stems should only be about 1/8" below the end of the stem.
Road Master
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 1,176
Likes: 766
From: MS
Not sure if they are still for sale, but there was a set posted over in the classifieds earlier this week. They can usually be had for a decent price.
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Cruiser
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 199
Likes: 127
From: Valley Head, WV
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/stock-harley-take-offs/1355937-12-hand-adjustable-shocks-150-shipped.html
Not mine, just saw them in Take-Off section
Not mine, just saw them in Take-Off section
Tourer
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 271
Likes: 73
From: Stowe Pa
My no loss HD shock pump leaks as I finish pumping up the shocks. This is with individual valves mounted right on top of the shocks. The tubing just would not seal and the pump leaks. What I did was fill my air tank from my air compressor to 20 pounds and filled the shocks from the tank. Checked that they were not leaking air with a regular good quality pressure gauge a couple of days later. When you check them you lose pressure so its not an accurate measurement of pressure, I'm just making sure its not zero from leakage. Now I know what ever pressure I put in from the tank is the pressure in the shocks. The volume of air in the shocks is so small that the pressure in the tank doesn't change when I do this.
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