Air Pressure
Air Pressure
My bike is a 2006 FLHTCUI. My rear shocks act as if they won't take in additional air. I haven't tried to adjust them in a long time so I'm not sure what the issue is. I know you aren't supposed to use an air hose due to the high pressure they have so I tried a bicycle pump. Is this the problem in and of itself? Is a bicycle pump just too low pressure? Do you have to use the HD hand pump or an equivalent instead? Is there a process for checking the shocks and air lines to ensure they are still working properly? Thanks!
When I try to pump air into the shocks, they won't take any air in as if they are full which I know can't be the case. I also can't get any reading when I check the air pressure.
Road Master
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 1,176
Likes: 766
From: MS
You might want to get one of the smaller pumps that are designed for the shocks. There's the HD one and the cheaper Amazon versions. Either one will have a gauge to give you a reading. The connection is different from a bike in that it is designed to not allow any air to come out as you disconnect it. If you are using a regular tire gauge you may not get a reading.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 11,814
Likes: 5,120
From: SW Ohio
Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 1,703
Likes: 909
From: SE Michigan
Before I went with ProAction then Ohlins on my 05, I put schraeder valves on each shock.
The plastic lines are a PITA.
They are very easy to fix, simply snip 1/4" off the end then reinsert...but a direct fill valve to shock is a way better route.
If one blows out/loses air, the other can still support the bike and no more plastic lines to deal with...
The ONLY downside is filling each shock instead of one fill point. Well worth it IMO.
The plastic lines are a PITA.
They are very easy to fix, simply snip 1/4" off the end then reinsert...but a direct fill valve to shock is a way better route.
If one blows out/loses air, the other can still support the bike and no more plastic lines to deal with...
The ONLY downside is filling each shock instead of one fill point. Well worth it IMO.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 5,315
Likes: 4,272
From: Granville New York
Before I threw my air shocks in the garbage can in order to fill them i had to remove the nut that held the valve in place or the pump wouldn't go on far enough. Just removing that nut allowed the pump to work...took me a while to figure that one out lol.
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Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 138
Likes: 107
From: Colorado
So I'd guess they were blown. They are a really low-volume setup. I have filled mine with a bike pump or compressor, but one has to be extremely careful not to blow them with too much pressure (ask me how I know). HD and other third parties make a super-overpriced pump that is basically super low volume - worth it for this application.
