Air Shocks
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Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 235
Likes: 0
From: Jacksonvillle, FL
Air Shocks
Dumb question. When I attempt to put air in my shocks, it goes in VERY quickly up to about 30 or so psi. When I unscrew the nozzle from the bike, air escapes. I do not think that I am getting any air at all in the shocks. What am I doing wrong?
Thanks,
Hardy
Thanks,
Hardy
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 53
Likes: 0
unscrew what nozzle?
I add air to my shocks and then check pressure until I have the right ride usually around 15 psi. Each time I check the pressure about 3-5 psi escapes, so adding up to 30 psi to start with is good.
I add air to my shocks and then check pressure until I have the right ride usually around 15 psi. Each time I check the pressure about 3-5 psi escapes, so adding up to 30 psi to start with is good.
Road Captain
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 528
Likes: 0
From: Desert Aire, Washington
Gentlemen I can tell by your air loss after filling that you guys aren't using the Harley Air pump. This is the only tool that should be used to air up those shocks. This pump has a zero loss feature when you disconnect it from the shock. You have a $20,000 bike pony up for the HD air pump.
Tim
Tim
Road Captain
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 683
Likes: 3
From: Tallahassee, FL
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,112
Likes: 40
From: Boise Idaho
You are only suppose to us Harleys hand pump or you can blow the air shocks. It also works on all the after market air shocks.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 20,616
Likes: 4,440
From: anacoco, la
in the meantime, i had to put the old air shocks back on. well, i did not put them back on 'exactly' the same way they came off (the air lines anyway) so when i would screw the air hose onto the fitting it did not depress the schrader valve all the way. couple of pumps, the gauge would show 15 psi. unscrew the hose, psssstttt.... what was happening was that i was getting 15 psi in the valve stem, but none of the air was actually getting into the shock. the bracket that the valve was attached to was just a hair thicker than the original. took the nut securing the valve off, then attached the hose to the valve, and pumped it up to the required spec.
an easy way to tell if this is the same problem you were having. if it jumps up to 15 psi with only 1, maybe 2 strokes, (which by your origianl post is what it sounds like) then your probably not getting air into the shock, and if you are using a 'lossless' pump, such as the hd one. then i would check to make sure that you are able to get the hose screwed on far enough.
Gentlemen I can tell by your air loss after filling that you guys aren't using the Harley Air pump. This is the only tool that should be used to air up those shocks. This pump has a zero loss feature when you disconnect it from the shock. You have a $20,000 bike pony up for the HD air pump.
Tim
Tim
Last edited by skratch; Jan 10, 2009 at 05:37 PM.
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Tourer
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 410
Likes: 0
+1 for what Skratch said,also get a reading first, a true one,then carefully watch your gage.What you are getting is a false reading of the pressure in the air stem not the bladder,hope this helps.Go easy by the way.
hope this helps,
wolf1
hope this helps,
wolf1
