Rear Shocks air leak
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 331
Likes: 9
From: Hampshire UK
Rear Shocks air leak
Well just tried out the new bars this evening and they are brilliant, but with me and the old lady on board started to bottom out on the rear shocks over bumps.
Thought it was the new position I am now in as I have transferred some weight rearwards due to the bars, but found out that the pressure in the rear shocks have no air in them, has anyone else had this?
Thought it was the new position I am now in as I have transferred some weight rearwards due to the bars, but found out that the pressure in the rear shocks have no air in them, has anyone else had this?
Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,549
Likes: 8
From: North Texas
Tons. Do a search and you'll come up with several threads that were just posted within the past week alone.
Some have been self-inflicted by using a shop compressor, others have been working around the line between the shocks and have either had them pull out, or have a slight hole/tear. The lines are easy to replace. If you don't have the HD air pump, get one, fill the shocks to the correct psi, see if they hold. If not, soapy water around the lines where they come into the shock and see if it bubbles. Replace the line if that's not it. The worst case is the shocks are bad. Bike still under warranty? Can probably get HD to foot the bill if they're 'defective'.
Some have been self-inflicted by using a shop compressor, others have been working around the line between the shocks and have either had them pull out, or have a slight hole/tear. The lines are easy to replace. If you don't have the HD air pump, get one, fill the shocks to the correct psi, see if they hold. If not, soapy water around the lines where they come into the shock and see if it bubbles. Replace the line if that's not it. The worst case is the shocks are bad. Bike still under warranty? Can probably get HD to foot the bill if they're 'defective'.
Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 191
Likes: 1
From: Evans, GA
How many folks have changed shocks simply to avoid this problem? I am now carrying my shock pump in my saddle bag, but I'll be honest. I don't usually check my pressure very often. I'm checking it more often now, though.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 4,022
Likes: 3
From: Hudson Valley- NY
What year and model bike do you have? Was there any modification to the shocks, anyone monkey with the air lines? More information would be helpful, but based on what you said, I'd say first try the air lines where they go into the valve on the shocks. Give them a tug and see if either of the lines pull out. they lock into the little red plastic clips at the top. If either one pulls out, push it back into the valve until you feel it snap back into place and lock. If that doesn't work, pull the lines out, cut the end off cleanly, make sure they are square and not angled and then reinsert them into the shock valves.
If that doesn't fix it, see if the line got pinched or cut elsewhere.
If that doesn't fix it, see if the line got pinched or cut elsewhere.
Road Warrior
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,622
Likes: 1
From: Topeka, KS
My wife and I noticed some sponginess in the shocks last night. Pulled out the HD pump and it had dropped from 45 to 35. The last time I had checked the pressure was probably a couple months ago.
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 331
Likes: 9
From: Hampshire UK
The bikes a 1999 road king with 4000 miles on the clock, the shocks did have air in them for a while but over 2 months it has slowly leaked. I only hope its not the shocks, will try the leak test on the weekend.
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Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 49
Likes: 0
From: Denver, Colorado
My 2010 SG loses air too. Even sitting over night it will lose a few pounds. I plan to bring my bike back in to the dealer.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,416
Likes: 27
From: Northern Part of the Great Lone Star State
here's what I did to solve the loss of air from the rear shocks...
I can't take credit fore this but when a buddy and I were discussing it, he went and found just what he needed and low and ahold he's gone a month now and 0 air loss to speak of...
The tap dia. in the top of your shocks are 1/8 fpt threads
You need 1/8 mpt sherader valve
Pick up 2 one for each side
This will solve the problem, down side to this is instead of airing from one side you have to do 2 sides...
I have had mine in for a week and am enjoying the ride everyday now, before it would leak down rather fast in my opinion...
My 2 cents
I can't take credit fore this but when a buddy and I were discussing it, he went and found just what he needed and low and ahold he's gone a month now and 0 air loss to speak of...
The tap dia. in the top of your shocks are 1/8 fpt threads
You need 1/8 mpt sherader valve
Pick up 2 one for each side
This will solve the problem, down side to this is instead of airing from one side you have to do 2 sides...
I have had mine in for a week and am enjoying the ride everyday now, before it would leak down rather fast in my opinion...
My 2 cents
