Rear shock needs pumping up...
Rear shock needs pumping up...
Author
Discussion

bramley

Original Poster:

1,692 posts

237 months

Wednesday 13th July 2011
quotequote all
Can I use my air compressor or should i use a proper shock pump? Last time it got saggy a mate used his shock pump on it but as I've just got a compressor I wondered if that would do the job. As you can probably tell I don't know much about shocks other than it makes the ride squidgy wink

Ta

Poloding Along

33 posts

207 months

Wednesday 13th July 2011
quotequote all
Afraid you're going to need to get a shock pump, you need the isolator valve of the shock pump to close the valve of the shock so that all the air doesn't escape from the shock while you remove the pump.

The shock has a small air volume at high pressure so it can lose a lot of pressure very quickly as you remove the pump. Also the compressor might struggle to reach high enough pressures.

Where abouts are you based?

WeirdNeville

6,048 posts

244 months

Thursday 14th July 2011
quotequote all
You need a proper shock pump. I got a fox one for £25 from a Local bike shock, seems very well made.
They laughed at me when I asked for an adaptor to make my track pump do the job... apparently they just can't.

shalmaneser

6,423 posts

224 months

Thursday 14th July 2011
quotequote all
You might be looking at upwards of 300 psi...not many industrial compressors will do that!

You should be able to get a decent shock pump for £20-£25 as above from your LBS.

bramley

Original Poster:

1,692 posts

237 months

Thursday 14th July 2011
quotequote all
Brilliant, thanks everyone smile

jj.

588 posts

299 months

Thursday 14th July 2011
quotequote all
shalmaneser said:
You might be looking at upwards of 300 psi...
Really...? My Fox stuff runs at 60 PSI front/170 PSI rear for my F120/RP2 (120mm travel) - I'm 88Kg and this is running 25% sag on my bike for general trail use (no jumping!)

I believe I read somewhere that a Fox rear Shock RP2/23 variant has a max of 300PSI.

That's got to be some serious hitting to need more than 300PSI...! Or are we talking stuff with 200mm of travel here..?
jj

shalmaneser

6,423 posts

224 months

Friday 15th July 2011
quotequote all
jj. said:
Really...? My Fox stuff runs at 60 PSI front/170 PSI rear for my F120/RP2 (120mm travel) - I'm 88Kg and this is running 25% sag on my bike for general trail use (no jumping!)

I believe I read somewhere that a Fox rear Shock RP2/23 variant has a max of 300PSI.

That's got to be some serious hitting to need more than 300PSI...! Or are we talking stuff with 200mm of travel here..?
jj
just an example of what the OP could be expecting; you'd have to be a hell of a heifer to hit 300psi these days with most stuff being relatively low pressure, but it's certainly conceivable!

jj.

588 posts

299 months

Saturday 16th July 2011
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On a more general note. What happens to a shock, if you 'bottom it out'. Or is that even possible.

Say my rear shock (at current settings) uses most of its travel on a general trail ride, i.e nothing too rough.

So what would happen if I went crazy and dropped onto a dead flat surface from say 1.5 mtr. Would I damage the shock..?

Would it break the smallest part..? Rear suspension pivots/rocker/arms, etc all seem BIG compared to the inside of a shock..?
jj

shalmaneser

6,423 posts

224 months

Sunday 17th July 2011
quotequote all
jj. said:
On a more general note. What happens to a shock, if you 'bottom it out'. Or is that even possible.

Say my rear shock (at current settings) uses most of its travel on a general trail ride, i.e nothing too rough.

So what would happen if I went crazy and dropped onto a dead flat surface from say 1.5 mtr. Would I damage the shock..?

Would it break the smallest part..? Rear suspension pivots/rocker/arms, etc all seem BIG compared to the inside of a shock..?
jj
No, it'll be fine.