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Tourer
Posts: 500
| Not sure I am doing things right in checking the psi in my rear shock..I have the Victory hand shock pump and thought I knew how to use the thing..I have screwed it tight onto the valve and pumped the shock to about 25 psi, then using the little bleeder button I reduced the psi to about 20, which is where I want it, then dis-connect it. The gauge shows the pressure dropping as I un-screw it from the valve on the bike...It is supposed to do that or I am I doing something wrong...I assume that the shock has the desired 20psi left in it as it seems okay..Any thoughts??? |
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Visionary
Posts: 1290
Ruskin, Fl | I pretty sure if you screw it back on it will go back up to 20. My pump doesn't hold the pressure in the gauge.
The design is meant to disconnect from the shock without releasing any air from the shock itself.
It really it critical on things like mountain bike shocks. They are very high pressure and little volume so you can lose 40 psi just checking it with a regular tire gauge. |
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Tourer
Posts: 573
Central Illinois | It is estimated that you will lose a pound or two each time you screw the pump on or off because the shock air volume is so small. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 143
Lexington Park, MD | I air mine up past my target say 35 then after disconnect use my air gauge to check it. I loose about 1-2 pounds per check with the gauge so 2 checks puts it about where I want it. I quit using the gauge on my air pump because I found between 2-4 pounds discrepancies of it and my air chuck off the compressor and the gauge. So I put my money on the air gauge being right. We know 4 pounds makes a difference. at least im consistent now. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 1066
Peru, IN | Good Lord, Tim! DON'T USE AN AIR COMPRESSOR TO AIR UP YOUR SHOCK!!!! You'll blow the air bladder up if you do. Just use the hand pump. The shock is very sensitive to pressure so being off by a few pounds can really make a difference in ride/handling. (And if you happen to err on the low side, you can do some damage.) A single pump of the hand pump is good for a few pounds. If you have enough strength to ride the bike, you have enough strength to use the hand pump.
I don't know about the Vic branded hand pump but most of them are labeled as "zero loss". That means that you shouldn't lose any air pressure screwing it on/off. I have an older Progressive hand pump and I don't lose anything. I checked my rear shock pressure about a week ago and it was at 36 pounds. Checked it again today and it was still at 36 pounds. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 763
Anderson, IN (48mi NE of downtown Indianapolis) | opas ride - 2013-04-27 7:46 PM
Not sure I am doing things right in checking the psi in my rear shock..I have the Victory hand shock pump and thought I knew how to use the thing..I have screwed it tight onto the valve and pumped the shock to about 25 psi, then using the little bleeder button I reduced the psi to about 20, which is where I want it, then dis-connect it. The gauge shows the pressure dropping as I un-screw it from the valve on the bike...It is supposed to do that or I am I doing something wrong...I assume that the shock has the desired 20psi left in it as it seems okay..Any thoughts???
Sounds like you are doing it right. |
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Visionary
Posts: 4278
| when the heat gets in the mid 90's and up check it every couple weeks. Only 20 pounds you must be a light weight |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 1066
Peru, IN | No kidding. According to the owners manual, 275 pounds (rider, passenger, gear) is good for 33 pounds and 300 pounds is good for 39. I'm about 280 and have mine set at 36. |
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Tourer
Posts: 500
| I weigh about 190lbs...Manual says 19psi for my weight with the trunk on...I don't ride two-up and have very little weight in the bags and trunk...Seems to be okay at about 20/21 psi when I ride.... |
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Cruiser
Posts: 143
Lexington Park, MD | Thanks for the note Mnkeyman, I did forget to mention I have an inline reg set to 45 psi. I have no problem using the zero loss hand pump and check my shock when i check my tires on the weekly walk around. I do appreciate the note bro and sorry to give anyone a heart attack thinking I had 120 psi hittin it. Thanks. |
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Tourer
Posts: 573
Central Illinois | I am curious here. I weight a ton and my lady is no lightweight. Is there a good pressure for me to use that both of us can use? What I want to do is pump things up enough to meet minimal values for riding 2 up but be able to use those same values when riding solo. Is that kind of thing even possible?
Edited by Oldman47 2013-04-30 8:06 PM
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Visionary
Posts: 1632
Jasper, MO | Oldman47 - 2013-04-30 8:05 PM
I am curious here. I weight a ton and my lady is no lightweight. Is there a good pressure for me to use that both of us can use? What I want to do is pump things up enough to meet minimal values for riding 2 up but be able to use those same values when riding solo. Is that kind of thing even possible?
Sure there is. Just air it up, according to the chart next to the fill valve, for your two-up weight. It will still work just fine for solo riding, albeit the ride height will be slightly higher than when you're two-up. I set mine for two-up and just leave it there.
Ronnie |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 1066
Peru, IN | The chart is in the owners manual, too. I can type it out for you if you don't have an owners manual and/or don't see it next to the fill valve. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 825
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Tourer
Posts: 537
, FL United States | I have about 50-55 this is where my bride likes it... not enough she complains to much of vibrations. |
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Rear air shock adjustments