KDSS 2" Lean
- Thread starter dahorst
- Start date
So the engineer at radflo took a look at the photos I sent and he was amazed that the part got into the assembly. Anyhow, they're sending me a replacement part. I purchased rebuild kits for the rest of my shocks while I was at it. He figured that it wouldn't have affected the performance of the shock all that much because there should only be 1 hole...i still question this. He also said based on the color of the oil it was clear the shock needed a rebuild. I bought some Lucas 5wt synthetic oil last night from Canadian Tire. Still trying to figure out how to recharge the nitrogen, called a few places and no dice. I might cave and buy powertank's n2 system...but $700 CAD...ouch! And I still need to figure out where to fill that tank.
K9trainer
New member
Seems like it would be less expensive and less of a PITA to just by new Bilsteins
Keith_PDX
New member
Check motorcycle shops and/or motorcycle suspension places. They have the stuff to do the nitrogen. Believe it or not some mountain bike places do too.
Intruder
New member
That's exactly what I was about to suggest. Any place that services quads might too. There has to be some place in Fort McMoney that will be able to recharge the nitrogen. A car dealership or tire place that does nitrogen for tires?
Lexusbstrdchild
New member
Not sure what you tool you would use to fill the shocks, but you could also try calling a few HVAC shops. They will have nitrogen.
Only place I'm aware of that MIGHT fill is the Polaris dealer. I'm going to call tomorrow. I did read a post online somewhere that they tried charging somebody $170 to fill his shock!!! I couldn't even find somebody to fill my CO2 powertank here, had to get it done in Edmonton. I'm never opposed to spending money on new tools, but $700 is steep for something I'll rarely use. Maybe I can start a business hear - every person and their grandmother are running 48" lifts on their trucks here, you gotta figure lots of these lifts are running nitrogen shocks.
I got my package from Radflo yesterday, four seal kits, one orifice and four charge ports. I reassembled the shock so now I'm ready to charge it. I ended up finding a guy, through word of mouth, that rebuilds his own snowmobile shocks and fills them himself with argon. My plan is to go over to his place and fill it up. I did some research and it sounds like argon is a suitable replacement to nitrogen. Any thoughts? Anyhow, I'll post another update when I get the shock filled, back on the truck and tested out.
1engineer
Moderator
I think it's noble, using Argon like that.
Because I'm also an engineer, I'll give you an 'lol' for that one.
Intruder
New member
Where's the facepalm emoticon?
The good thing about argon is that (as someone who thinks he's funny pointed out already) being a noble gas it shouldn't react with the oil in the shock since I'm pretty sure the Radflo is an emulsion shock. The only thing I'd check into is the compression characteristics vs nitrogen. I'm pretty sure it's denser than nitrogen, but in the small amounts you'd be using in a shock it may not matter too much.
1engineer
Moderator
Should be OK as long as it's dry.
Emulsion means the gas and fluid mix? If so, I don't think the Radflos are emulsion since there is an IFP (internal floating piston) that separates the gas chamber from the fluid chamber.
Thanks! I guess I was right. Quote from your link: "Currently, all air shocks are emulsion style shocks (the body is filled and charged with both oil and nitrogen in the same cylinder) and not a floating-piston style, which is ultimately a superior shock design. Cost and complexity are the big inhibitors here and the reason why they don’t exist today."
The radflos have an IFP therefore are not emulsion. Technically speaking the inertness of the gas shouldn't even matter since the gas and fluid shouldn't contact one another. Some of the characteristics that should matter would be: Molecule size so that the gas doesn't bypass the seals as easily, heat capacity so that the gas can draw off heat as best as possible, pressure stability at various temperatures, any others?
