Shock absorbers

[Morriemiz]

Hi guys, I have removed front shockers off vehicle to change oil to straight 40. With bottom plug out and top plate off, when I put oil on top it doesn't run thru to bottom plug, I have rinsed it out with petrol to clean/ loosen gunk but to no avail.
My question is, is there a port or chanel that is blocked that should allow oil to pass through if so where abouts is it?
My first post to a great forum, very informative!

Ron

[ssnjimb]

Hi

Have you tried working the lever arm up and down each time you have poured oil in,

remember 40w oil when cold will pour slower

Jamie

[Morriemiz]

Yes done all that thinking may be the oil might go down on return stroke. I tried petrol knowing oil would be thick in its cold state but to no good.
Ron

[Trickydicky]

Sometimes they need "priming" try pouring some oil in through the bottom screw valve first, then replace the valve and fill them as usual. Don't overfill them as they need an air gap in the top to work properly.

[ssnjimb]

hmmm

this is the video that taught me how to refill etc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7H0hafzgm0

i know you might know a lot of the info he says but we have all missed small things before grr lol

Hope it helps anyway

Jamie

[MarkyB]

The main thing I got from that is turn the volume down at the beginning and don't use Armstrong shock absorbers, assuming that what he says about the total loss lubrication is true.

You can use different oil to change the amount of damping and if they need doing every 6 months something is very wrong.

[ssnjimb]

i guess the hot climate makes the oil easier to leak out lol

im not sure what oil is in the armstrongs on my midget,

I know the rears need looking at as the make a Quelch noise when they damp if you know what i mean,

jamie

[don58van]

I had a front one that I couldn't get the oil to go through.

On inspection with the top 'hatch' off, it was full of very heavy sludge. The only way of moving this stuff was to dig it out with a screw driver.

Apparently, this one had been grinding itself to paste internally.

As you can imagine, it was beyond saving.

(BTW, you will have Roy scolding you if you call them 'shock absorbers' -- apparently, the correct term is 'dampers'.

Don

[Morriemiz]

Hi Don,I'm in trouble already!
I have since had the top off and valves removed and yes plenty of sludge removed. I filled top with petrol with valves and bottom plug out, it just makes an occasional drip but working the arm up and down and petrol drips a lot quicker. Just for the experiment I tried the fork oil and then straight 30 to see the difference as the oil got heavier. 30 was slowing up but still dripping enough and at the end of the day that drip should be enough to satisfy.the only way to change oil in "dampers" is to remove them completely, de sludge and fill chambers thru valve port to bleed the air out. Any other suggestions?
I will wait for Roy to reply.

Ron

[don58van]

Hi Ron

I took my damper (NB Roy ) off and played with it in a vyce.

In the end, I decided it was a lost cause. I noticed when working the arm that it was rather 'clunky' rather than smooth. I think the sludge was a combination of oil and fine metal particles.

There is a good chance you will find the same with yours. Time to find a replacement.

Don

[bmcecosse]

Well done - may as well use the correct terms ! 'Vice' !!

[don58van]

Vyce: n. 1. (Coopering) A kind of clamp with gimlet points for holding a barrel head while the staves are being closed around it.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, published 1913 by C. & G. Merriam Co.

I always use one of these to hold my dampers when I am working on them.

Don

[bmcecosse]

Hahahahaha....... I didn't know you were in to making barrels..