Slow air leak in rear shock resolved

[k7mdl]

For the last year the rear air pressure in my '87 would leak from 40lb down to 20lb in about 1 day then on to near 0 in another day or two. Sometimes faster, sometimes slower. Each morning I would pump it up with my 0-60lb gauge hand pump from Progressive.

 

Reading aroud here mostly about 2nd Gen shock leaks someone mentioned putting in some tranny fluid into the air fill line to swell the seals some. I did not have any tranny fluid laying around, but I did have some power steering fluid with leak stop additive. No idea if it hurts or hinders long term but I did not have much to lose so I put in about 1 ounce with a veterinarian syringe and surgical tubing section I had.

 

Now 3 days have gone by including a hour of two-up riding with the nice weather we had today. It has held steady at 40lbs. Crossing my fingers it holds for a long while.

 

I did not have a valve stem removal tool handy either. Rebent a small cotter pin from the junk pile so the ends were the same lenght. Fits perfectly either side of the valve stem. A pair of pliers and it was out quickly.

[Eck]

Sounds more like your valve stem was not snug or seated properly until you removed and replaced it...........

the fluid might have helped but.......???

[k7mdl]

Thought about that, it was tight. I put some of the fluid on the valve stem rubber also. Hit it from all directions.

[Z Factor]

Interesting fix.

[Venturous Randy]

A couple of years ago on my 83 Std, I started to have a problem with a slow leak on my rear shock and figured after 23 years it probably deserved to leak. But, when I checked the valve stem, I found the leak. New valve stem and leak has not come back.

RandyA

[Venture Steve]

Randy,, where is this valve stem? And where did you get the new one?

 

Thanks,

 

Steve

[Venture Steve]

For the last year the rear air pressure in my '87 would leak from 40lb down to 20lb in about 1 day then on to near 0 in another day or two. Sometimes faster, sometimes slower. Each morning I would pump it up with my 0-60lb gauge hand pump from Progressive.

 

Reading aroud here mostly about 2nd Gen shock leaks someone mentioned putting in some tranny fluid into the air fill line to swell the seals some. I did not have any tranny fluid laying around, but I did have some power steering fluid with leak stop additive. No idea if it hurts or hinders long term but I did not have much to lose so I put in about 1 ounce with a veterinarian syringe and surgical tubing section I had.

 

Now 3 days have gone by including a hour of two-up riding with the nice weather we had today. It has held steady at 40lbs. Crossing my fingers it holds for a long while.

 

I did not have a valve stem removal tool handy either. Rebent a small cotter pin from the junk pile so the ends were the same lenght. Fits perfectly either side of the valve stem. A pair of pliers and it was out quickly.

 

 

Hi,, Do you have the CLASS pump in this bike?

If so,, Where did you inject the tranny fluid?

 

Thanks,

 

Steve