3.0's, bumps and nitrogen

[GBrown1867]

Let’s see if we can keep this civilized without bashing manufactures.
I am curious as for those of you who have aftermarket shocks and bumps, how often do you check your nitrogen pressure? I have run two different brands of 3.0’s and have found them both low on pressure before as well as my bumps. After speaking with one of the vendors, I was told the bumps should be part of the prep before any run and the shocks should be checked on a regular basis. I purchased a nitrogen charging kit off eBay and have started doing this as part of my prep and after one month found my bumps to be down 50 psi.

 

[Raptizzle]

Good thread. Funny enough, I was just thinking about my nitrogen levels yesterday. Will check them out and report back.

 

[Hockster]

I have a pressure kit ordered also...

 

[AZEngineer]

Can you share more about what is needed to charge? I assume a tank, regulator, hose, and needle?

What is the cost?

 

[vanilla_gorilla]

Can you share more about what is needed to charge? I assume a tank, regulator, hose, and needle?

What is the cost?

Super questions...

 

[GBrown1867]

I got mine on eBay for $369.
Nitrogen Shock Refill Filler Recharge Kit 600PSI Gauges Tanks Hoses Regulator | eBay
Not the best but works good for me at home. It comes with the special valve needed to fill high pressure shocks. Powertank makes a really nice one.
There is an off-road shop near me that charges $25 a shock to fill them which is just crazy.

 

[vanilla_gorilla]

I got mine on eBay for $369.
Nitrogen Shock Refill Filler Recharge Kit 600PSI Gauges Tanks Hoses Regulator | eBay
Not the best but works good for me at home. It comes with the special valve needed to fill high pressure shocks. Powertank makes a really nice one.
There is an off-road shop near me that charges $25 a shock to fill them which is just crazy.

So how much is it to get the tank refilled and where do you get those refilled at?

 

[GBrown1867]

So how much is it to get the tank refilled and where do you get those refilled at?

$20 at a welding supply shop.

 

[SDHQJASON]

One thing to keep in mind when you are checking nitrogen in your shocks...

If you are only checking the nitrogen pressure in your shocks you are going to lose pressure. There is a lot of pressure confined in a very small space inside the reservoirs and when you are attaching a gauge to the schrader valve you are opening the valve and will probably lose around 40-50 psi.

The only way to really "check" the pressure without losing any nitrogen is to use a no loss air chuck attached to a nitrogen fill tank with a regulator. I normally recommend simply emptying all of the nitrogen from the reservoir and re-inflating the shock to the recommended PSI.

These are the no loss air chucks we use, they work really well.

We also have these Nitrogen Shock Inflation Kits on the shelf.

Nitrogen Shock Inflation Kit

 

[GBrown1867]

Thanks Jason. The kit I posted comes with one of those.