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05-12-2013, 03:27 PM | #1 |
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Location: Warsaw, Indiana
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Vaquero air shock leak...
So they Vaquero has 2 separate valves to fill the rear shocks separately. I changed out the two aluminum pieces that have the valves / hoses attached to with one unit that connects the two chambers together so you can add air to just one valve and have equal pressure in both shocks. Since I bought it from a guy who made it, I wanted to check for any slow leak, so let it sit for a day and rechecked pressure, and it was down 10psi, 12 hours later down another 5 psi.
Oh, and when I took off the originals, air was release and I can't tell you the last time I checked or added air...so the originals were working fine. So I decide to put the originals back on. Pump them both to about 25psi using a bike hand pump, with the intention of using a tire gauge and rerleasing air to match them both at 20psi. Well, the originals, neither side, will now hold air... WTH??!! I check psi with gauge, counted to 10, rechecked and lost 10 psi. I have never used anything but the hand pump, and have never put more than 25psi in. I tried both using thread tape and not, same results. I made sure the valve hadn't come lose. I am at a loss, I just can't believe this little project went downhill so fast, it makes no sense to me.... HELP!
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2011 Vaquero, The pretty red kind (and fastest!) 1989 Yamaha FJ1200 VBA #01898 Login or Register to Remove Ads |
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05-12-2013, 04:42 PM | #2 |
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Use soapy water to check all of your connections and the valves. That's what i do with air ride systems on cars. Should be pretty easy to find i would think.
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05-12-2013, 05:27 PM | #3 |
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Well, it appears upon quick rechecking of pressure multiple times that just doing so loses 5psi, so maybe what I thought was a leak was just air being purged when using the tire gauge...maybe since such a small system that could be the case?
I pumped it up, left the pump with gauge attached and let sit, and it didn't lose air. Used the tire gauge and it was was about 4psi less than the pump gauge read, and about where I want it. So I guess I will assume it is there, because if I check it again it will lose air...
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2011 Vaquero, The pretty red kind (and fastest!) 1989 Yamaha FJ1200 VBA #01898 |
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05-12-2013, 05:59 PM | #4 |
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That is why you use a NO LOSS air pump.Like you have seen every time you use a gauge you are going to have air loss.
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VROC#34321 VBA#01867 2012 NCR Rally Savanna. IL. 2013 National Rally Estes Park, CO 2014 NC/SC Rally in the Ozarks, Mountain View AR 2014 NE US/Eastern Canada Rally,Lincoln NH 2015 VBA/VRA Eureka Springs AR 2015 Antlers Rally, Antlers OK. 2016 SCR Rally Salem MO. 2016 NCR Rally Hillsboro WI 2017 Eureka Springs AR 2017 National Rally Lake George NY 2004 Blue and Silver 1500 Nomad(RIP 9-26-19) 2000 Red and Silver 1500 Nomad 2012 Pearl White 1700 Voyager |
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05-12-2013, 07:39 PM | #5 |
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The air bladders in the shocks are small. Use a no loss shock pump to accurately inflate them. Just checking the pressure with a gauge can lose several pounds of pressure.
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Scott "Cactusjack" Hanks VBA #00105 H.O.G. #4250060 2011 H-D Ultra Limited 103ci :: 2011 HD Electra Glide Ultra Limited w/Stage 1 :: Rallies: Mesquite '08|Custer '09|Cortez '10|Crescent City '11|Kanab '12|Antlers '12|Estes Park '13|Antlers '13|Orofino '14|The Dalles '17 Login or Register to Remove Ads |
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05-12-2013, 08:59 PM | #6 |
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Amazon sells a gauge mounted air pump for about $25- $30. It works great and you don't lose air when you thread it on.
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Tom Sutton Liverpool NY VBA #2304 Black & Grey 2011 Nomad KLR 650 2009 ZRX1200R 2001 |
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05-12-2013, 10:19 PM | #7 | |
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Quote:
Not sure I have a zero loss pump, but you can barely here a very brief psss of airflow when disconnect. But the reason I was trying to check with my tire gauge (electronic / digital readout) is because the hand pump gauge can read upto 300psi, so due to the increments it isn't very accurate in the 0-30 range. I already owned it and needed it for my mountain bike forks...this one http://www.amazon.com/RockShox-High-...=rockshox+pump
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05-12-2013, 11:16 PM | #8 |
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Good point. when buying a zero loss pump, you want one that has a 0-60 PSI range, for the very reason you stated.
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Scott "Cactusjack" Hanks VBA #00105 H.O.G. #4250060 2011 H-D Ultra Limited 103ci :: 2011 HD Electra Glide Ultra Limited w/Stage 1 :: Rallies: Mesquite '08|Custer '09|Cortez '10|Crescent City '11|Kanab '12|Antlers '12|Estes Park '13|Antlers '13|Orofino '14|The Dalles '17 |
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05-13-2013, 12:22 PM | #9 |
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My Vaq's rear shocks never held air pressure for very long. I would have to refill them at least once a week. I got tired of pulling off the seat and constantly having to add and adjust air pressure. I tied the shocks together into a common fitting that I attached to the right side saddle bag gaurd rail. Over time the air loss in the shocks has worsened.
Has anyone with a Vulcan monitored the rate of air loss on their skoot? I believe since my skoot's shocks never held air well that was just the beginning of what I am experiencing now. RACNRAY
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"TRUE HAPPINESS IS IN THE HEART, NOT IN THE OUTSIDE FIXES" WITH OVER 46 YEARS AS A MOTORCYCLE TECHNICIAN/HI-PO SHOP OWNER I AM A PURVEYOR OF FACT NOT FICTION! "WE LIVE OUR LIVES IN CHAINS NEVER KNOWING WE HAD THE KEY" |
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05-13-2013, 03:08 PM | #10 | |
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Quote:
Ray on another note, I have been wondering about turning down the idle on my Vaq---would you have any ideas or have you lowered yours and what would the negative be? |
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05-13-2013, 03:12 PM | #11 |
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Ray, My '05 would slowly leak, but my vaquero has been doing very well. I will check it this afternoon though. I only keep 15psi in this system.
+1 on a zero loss pump. The volume of these systems won't allow us to get a good reading with a traditional gauge.
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Jay Stephens, Former National Vice President (2013-2015) 2006 Yamaha FJR1300 formerly 2011 Vaquero- Black formerly 2005 Nomad - black/silver |
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05-14-2013, 09:06 AM | #12 | ||
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Quote:
Quote:
Thanx again RACNRAY
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"TRUE HAPPINESS IS IN THE HEART, NOT IN THE OUTSIDE FIXES" WITH OVER 46 YEARS AS A MOTORCYCLE TECHNICIAN/HI-PO SHOP OWNER I AM A PURVEYOR OF FACT NOT FICTION! "WE LIVE OUR LIVES IN CHAINS NEVER KNOWING WE HAD THE KEY" |
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