Dave,
You're a nice guy and I admire many of your tech tips, however (you knew
that was coming)...
I happen to be intimately involved with lever shocks. Changing the fluid
(f?) is not the same as altering the valves. Specifically because there are
poppet valves in the end of each piston through which oil must also pass.
This must be allowed to happen quite easily. The spring in the valve is
very weak, like 3 coils of a retractable pen spring operating on a ball
bearing. Stopping up this valve _can_ (not will) destroy the shock in
various ways, most typically by stripping the splines on the shaft.....
I've seen it lots of times. It is quite straight-forward to alter the
valving and I am happy to share that. It is also preferable to change the
rebound and compression at different ratios rather than merely stiffening
both by the same percentage as would occur when adding heavier oil. I will
also say that it is possible to make a leak free shock.
End of dissertation. Thanks for listening.
Peter C
----
At 01:13 PM 2/10/2000 , Dave Massey wrote:
>
>John Cowan writes:
> Most respondents to my question about what oil to use for topping up
>TR-3 rear shocks recommended motorcycle fork oil. Sounds like a good idea.
> They suggested draining the old fluid first.
> A few also noted that it was possible to choose the viscosity of the
>fork oil. I'd like to firm them up by using 30 or 40 weight, as
>recommended, but am concerned that it would increase the stress and strain
>on the shock absorber internals. Optional heavy duty shocks were offered
>for the TR-3, which might indicate that messing with the regulars was
>courting problems.
> Any further thoughts?
>Thanks.
> John
><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
>
>John,
>
>I wouldn't worry about the additional stress and strain on the suspension
>and frame. They are quite robust and over designed. At any rate folks
>have been playing around with shocks for years with no untoward effects.
>
>A friend of mine ran a raceing Midget. He said they drained the shock
>oil and replaced it with STP! Now that's stiff.
>
>The heavy duty shocks are standard shocks with revised valving inside.
>Changing the shock oil is equivilent to changing the valving. Why do they
>sell heavy duty shocks with revised valving instead of shocks with heaver
>oil? Because anyone can change the oil and they wouldn't have a market.
>
>That said, I have heavy duty shocks on my TR6 and they work fine.
>
>Dave
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