Rear shock on my DR250

[kro]

Err, Mr D'Marge sir, I pulled the shock to bits, I wager she had all of 4 tablespoons of oil in it total, including reservoir.

I have stripped, flushed, and cleaned it up big time, but dont know how much oil to put back in it. I bought some cheapo Castrol 10w fork oik, which says it can be used for rear shocks too.

The shock is actually quite trick for an old 82 (assuming its original), and has four settings, first 3 are gradual increases in centre shaft orifice size, and 4th looks like a lock out of some description, with no hole on this setting. I never saw the dial thingy on it that changes the settings, as its on the swingarm end of the head, and was full of years of crud, thus making it invisible, and besides which, with no oil in it, it would have made no diff whatsoever.

Mine has remote reservoir too, do I need to flush and clean this too?.

Thanks guys/gals.

[Brian d marge]

Sorry my apalogies I fogot. I have been getting a workshop together and have been rather busy.

10 w will be fine a bit on the thick side but as you are not racing the thing I doubt if you will notice the difference in drive ,

The holes you are talking about are your low ( shaft) speed damping adjustment. Showa move a wedge which gradually covers the holes making the oil hydraulic lock sooner.

The remote chamber needs to be flushed, cause there may be little bits of rubber from the bladder

undo the valve in the middle release the Nitrogen using a lond socket put it over the valve and tap down , u will expose a circlip.

When reassembling the shock put oil in first. tapping the side of shock to remove air bubbles and then inflate with AIR to about 30 psi to seat everything ....work the shock a few times then remove the air and Replace with nitrogen at about 150 psi depending on what bottoming ressitance you want.

Stephen

Pm if you are wondering, very sorry for not getting back I have been flat out and simply fogot sorry bout that .

[kro]

Thanks dude, I have the DR back together, and the difference is astounding. The most notable thing is my front wheel doesnt lift so easy, I guess that coz the rear wheel aint squatting hard down every time I accelarate.

I filled the shock, and the reservoir, primed them, and left them over night, for all the air to rise to the top, where I bled it off. There were no "bladders" involved, is this a problem?.

I took half the bike to bits, even hauled the swingy off, and re lubed the bearings, and generally tarted it all up. I set the preload up a bit, seeing as Im a fact bastard too, and like I said, the difference is amazing.

[Wellyman]

Err, Mr D'Marge sir, I pulled the shock to bits, I wager she had all of 4 tablespoons of oil in it total, including reservoir.

I have stripped, flushed, and cleaned it up big time, but dont know how much oil to put back in it. I bought some cheapo Castrol 10w fork oik, which says it can be used for rear shocks too.

The shock is actually quite trick for an old 82 (assuming its original), and has four settings, first 3 are gradual increases in centre shaft orifice size, and 4th looks like a lock out of some description, with no hole on this setting. I never saw the dial thingy on it that changes the settings, as its on the swingarm end of the head, and was full of years of crud, thus making it invisible, and besides which, with no oil in it, it would have made no diff whatsoever.

Mine has remote reservoir too, do I need to flush and clean this too?.

Thanks guys/gals.

Lack of oil! now wonder why it isn't working.greasing the suspension bearings etc is also a good way to make the suspension work better, I do it regularly with my bike.
WM