Nitrogen settup for shocks

[chris_the_wrench]

I'm looking to get a settup for the shop to check and adjust the nitrogen in my truck's shock and dampener. I'm curious as to what the rest of you use tank size and regulator/fill adapter. This would be for my personal and friends use, but I want a decent settup.

Ive seen the King manifold and that looks pretty good.

Thanks
Chris

 

[cruiseroutfit]

I've built a few setups by simply stopping by our local welding supply outfit (Airgas here in SLC, UT). They can set you up with an appropriate size bottle (I wanna say mine have been 15-12 cubic foot? bottles) as well as the 0-500psi regulator. I then stop by a local hose/rubber outfit and have them make a high pressure hose with a Schrader valve. Total cost is usually under $200 as I recall?

 

[chris_the_wrench]

I've built a few setups by simply stopping by our local welding supply outfit (Airgas here in SLC, UT). They can set you up with an appropriate size bottle (I wanna say mine have been 15-12 cubic foot? bottles) as well as the 0-500psi regulator. I then stop by a local hose/rubber outfit and have them make a high pressure hose with a Schrader valve. Total cost is usually under $200 as I recall?

Did you just use a standard airchuck? Ive got a couple spare oxy/acet regulators that I probably could repurpose.

Thanks
-Chris

 

[cruiseroutfit]

Did you just use a standard airchuck? Ive got a couple spare oxy/acet regulators that I probably could repurpose.

Thanks
-Chris

It's a high pressure setup offered by our local industrial hydraulic shops (Hose&Rubber or Evco House of House are two I often use). I've been using them on a variety of air shocks and coil-overs for nearly 10 years now without any issues.

As for using oxy/acet... the inlet connections will be different but that may be easy enough to change. Also acetylene regs will have low output and oxygen setups might not hit the high numbers needed for shocks as well? We hit our race car ones at 220-250 as I recall.

 

[Brian1]

I found a 10lb (~33cf) Nitrogen tank on Craigslist that was full for cheap then bought this regulator: http://www.amazon.com/Uniweld-RHP40...1388200938&sr=8-1&keywords=nitrogen+regulator and a 1/4" 5000psi hydraulic hose from Surplus Center. I use the Poly Performance fill valve (Optional but it is nice to have the shock pressure gauge and no-loss chuck when filling): http://www.polyperformance.com/shop/Nitrogen-Fill-Adapter-p-286.html and then just a regular chuck at the end of my hydraulic hose to fill through the Poly Performance valve. I have about $160 in the entire setup.

 

[86tuning]

You could also just get a bicycle shock pump/gauge to read your shock pressure, and go with a lesser regulator. I don't trust the reg gauges on my friends a/c nitrogen test rig, but I do trust my fox bicycle shock pump

 

[chris_the_wrench]

You could also just get a bicycle shock pump/gauge to read your shock pressure, and go with a lesser regulator. I don't trust the reg gauges on my friends a/c nitrogen test rig, but I do trust my fox bicycle shock pump

Thats exactly what i used to test them. And to build on that, I actually disassembled a spare bike shock pump(pulled out the plunger and handle from the body) now i'm fitting a schrader valve to that end so I can screw the "pump" onto the shock to test and bleed, but i have a easy schrader to hit with the nitrogen air chuck to fill. I think it will work well.
-Chris

 

[86tuning]

Yep. I only have one gauge/pump, so it serves double duty of bike and car.

I have to two-step it because I'm cheap that way. More steps, but less money, and it works for me because my shocks are mostly set-n-forget lol.