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Nitrogen re-fill valve on Fox Vanilla RC

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Nitrogen re-fill valve on Fox Vanilla RC
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flag DaveyLC
Posted: Mar 19, 2008 at 14:02 Quote
I've read that you can use a Football/soccer ball type needle adaptor to re-fill the Nitrogen canister on a fox shock? Is this actually true?? The valve looks like it requires some kind of needle but is it that simple?

Thanks guys Smile
flag rossgirvan
Posted: Mar 19, 2008 at 16:04 Quote
I wouldnt say so, the pressure in it is pretty high so even if you could you'd get a sore arm and the valve would have to be a simple rubber self closing which would blow out
flag bmxconvert
Posted: Mar 19, 2008 at 19:59 Quote
Yes and no. That nitrogen can be replaced with air using a pump with a needle attached, however there is more to it than that. I won't go into details as to how it can be done becuase it's not worth doing. Keep the nitrogen in there or send it back to Fox.

-Kevin
flag DaveyLC
Posted: Mar 20, 2008 at 1:27 Quote
I dont want to send it to Fox they are a complete and utter RIP OFF organisation.. Any company that only allows authorised servicing is only after one thing.. MONEY! And there is no way they are getting mine.

I've been inspecting the shock and there must be a way of fitting a Schrader valve, the valve is so basic on the fox its unreal.. Its just a piece of silicone/rubber with a hex-lug on top of it.. Just got to find a way of fitting a Schrader valve to where the hex-lug threads into the Nitrogen canister..
flag aurthor
Posted: Mar 20, 2008 at 1:49 Quote
i hear you on the rip off factor.under the melted plastic there is a 4mm allin cap, then a rubber plug, under that is about 120 psi of nitrogen.I rebuilt one of mine by fitting a shredder air filer instead of the rubber plug and allan cap it works fine. just be sure you find a shredder replacement filer with the same thread type
flag DaveyLC
Posted: Mar 20, 2008 at 2:01 Quote
Thanks Aurthor, where abouts did you source the Schrader valve, I cant seem to find any with the same thread Frown
flag DaveyLC
Posted: Mar 20, 2008 at 2:09 Quote
I've just bought this:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180224168097

Going to cut it down and re-tap the end so I can screw it into the canister with an O'ring.. Then I'll refill to 8 bar using my compressor Smile
flag aurthor
Posted: Mar 20, 2008 at 2:34 Quote
cool glad it helped but i forgot where i got the shredder valve i probably took it off some old shock or fork. let us know how it works out. good luck
flag DaveyLC
Posted: Mar 20, 2008 at 2:39 Quote
Also could I ask what weight oil you used? I've been scouring google but I can find references to 5WT and 10WT and people arguing over what was standard.. I'm tempted to go for 10WT for a firmer ride and I weight about 190lb so it might be more appropriate.. The oil that was in the shock was VERY VERY thin so probably 5WT, but how knows Big Grin
flag aurthor
Posted: Mar 20, 2008 at 2:42 Quote
use only 2.5 weight nothing heavier
flag DaveyLC
Posted: Mar 20, 2008 at 2:50 Quote
Ok 2.5 it is Smile

Cheers!
flag bmxconvert
Posted: Mar 20, 2008 at 8:33 Quote
DaveyLC wrote:
I've just bought this:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180224168097

Going to cut it down and re-tap the end so I can screw it into the canister with an O'ring.. Then I'll refill to 8 bar using my compressor Smile

Your going to use a compressor to fill it? Oh my! Please use eye protection. I'm sure you'll quickly learn that a compressor putting air into a chamber that small with jump straight to more than 50psi.

DaveyLC wrote:
Also could I ask what weight oil you used? I've been scouring google but I can find references to 5WT and 10WT and people arguing over what was standard.. I'm tempted to go for 10WT for a firmer ride and I weight about 190lb so it might be more appropriate.. The oil that was in the shock was VERY VERY thin so probably 5WT, but how knows Big Grin

You'll need to look at more than the just what the bottle says for the oil rating. A viscosity chart is aboslutely critical in these situations. Rockshocks 10wt oil is EXACTLY the same as Fox's 7.5wt oil.
How can this be?
Oil viscosity is based on a scale. That scale has a range as to what consititutes hw thick the oil can be rated. Of course when you have a range on a scale, there's room for a manufacturer to say that their product is one way as opposed to the other. There ARE viscousity charts for many of the preffered suspension oil's floating around. I will not post it. I believe that no good will come from opening up your shock. Please leave it to us who have been certified in rebuilding suspension components. There are tools, techniques and safety steps that need to occur to ensure your shock works once your done.

-Kevin
flag DaveyLC
Posted: Mar 20, 2008 at 8:43 Quote
bmxconvert wrote:
Your going to use a compressor to fill it? Oh my! Please use eye protection. I'm sure you'll quickly learn that a compressor putting air into a chamber that small with jump straight to more than 50psi.

Dont worry I'll be using a regulator, I'm not a Class A retard Wink

bmxconvert wrote:
You'll need to look at more than the just what the bottle says for the oil rating. A viscosity chart is aboslutely critical in these situations. Rockshocks 10wt oil is EXACTLY the same as Fox's 7.5wt oil.
How can this be?
Oil viscosity is based on a scale.

The viscosity should be to IP standards. It should be recorded at an international standard of temperature/altitude etc..



bmxconvert wrote:
I believe that no good will come from opening up your shock. Please leave it to us who have been certified in rebuilding suspension components. There are tools, techniques and safety steps that need to occur to ensure your shock works once your done.

The shock was stripped last night and the main body was welded today, its had a hair line fracture repaired and its been strengthened.. And I had no problem releasing the nitrogen safely..

I'd be all for giving it to someone whos done it before but they all wanted to pull my pants now for the job.. I spoked to TF who wants £160 quid to replace the end-body and service it.. SCREW THAT!
flag DaveyLC
Posted: Mar 20, 2008 at 12:27 Quote
Repaired and strengthened shock end body:

Unsecure image, only https images allowed: http://www.dohc.co.uk/temp/bike/VanillaRC/fox_vanilla_rc_endbody.jpg
Unsecure image, only https images allowed: http://www.dohc.co.uk/temp/bike/VanillaRC/fox_vanilla_rc_stripped.jpg
flag kg133
Posted: Feb 10, 2009 at 2:53 Quote
Hi, I’ve got a DHX-5 on an SX trail and cos there’s not much clearance between the bottom out adjuster and the frame they’ve put a nitrogen valve there instead of a Schrader valve. I want to rebuild my shock but need to work out how to refill the air chamber. There is some room so I was thinking of putting a small Schrader valve on, does anyone know what thread is inside the valve? Also how did you safely release the nitrogen? At fox do they just poke a needle through the plug to fill it up? Can I reuse the existing plug or do I need to get a new one? Anyone got any ideas about how the attach a needle to a shock or track pump? Thanks very much. K

P.S.

Looks like youve done a well good job on that vanilla. K
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