If your shock is assembled and working correctly the gas (hopefully nitrogen) never comes into direct contact with the shock fluid. Inside the shock reservior there is a rubber bladder. The gas fills the bladder and the bladder exerts pressure on the fluid. Nitrogen is used because the shock heats up in operation. Nitrogen expands less than air and its expansion rate is more consistant over a broader temperature range. I have heard that filling your shock with air can actually be dangerous, although I have no personal experience with that because I have never filled a shock with air. The gushing noise is due to no pressure being exserted on the shock fluid. As long as the seal in the seal casing,and the bladder aren't leaking you should be ok. How frequently you should change the shock fluid depends on a number of factors, consult with a suspension specialist there are many good ones out there.Good luck and remember you often learn more from your mistakes than your successes, I do any way.

 

Hang on, go to a tire shop. Around here the tire shops fill car tires with nitrogen for $5 a tire. More than what's in that little gas shock. Maby that's an option.

 

The volume in the bladder is very small compared to a tire, I don't think I would take it to a tire shop. There is a N2 bottle (cylinder) with a special adapter that screws down on the Schader Valve and a low pressure gauge. You want a small volume of nitrogen, if you used the same equipment that they use to fill tires you may deliver too much to quickly and could damage the bladder.

 

roadglider,
Thanks for that explaination. . . I didn't realize that there is a bladder separating the nitrogen from the oil!

 

I remember when I made the same mistake and let out my nitrogen charge.
It was like a half-second "psst"! (in other words, a very small amount of gas)

And holy smokes does it ever make a big difference in the off-road handling of the machine. It totally sucked with no gas in the shock! I took my shock off and into the dealer to get it fixed. Live n learn.

 

hey thanks for all the replys guys... i never thought about going to a tire shop but that probobly would work theres only one or 2 tire shops that use nitrogen in my area im gonna contact them tomorrow and see what they can do hopefully they can charge it back up!

 

ive seen one of the tireshops that use nitrogen for tires and they had the same valve and regulator system as the dealer used for recharging shocks.... but anyhow im gonna tal kto them and see what they can do.

 

If you find a shop that has nitrogen, ask if they can go to at least 150 lbs.

Ride on
Brewster

 

i told the guy that owns the shop that the shock pressure has to be pretty accurate at 142 psi and he said that was no trouble at all he said he could go up to 300 and 500 if i wanted him to... so ill be taking my shock off and bringing it to him.

 

Wow; I knew it was nitro, but I didn't know the psi was so high..........
I know a guy that has a BRP 650L and his daughter push the button for him.........
at least thats what his said