gonsped69

My Feedback: (6)

Its the first time I've rebuilt my FG Sporstline 2004 shocks. I was wondering how you guys refill these large scale shocks?

I'm used to nitro size up to 1/8th and my method was:

* put shock shaft in lowest position
* fill with oil so its flat with the rim of the shock body
* wait for air bubbles to dissapear
* put the cap back on
* wipe off excess

With this method, I seemed to encounter something (I think) not quite right. If I do the above, my shocks become almost imcompressible without the springs attached. The shock shaft would move only slighly up and down and it would require quite a force to do so. I thought you need to be able to move the shock shaft up and down its full travel once all assembled.

What did I do incorrectly? Is there a step I missed? Or is this what supposed to happen? [&:]

P.S. I forgot to mention it is FG oil 5000 (wt?)

MnMikeRC

Sounds like you have too much oil in the shocks.

gonsped69

My Feedback: (6)

Is there suppose to be an air gap of some sort? [&:]

james2001

I usually leave about 2mm or so from the top. As you push the shock in, the shaft s effectively trying to displace the oil. Since there is no room in the shock body for the oil to move to, the shock shaft can't go in! A little gap will solve the problem.

MnMikeRC

There is a line on the inside of the shock body. That is the "fill" line.

gonsped69

My Feedback: (6)

Cheers mate for the info. I was refilling the shocks late at night without sufficient lighting so I couldn't see the "fill up to here" line.

I removed the excess this morning and everything is dandy

teamchrome

My Feedback: (4)

I have always filled the shocks and pumped them several times and let them sit to let all the bubbles rise out.
Then compress shaft and screw on cap, the shaft should retrun to the extended position each time its compressed.
Hope this helps, Im doing mine now and useing 60wt Associated..

gonsped69

My Feedback: (6)

TC - do you fill the shocks up to the line inside the shock shaft or did you fill up the oil up to the rim with your method? [&:]

teamchrome

My Feedback: (4)

The fill line..
Just finished and all work great.
Im trying somthing new to these shocks,Im putting a bead of silicone gasket seal on the inlet that the shaft goes into in hopes of preventing leakage.
The silicone sealant will flex with the shaft and let the shaft move up/down and keep a tight seal against dirt(I hope)..
Ill let you know how this goes.

teamchrome

My Feedback: (4)

Looks like this..

gonsped69

My Feedback: (6)

TC - Based on my experience with offroading in 8th scale nitro buggies, whatever seal you place there will deteriorate relatively quickly. As the shaft moves up and down it will bring in very fine dirt particles that will pass the seals and it will wear away at the seals causing a bigger hole and bigger particles to finally come into the shock fluid.

I bought some "shock socks" from Savage Shock Covers (www.savageshockcovers.com) and I will be testing this protective sock in the weekend with the Redneck prefilter down the beach. The idea was to use an elastic(ish) fine woven fabric to cover the shocks from top to bottom. This protects the adjustment thread, the springs, the shock shaft - pretty much all but the mounting points on a shock absorber - sealing away from the dirt.

I'll post a pic once I get back from work

teamchrome

My Feedback: (4)

Shock sock work great and look even better I used them on my T-Maxx..
I hope my idea works but your probably right,Ill try it soon as the rain stops..

teamchrome

My Feedback: (4)

WOW never new how hard my suspension was until I rebuilt the shocks!!
Its as plush as a 1/10 scale monster.
Lets see if the silicone end last, Probably not, Im looking into making socks for mine as well.

gonsped69

My Feedback: (6)

How is that home made silicon seal faring for you teamchrome?

teamchrome

My Feedback: (4)

I almost forgot I did that.
Looks good, no signs of leakage to note of, dont know if its the rebuild kit or the silicone.
Its the wet time of the year here and havent driven in many weeks.
Im building a 50'' boat with a Homelite weedy engine to take up time.Very cool..
These gas engines are great, never do nitro again..
But as for the shocks, still have great rebound and still look good. Might get some Shock Socks for them.Or make them someone on here made them from a dive suit.
Might be too stiff, dont know.

HeatFire

how much oil you need to fill the shocks? im thinking of making my marder a lil bit softer since i dont jump alot with it..

radio_controlled_mad

i need to service my shoxs also - took them off today to refill with oil but i cant take them apart,there stuck solid - there fg alloy threaded shocks,are they locktighted at the top!!

i guess thats what happens with alloy shocks - should of bought some plastic ones that flex

gonsped69

My Feedback: (6)

I seriously doubt it is loctited at the top as some loctite material can end up in the shock fluid.

When I rebuilt mine, I found out "not" to overtighten the cap or it would be very hard to open

My shocks on the Bigfoot MT is the same as the FG model on page 36 of the 2004 catalog.

jimbo1890

LMAO

as for getting the shocks apart, 1 of mine was real tight so I applied a little heat with a small butane torch and that worked well.