[mcnock]

First off yes, go to a shop.
I know that.

So if that is the answer you think of - no need to read farther.

This is about DIY. I am a compulsive DIY and have been thinking about this for about a month..

And I have recently seen this is one clever forum.
Does someone wants to help me and stop my ruminating sooner than later?
Are you a paint ball guy or beer guy that knows the answer?

A and B and C are the available parts that make me think it is possible. But I cannot find the arraignment that works.

A) The starting point is: you can now get affordable N2 in inexpensive small packages thanks to the nitro beer and coffee consumers.
About $3 each. 2.2 grm N2 @ a couple thousand PSI.
I assume this is plenty for the 150 psi charge the KLR shock needs.
See link A

B) Mountain bikers have $12 valves to connect compressed CO2 cartridges to shrader (or presta) valves.
See link B.
Issues:
B.1 But they connect to larger canisters - with a larger 3/8 threaded fitting. The 2.2 gm n2's are smooth.
Fix: Maybe there is an adapter? Or I can machine one? Or I get get some from a whip cream dispenser at good will?
B.2 No pressure gauge. Fix: You could make a short male shrader to female shrader hose with at pressure guage in a T.

C) Mountain bikers also have $21 300 psi shock pumps with built in gauges and bled values. Wow. I myself already have several.
See link C.
Issues: They pump air not N2, For MTB this is ok because they are filling a bladder. This is not OK for KLR shocks.
Fix 1: Release n2 to bag. Have shock pump consume n2 from bag instead of open air. We make pressure with pump.
Fix 2: Remove pump guts Some how Hook pump body to N2 cartridge with a valve attached. Run N2 cartridge pressure though pump.



A)

ICO 10pcs Nitrogen Cartridges N2 Cartridges for Coffee Beer Cold Brew Nitro Non-threaded Nitrogen Chargers 2g Chargers

Buy ICO 10pcs Nitrogen Cartridges N2 Cartridges for Coffee Beer Cold Brew Nitro Non-threaded Nitrogen Chargers 2g Chargers at Amazon. Customer reviews and photos may be available to help you make the right purchase decision!

www.amazon.com

B) https://www.amazon.com/Homelae-Infl...o2+bicycle+c02+inflator&qid=1664326381&sr=8-7

C) https://www.amazon.com/ROADNADO-Pre...fix=mtb+shock+pump,aps,166&sr=8-2-spons&psc=1

 

[Tom Schmitz]

I have a number of products from Lezyne. They are pretty innovative and make quality stuff. I'd start by looking here to see what you might use or adapt.

I've also gotten some stuff from Silca, but it's more the higher-end Presta pump head type stuff. They do offer this chuck which might be something you could adapt. Thread-On Schrader Chuck

 

[mcnock]

I have a number of products from Lezyne. They are pretty innovative and make quality stuff. I'd start by looking here to see what you might use or adapt.

I've also gotten some stuff from Silca, but it's more the higher-end Presta pump head type stuff. They do offer this chuck which might be something you could adapt. Thread-On Schrader Chuck

Thanks. I am looking at those links

 

[mcnock]

I found an actual 150 psi mini regulator for beer. I will see if it works with ñ2 cartridges..

CO2 Regulator, Aluminium Mini Gas Regulator Beer Soda Water Making Tool MFL 3/8‑Inch 0‑150PSI, CO2 Gauge Carbon Dioxide Regulator Amazon.com: CO2 Regulator, Aluminium Mini Gas Regulator Beer Soda Water Making Tool MFL 3/8‑Inch 0‑150PSI, CO2 Gauge Carbon Dioxide Regulator : Home & Kitchen

 

[tomo]

Amazon.com : BSTOOL 4500PSI SCBA Paintball Fill Station Charging Adapter with 60cm Microbore Hose : Sports & Outdoors

Amazon.com : BSTOOL 4500PSI SCBA Paintball Fill Station Charging Adapter with 60cm Microbore Hose : Sports & Outdoors

www.amazon.com

 

[mcnock]

Amazon.com : BSTOOL 4500PSI SCBA Paintball Fill Station Charging Adapter with 60cm Microbore Hose : Sports & Outdoors

Amazon.com : BSTOOL 4500PSI SCBA Paintball Fill Station Charging Adapter with 60cm Microbore Hose : Sports & Outdoors

www.amazon.com

Thanks so much for helping.

Are you a paintballer? As i look around the paintball crew deals a lot with gases and recharging. For example even for our tires I could see the value of the rechargeable larger CO2 cartridges they have developed

 

[Belldriver]

How to make a shock fill tool and fill station

Have you ever wondered what is needed to make your own shock fill tool and nitrogen fill station? In this post I'm going to go into detail and discuss what is required to make your own shock fill tool and fill station. If you have ever been interested in

www.diymotofix.com

or

 

[MN Willie]

It may be a long shot but you might be able to glean something from them, look at the Pellet Gun & Paint Ball world. Pellet Guns are high tech (the high end ones) these days. They even have special pump stations (for sale to the public) to recharge the high pressure tanks on the guns. Paint Ball might have something too. The tanks for Paint Ball get pressurized to a high pressure too.

Just a thought...

Willie

 

[mcnock]

How to make a shock fill tool and fill station

Have you ever wondered what is needed to make your own shock fill tool and nitrogen fill station? In this post I'm going to go into detail and discuss what is required to make your own shock fill tool and fill station. If you have ever been interested in

www.diymotofix.com

or

Wow.

The 2nd post is what inspired me ...but the price blocked me.

As I read the first...I see the clear road map for this to work. So thanks for sending it.

The challenge is $. To try to replace the costly industrial grade tank and regulator with cheeper consumer level stuff from the home brewing/wine preservation/mtb/paint ball markets. We don't need it very robust cuz it's light use.(All the downstream stuff is the same)

If it works the gas w/tank will be between $3 and $30, the regulator $21, and then a little piping for maybe say $10. So maybe 60 to 70 bucks, complete?

Will that lower price point allow more DIYs to participate in fully
self-servicing their shocks?

What do members of this forum think?

I myself am not sure yet...

More to come..

 

[mcnock]

I am not sure if anyone following, but I have a first crack completed.

I am sorta following the first link from belldriver... but with vastly lower priced parts...

If you can check what I am doing - perhaps you can see something I am missing?


1) The mtb shock pump (for $21) comes, all in one, with the special zero loss shraeder valve, a strong enough hose, a pressure guage, and a relief value.
I am trusting this consumer product works. MTB'er are passionately serious about shocks, and self adjust pressures them selves. The pressure are similar, if not higher, than the pressures we need in a KLR shock.

I cut the body off and luckily the cut off aluminum shock body could be tapped with a 1/4 npt. There is likely a better way.

2) I connected the micro c02 150 psi regulator to the shock pump head with a 1/8 valve and some brass fittings.

3) I charged it first time with a c02 canister, because they are cheaper than the n2 I will use.

4) I get the expected 150 psi at both the micro regulator and shock pump

5) I charged/discharged my MTB shock a couple times. Seems to work OK. When I open the charge valve to charge the empty shock the pressure sometime reaches 190 psi. Sometimes 150 psi. If you press the pumps release valve, the shock pressure drops about 10 psi per press. Nice.

Issues/concerns:
When I turn this particular valve on and off, I release tiny bubbles where I have a brass 1/8 m npt nipple in its steel 1/8 f npt. I can see this if I work underwater. I can hear it momentarily hiss. I am going to switch to a different all brass valve .

I learned N2 cartridge's are at 2,000 psi where as c02 cartridge's are at about 700 psi. I don't know what the c02 mini regulator will do with the higher pressure.

Next steps:
Change ball valve - redo leak test with another cheaper c02 canister.
Get n2 cartridges with same 3/8 threaded head.
Remove klr shock and remove/replace gas a couple times. Perhaps change the oil.

Thoughts anyone?