Best way to pump shocks without a proper shock pump

[Matthew du preez]

Hi guys. So I'm riding the Berg en Dale mtb 45km race on Sunday and I haven't ridden for about 2 months... Anyway I went to check on my bike... And Lo behold my rear shock is pup... 

So if I can't get a pump in time.. how can I pump them?? I've got a compressor. But I can't get the head on ... You know you there isn't much space between the nozzle and the shock...

 

Please any ideas are welcome

Thanks

Matthew

[love2fly]

Take it to your LBS they will happily pump it free of charge. Addressing the elephant in the room....Hopefully the pressure will hold. Might be a good idea to ride the bike over a rough trail or stand it upside down for a few hours to circulate the aircan oil a bit to lube the seals. Also maybe BEFORE you pump it make sure the aircan is (hand) tight enough....

[Matthew du preez]

1 minute ago, love2fly said:

Take it to your LBS they will happily pump it free of charge. Addressing the elephant in the room....Hopefully the pressure will hold. Might be a good idea to ride the bike over a rough trail or stand it upside down for a few hours to circulate the aircan oil a bit to lube the seals. Also maybe BEFORE you pump it make sure the aircan is (hand) tight enough....

Thanks.. my only problem.. can't get to a bike store any time this week 🙈.

I'm out in Magaliesburg... So no nearby stores.

The pressure should hold. I know I was meddling around with the pressure of the shock a bit.. and unfortunately released a little too much air. So it was very flat.. but now it is even more flat. Probably not enough pressure to hold the pressure.

[Steady Spin]

NEVER EVER put a normal pump on a shock. There will be tears. 

If you want shock pump please come get one for free. I bought a new one so I don’t mind paying the old one forward. 

I’m in Centurion. Your petrol will be less than the cost of a pump. 

[Martin PJ]

I don't think there is a "hack" to do this. Walk around at the start, someone will have one. Ask nicely.

[love2fly]

12 minutes ago, Matthew du preez said:

Thanks.. my only problem.. can't get to a bike store any time this week 🙈.

I'm out in Magaliesburg... So no nearby stores.

The pressure should hold. I know I was meddling around with the pressure of the shock a bit.. and unfortunately released a little too much air. So it was very flat.. but now it is even more flat. Probably not enough pressure to hold the pressure.

There used to be a LBS at Van Gaalens.... 

[Matthew du preez]

Thanks, @Steady Spinhas kindly given me his old one. Will be getting it tomorrow. 😀. That way I can get a few training rides in before the race😀😂😂

[Matthew du preez]

12 minutes ago, love2fly said:

There used to be a LBS at Van Gaalens.... 

Ya there used to be. Unfortunately that one closed down and moved into Rustenburg I believe. But they're certainly no longer there.

[PregoRoll]

44 minutes ago, Matthew du preez said:

Ya there used to be. Unfortunately that one closed down and moved into Rustenburg I believe. But they're certainly no longer there.

And Cycles2U or Trinity Cycles at Harties Dam?

[love2fly]

1 hour ago, Steady Spin said:

NEVER EVER put a normal pump on a shock. There will be tears. 

If you want shock pump please come get one for free. I bought a new one so I don’t mind paying the old one forward. 

I’m in Centurion. Your petrol will be less than the cost of a pump. 

Give that man a Bells!

[TheoG]

2 hours ago, Steady Spin said:

NEVER EVER put a normal pump on a shock. There will be tears. 

If you want shock pump please come get one for free. I bought a new one so I don’t mind paying the old one forward. 

I’m in Centurion. Your petrol will be less than the cost of a pump. 

Agree there is no hack, the pressure in the fork & shock is much higher than a normal/tyre pump can produce.

Just get a shock pump.  Kudos to @Steady Spin.

[Matthew du preez]

2 hours ago, PregoRoll said:

And Cycles2U or Trinity Cycles at Harties Dam?

Lol.. 90 minutes away 😂

[love2fly]

1 hour ago, TheoG said:

Agree there is no hack, the pressure in the fork & shock is much higher than a normal/tyre pump can produce.

Just get a shock pump.  Kudos to @Steady Spin.

Whats the danger of a car pump? All I know is that it won't pump high enough? And their guages calibration is rubbish....

[TheoG]

1 minute ago, love2fly said:

Whats the danger of a car pump? All I know is that it won't pump high enough? And their guages calibration is rubbish....

I don't see any danger if you work carefully like with anything else, it just wont work because the pressure is not high enough.

Even if you get a compressor that can deliver enough pressure it will be difficult to control to get to the pressure you need.

The volume of air going into the shock/fork is not a lot at all, its so much easier to get to the correct pressure with the small dedicated shock pump.

[Swift01]

Trinity Cycles is Still in Hartbeespoort town (by French Toast) and Cycles2U moved to a shop opposite the entrance to Peacanwood. Both will help out gladly

[Danger Dassie]

15 hours ago, TheoG said:

I don't see any danger if you work carefully like with anything else, it just wont work because the pressure is not high enough.

Even if you get a compressor that can deliver enough pressure it will be difficult to control to get to the pressure you need.

The volume of air going into the shock/fork is not a lot at all, its so much easier to get to the correct pressure with the small dedicated shock pump.

Can easily blow/damage the seals with a car pump and especially an air compressor. Shocks house a lot of pressure for the volume space. 
Seen people bring in forks/shocks for a rebuild from all kinds of hack, my fave being on that used a C02 ...