HarleyTechTalk

Technical Forums => General => Topic started by: chas on June 16, 2020, 06:50:16 PM

Title: air pump for rear shocks
Post by: chas on June 16, 2020, 06:50:16 PM
I just purchased a hand pump to pump up my rear shocks on my 03 ultra. It screws on ok but i start pumping and nothing happens! The pressure valve on the pump reads 0 and never moves! Is it the pump or the shocks? I dont know, but i'm frustrated because i bottom out because of no pressure in the shocks. Please advise, and thanks in advance


Title: Re: air pump for rear shocks
Post by: thumpr54 on June 16, 2020, 06:54:07 PM
should be able to try it on another valve stem...on a tire or something to compare....has to be screwed all the way on to work...
Title: Re: air pump for rear shocks
Post by: Hossamania on June 16, 2020, 07:01:10 PM
The pump is not screwing on all the way. Do you have a detachable backrest? If so, has the valve been moved to the new bracket? If so, the bracket is too thick and does not allow the pump to screw on properly. Remove the valve from the bracket and reattach the pump. I put my valve back to the original position, I can still get the pump on it.

Edit: I see it is an Ultra, so no detachable, but either way, the pump is not screwing on tight enough.
Title: Re: air pump for rear shocks
Post by: chas on June 16, 2020, 07:16:29 PM
pretty sure i screwed it until i couldnt, but will try on another valve stem
Title: Re: air pump for rear shocks
Post by: kd on June 16, 2020, 07:17:13 PM
Quote from: chas on June 16, 2020, 07:16:29 PM
pretty sure i screwed it until i couldnt, but will try on another valve stem
Quote from: Hossamania on June 16, 2020, 07:01:10 PM
The pump is not screwing on all the way. Do you have a detachable backrest? If so, has the valve been moved to the new bracket? If so, the bracket is too thick and does not allow the pump to screw on properly. Remove the valve from the bracket and reattach the pump. I put my valve back to the original position, I can still get the pump on it.

Edit: I see it is an Ultra, so no detachable, but either way, the pump is not screwing on tight enough.


Hoss, maybe the OP will confirm if it has a detachable tour pac.  They have similar base mounts to the back rest.
Title: Re: air pump for rear shocks
Post by: PoorUB on June 16, 2020, 07:19:32 PM
Chas, like the others have said, the fitting is probably not screwing on far enough. There was a few models where the bracket that the air fitting was screwed through was so thick there was not enough of the air fitting sticking through. Does the air hose fitting run all the way down and against the bracket? If you does, there is your problem.
Title: Re: air pump for rear shocks
Post by: kd on June 16, 2020, 07:22:34 PM
Quote from: chas on June 16, 2020, 07:16:29 PM
pretty sure i screwed it until i couldnt, but will try on another valve stem

Chas, what Hoss is saying is if the pump screws on until the fitting bottoms out on the plate the valve stem is mounted to, it isn't on far enough. The stem has to be sticking out far enough to let the pump screw on without bottoming on the mounting plate before it is tight on the threads.

I see PoorUB posted first. I'm saying the same thing said a little differently.
Title: Re: air pump for rear shocks
Post by: chas on June 16, 2020, 08:00:23 PM
I will check it out again and see about the plate and the fitting-Thanks guys!
Title: Re: air pump for rear shocks
Post by: Screamin beagle on June 17, 2020, 05:38:18 PM
Mine had a thin nut on the outside of the bracket that holds the air valve. This nut kept the pump from scrrwing on all the way and i got no air. So each time i wanted to ad or remove air i had to take off that nut...good luck
Title: Re: air pump for rear shocks
Post by: Hossamania on June 17, 2020, 06:26:02 PM
Quote from: Screamin beagle on June 17, 2020, 05:38:18 PM
Mine had a thin nut on the outside of the bracket that holds the air valve. This nut kept the pump from scrrwing on all the way and i got no air. So each time i wanted to ad or remove air i had to take off that nut...good luck

Same issue I have.
Title: Re: air pump for rear shocks
Post by: thirdjld on June 18, 2020, 04:00:46 AM
I was using that air pump to explain air pressure to my Grandchildren. Putting air in a basketball wouldn't register any air pressure. I found I had to have above 10 -15 pounds of pressure before it registered. FWIW
John
Title: Re: air pump for rear shocks
Post by: 76shuvlinoff on June 19, 2020, 02:40:12 AM
I loosen the saddle bag on that side and let it tip out to better get to the stem.
Title: Re: air pump for rear shocks
Post by: jamminhd2000 on June 19, 2020, 08:29:28 AM
If an air line is cracked or disconnected at fitting it will never register as well. I have also found rear air lines that were not routed properly and rear wheel rubbbed through air line....Jimmy
Title: Re: air pump for rear shocks
Post by: chaos901 on June 19, 2020, 09:14:07 AM
I've had to change air lines too.  Always had to open the saddlebag to get the pump seated good too. 
Title: Re: air pump for rear shocks
Post by: Hossamania on June 19, 2020, 10:49:56 AM
The OP's problem is not a bad fitting or cracked air line, but a fitting issue at the valve.