Topic: Rear OEM shocks, how much oil?

[70CB750]

I took apart shocks I had in storage for quite a while, the plan is to clean them up and refill the oil, if I get inspired I will even get new progressive springs.

How much oil and what oil should I use?  I was thinking to go with my universal Mobil Delvac 15W40, what do you think?

[lucky]

I took apart shocks I had in storage for quite a while, the plan is to clean them up and refill the oil, if I get inspired I will even get new progressive springs.

How much oil and what oil should I use?  I was thinking to go with my universal Mobil Delvac 15W40, what do you think?

Read the manual and it tells you the correct weight ,the amount, and how to fill them.

[strynboen]

15/40 are to heavy for shocks...shokes.....shocks..
 i use atf ,,and thin hydralik oli..and mix it for korrekt damping..atf  alone are to thin..on old bikes..i use it both on fork and back dæmpers..have drilled a small hole and make 3 mm threads to close,,vith a schrev after re filling..
on my 500 i have a set of koni"s..they can easy be opend and renoveret

[70CB750]

I forgot to mention these are the rear shocks - sorry.

[70CB750]

Anybody?

[seanbarney41]

are these stockers?...how about some pics and info about how you got them apart and, more importantly, how you intend to get them back together...I was under the impression that 1970's factory Honda shocks are not rebuildable...

[bjbuchanan]

are these stockers?...how about some pics and info about how you got them apart and, more importantly, how you intend to get them back together...I was under the impression that 1970's factory Honda shocks are not rebuildable...

They are "not" rebuildable in the sense that they weren't supposed to be but it doesn't mean you can't.

I wish I could help cb750, my best suggestion albeit not brilliant is to drain them in to a measuring cup and add a few ml's to the measurement to account for the leftover in it. You may not have published numbers to use, most people throw them away

[seanbarney41]

are these stockers?...how about some pics and info about how you got them apart and, more importantly, how you intend to get them back together...I was under the impression that 1970's factory Honda shocks are not rebuildable...

They are "not" rebuildable in the sense that they weren't supposed to be but it doesn't mean you can't.

sounds great, I just want to know how it can be done!

[lone*X]

Quite some time back there was a thread about refilling the HONDA OEM shocks.  It was along the lines of what Strynboen does.  After removing the springs and cover and cleaning them up you drilled, drained, threaded, filled, and plugged.   Maybe a search will turn up the old thread.

[Duke McDukiedook]

Isn't this design a mixed gas shock that requires you put about 150psi of nitrogen in it along with the oil?

[Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er]

Nitrogen in our old shocks?? Not likely.

[bryanj]

No gas filling untill the single shock (prolink) rear came in, That is except for air on the big cruisers(wing etc)

[70CB750]

Thank you. guys, I will take pictures tonight.   Yesterday I searched for some brand or anything that would help to identify - nothing.

They were easy to take apart, everything was screwed - no pun haha - together.  When I did the second one, I took notice how far the oil was reaching, I have some idea now.

This is crappy picture of them, but these shocks came with the bike when I got it.

[seanbarney41]

ok...yours are not Honda oem

[bjbuchanan]

ok...yours are not Honda oem

You have to make them rebuildable. Drill and tap a set screw plug, allen key type so it is flush. No nitrogen, too old

[70CB750]

Disassembled.

[70CB750]

It cleans up well.

[Jerilee]

Are there any seals or o-rings that could or should be replaced while we're in there?
It looks pretty simple.

[70CB750]

There are some square profile seals but all is nice and tight, I will just clean it, fill it up and use it.

[edwardmorris]

There are some square profile seals but all is nice and tight, I will just clean it, fill it up and use it.

What are you filling them up with?

[Geeto67]

based on the design they look like Boge Mullholland shocks. Pretty common 70'2-90's aftermarket upgrade and NOS ones come up all the time on ebay. The seal kits are NLA for them but even those come up from time to time. I heard there was a company making them again in south america but I have yet to see a set.

I have 50K on a pair of Boge Mullhollands and they have never needed anything (but probably could use a refreshing).

The rebuild kits used to come with new piston and piston shafts so I would check the tolerances on yours. I have no idea what the clearance should be but the shocks are iron lined  I own a few sets and have rebuilt them in the past - if you have an industrial supply place near you you can match up the rubber seals and replace them (an auto parts store might work in a pinch but I never tried since there was a great industrial supply place in brooklyn). 

[70CB750]

Thank you!

[Geeto67]

I should add, One of the harder things about identifying Boge shocks is their only mark was a decal on the shock body that looked like this:



some of the MX shocks were pretty great looking for back in the day: safety orange bodies with yellow springs. Every street bike set I have had have been black bodies with chrome springs but I have seen orange bodies with black springs.

[edwardmorris]

You have to make them rebuildable. Drill and tap a set screw plug, allen key type so it is flush. No nitrogen, too old

I think someone else here did this, found a link via search (link is to a diff forum)

http://www.hondatwins.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=4133

[70CB750]

These dont need a plug, they come apart easily, everything is threaded.