What oil do I use in the monoshock on my 86 tecate?

[Tbcoplin]

I'm assembling the rear shock on my 86 tecate and wasn't sure what oil to use and how to go about doing it. Can anyone help me out??

[MTS]

Hate to break it to you, But building shocks is somewhat- of a trade secret :naughty: Ams-oil makes oil for them, The fun part is Figuring out how they work :naughty: :beer

[honda250sx]

Trade secret? Buahahahaha. Come on. Help the dude out if you are so almighty.

[Grizzlypeg]

Honda used ATF in their monoshock.

[MonroeMike]

The manual says SAE 5w-20.

[Tbcoplin]

Thanks, do you know how to install the oil? Where do you put it in the shock and how much?

[MonroeMike]

Chapter 11 of the supplement.

http://www.tecateprojects.com/manuals.htm

[MTS]

Here's the low down on the DIY Way, I haven't had a T3 shock apart,,,But I'm sure its similar to every-other one of that era- That being it is a floating piston remote res shock With a multi-piece seal head in the Shock body (assuming it hasn't been replaced before) Ill do this step by step, skip em if you have done them. First things first, Was it a pogo stick? If so...Most likely there are seals that need to be changed, If not, Good..less parts to find and replace, If it was leaking oil down the Chrome shaft itself, You will need a new seal head, With that out of the way, Basic dissasembly, Crack the Brass nut on the res- to release the nitrogen(if there's any left), back off the pre-load on the spring and remove it. Take a Small Chisel/punch or flat edge and Tap up the protective cap on the main shock body, You should see a seal In There that seals around the outer edge, and the Shock shaft, This is the Seal head, press it down until you see a cir-clip (some don't need to be pressed down to far-if at all) Remove the circlip, You should be able to pull up on the shock shaft enough to pop the seal head out of the body, There's another clip underneath it, Pull it out , and the shaft/with the valving will come out. Now onto the resszy,Push down on the top of it (where the Adjustment knob is) and another cir-clip will become visible, Pull it out, pull on the top of the res and it should come apart, Should See a Plastic Piston in there. If you take the brass nut out of the other side of the res, you can use compressed air to pop it out, BE careful...it comes out with alot of punch. Now...Onto cleaning....Remove all the o-rings/rubber components From the res- and main body, Clean it all in solvent, and then Hot soapy water, and Dry.
Onto-reassembly, This is a bit modified as most people Do-not have access to N20 and the Equipment, So this is what i use from time to time, and requires 2 people.
After everything is Clean, and all the o-rings and Piston seals are back in place.
Put the Shock body in a vice, upside down...Fill the shock body with a bit of oil and let it bleed through the line to the top of the res-cap,,,It gets messy, Install The floating piston in the res and bottom it out to the n20 fill hole, Fill the res up to the brim Then install the res cap to the res and install the cir-clip...The idea being the Less air between the floating piston and the main body the better..Now the fun part, with a little oil in the main body of the shock, Take and push the floating piston down...through the fill hole on the res (or use compressed air-be careful of flying oil) This will bleed Most if not all of the air out of the system, (Normally you "plunge the oil into the res and push back untill no more air bubbles come out) But this method seems to work Good enough for the average Person. Now that the Res piston is "bottomed out" and theres no more AIR in the system....Fill the shock body to the Top with oil, Have someone Hold the compressed air on the Resiviour So the floating piston Dose not Move (very critical) and instert the Shock shaft and valving...Bottom it out in the Shock body...This is to bleed the air out of the valving. Next pull up on it and bottom it, Make sure that the seal head Is Up on the top of the shock shaft while doing this, Next You should be able to re-install the lower cir-clip in the shock body. Fill it up again with oil, and pull the valving up as far as you can without it coming out of the oil...Or it will suck air...and have to do it all over again. make sure the oil is to the top of the shock body, then take the compressed air off and sink the seal head into the shock body. Install the last cir-clip...Install the Protective cap... Install the filler in the res, Take it to a shop and have em put in 150-180psi of n20,,,,One more thing, After that seal head is Sunk...Dont stroke the shock shaft...it will Throw off the floating piston...and your back to square one..
Man that was a long post...Just disregard my bad spelling :lol: :beer This is based on my experience..and have never had a problem. Hope this helps

[sblt500r]

86 t3 shocks have a bladder rezzie, so half of what you posted doesn't apply here. 84-85's have floating pistons in the rezzie. the floating rezzie should be filled about 1/3 to 1/2 way. your way of filling seems like there will be no oil in the rezzie.

i have alot i could say about your post, but i won't. thats your way, and if it works for you, good.

if tbcoplin follows the manual he should be able to get it back together.

i don't post how to rebuild shocks. not cause i'm an ass, i just don't want to type a huge post and get all kinds of questions. its on the net how to rebuild a shock if you look. plus its in some manuals. l learned by doing it myself. and i also wouldn't recomend every joe does one. cause they can screw them up. i've had some that were messed up by people trying to rebuild them themselves. vise grips on the shaft, grinding the locking nut way down till it goes into the rebound adjustment.

[Dirtcrasher]

if tbcoplin follows the manual he should be able to get it back together.

i don't post how to rebuild shocks. not cause i'm an ass, i just don't want to type a huge post and get all kinds of questions. its on the net how to rebuild a shock if you look. plus its in some manuals. l learned by doing it myself. and i also wouldn't recomend every joe does one. cause they can screw them up. i've had some that were messed up by people trying to rebuild them themselves. vise grips on the shaft, grinding the locking nut way down till it goes into the rebound adjustment.

Thats right! I can't be bothered ANYMORE either, I helped out a few just last week - WTF was I thinking :D

Sorry Sean (Shawn)......... BUT:

Whatever......, We'll all (who want to), figure it all out in time and learn along the way just as you did. It isn't rocket science; If you can split a case, you can re-build a shock.

I agree with the "not every Joe should do them" But I'd never post that I couldn't be bothered answering questions, I'd rather say nothing at all............... It's like an internet punch in the face...

[MTS]

I have to agree with Both of you, And understand Why, Just thought i would put out some basics, Yea you Can screw them up in a hurry,,,and get hurt...I just Put Up What i though would be somewhat helpful, Sure you could pick it apart...Its not Proper.. But just To put it out there...That they are a bit complicated....If you haven't done them Or do-not have the Tools...:beer