Will adding O2 to Nitrogen shocks wreck them??

[Alberta Boy]

Does anyone know how adding O2 to Nitrogen shocks will affect them? Performance, heating up, etc??? I have nitrogen shocks that we are thinking of using a Fox Float pump to add more air to the shocks which are currently filled with Nitrogen. I am guessing that the mixture will be 50/50 O2/Nitrogen.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

[BCDan]

Oxygen and any hydrocarbon are great friends. Super-rich oxygenated atmospheres can spontaneously combust, can burn things that are not normally burnable, and will cause excessive rust as well. Nitrogen is an INERT substance; it doesn't react with anything. Oxygen is a hazardous material, it will oxidize and can cause serious damage.

Seems like not a very good idea to me

 

[up-high]

With a float pump, you will be adding air not just 02. I think this will negatively affect your nitrogen shocks. The nitrogen is an inert gas. It stays the same no matter what the temp is. This is what makes it ideal for shocks. Adding air will reduce the performance of your shocks and could allow oxygenation (rust) to occur inside the shock. I would find a shop that can fill them to the desied level with nitrogen. My .02

 

[Clarke673]

Why? That’s like having a top fuel dragster and putting 91 in it.

If its a temporary fix, remember that your valving will probably be changed.

 

[Alberta Boy]

Thanks guys... I knew that there were still a few smart guys still around

It was going to be a temporary fix... by the sounds of it... not the best idea... I might put the old shocks back on for this weekend! Now worth wrecking expensive shocks!

 

[FurryCURT]

got a Costco nearby? they put nitrogen in car tires and may be able to get a high enough pressure to fill em for you. just a thought.

 

[Alberta Boy]

got a Costco nearby? they put nitrogen in car tires and may be able to get a high enough pressure to fill em for you. just a thought.

Good call... thanks... all I need is a nitrogen tank with a regulator on it that will hit a max PSI of 300...

 

[moyiesledhead]

I know absolutely nothing about nitrogen shocks, the theory, or what you may damage but...isn't "AIR" 80% nitrogen? Just a thought.

 

[bigbull]

I stock a nitrogen tank with regulator in our shop for shocks. You must use nitrogen only as your inert gas. For all the reasons above and it is doubtful you will be able to keep the nitrogen currently in there to stay in with a Fox pump anyway. The stem of a nitrogen filled shock is different than air shocks.
BB

 

[XC700116]

That and depending on how much nitrogen (volume wise) is in your shock at whatever pressure is in there could very well overwhelm the Fox pump which is designed to only provide little more than 150 PSI and either blow the seals in it or worse.

 

[XC700116]

Oh and just for graphic images in the minds sake. If you were to hook it up to a compressed oxegen cylinder and pump it in you would have a flaming and exploding shock on your hands which would be quite entertaining, from a distance.

 

[Alberta Boy]

I decided to do the right thing and take them into the shop to get filled to 300 PSI. thanks for the info!