Proper Fill for Shock Oil

[TheJet-09]

Took apart an old Afco M-2 cannister shock, not to rebuild, but rather see what exactly is in there. Does anyone have an easy procedure for filling/topping off the fluid?

I watched a video on-line, but it was with an off-road truck shock. Similar, if not the same, but just wondering what others have done. Thanks!

[Henry Every]

Levels are specific to brand design and stroke length. Unless it was leaking you could've measured what you poured out.

[TheJet-09]

Thanks for the response. They were leaking. Seals are relatively cheap and available, so I figured I'd give it a try.

I'm more curious now in thinking about it. As the shaft goes farther into the body, that's taking up space that would otherwise be fluid, and we all know fluid does not compress. So there has to be some sort of compromise in fluid level.

[Kromulous]

Thats the reason for the bladder or floater piston, displacement of the rods volume in a fixed cavity.

Then as the oil pushes against the bladder / piston it creates rod pressure from the gas cavity losing volume.

I would just fill it without gas, work out all the air underneath the piston and then you can take the canister apart and work out all the air and then reinstall the bladder do your best ot get all the air out.. M2s are bladder style.

At the end of the day its not rocket science, getting a shock thats fast / feels good, and then repeating is where it gets tricky.

[TheJet-09]

That sounds about like what I did, so thank you for the info.