Rear shock air loss

Splottboy

Bought brand new Proflex 768 Frame/RS Fork - late 2009 - and rear shock was flat. Sent it back to the shop, then onto Fishers where air seal was dodgy.
It was serviced and returned to me with new seals, pumped up. Looked/felt fine.
Haven't used it for couple of months due to injury.

Went out Sunday, and shock was well flatish, and wondered if this is "normal?" It only had about 1/3 - 1/2 of the air that it returned with, so rubber band thingy was nearly at the end of the shock shaft on easy cycle track ride.
I know they lose air, but on a new shock???

I'll put more air in, but essentially its a "Brand New" shock with NO riding since it was returned to me late last year.

Shock is RS Monarch, basic but I've read good reports on it. Ta!

.blitz

Air pressure changes with temperature; a shock that felt OK last year will need more air to accomodate the present low temperatures.

nicklouse

and the pressure will be lower as you attach the pump.

pump it up and see what happens.

konadawg

Re inflate and check for loss, if any, send it back.

I don't agree that air loss is "normal" - no it's not, none at all, at least not until it's time to change the seals after a few years of frequent usage.

The seals may be new but the slightest imperfection in the shock strut or maybe where the seal seats will cause a leak.

I opened up a new Marz fork which did not hold air, it had metal from the machining process lodged underneath one of the o-rings, replacing the o-ring alone without noticing this, would have fixed nothing at all.

Splottboy

Thanks all, I'll pump it up and try it out.
I'll start a diary to see if it looses air on a day-to-day, wk-towk basis.

Bit annoying if it's new and barely used.

nicklouse

but first make sure you know what the loss is just from attaching the pump to get a reading.

so pump it up disconnect, re attach and read dial, pump back up, re attach and read dial, pump back up, re attach and read dial, pump back up, re attach and read dial, pump back up, re attach and read dial, pump back up, re attach and read dial, pump back up, re attach and read dial, pump back up.

that should give you a figure for that shock and that pump at that pressure.

Splottboy

Hey Nick...bad case of stammering you got there!
So...I'll pump it and do it again, pump it and do it again, pump it and...you get the picture!

Thanks again, but think it's the first shock that I've had real problems with and I've had numerous Sids, Fox's etc.

Now the $64,000 dollar question? I'm about 13stone - buck naked...O errr missus - and with all my winter kit, clothing, spares, weigh around 14st 7lbs.
For aggressive XC/Trails in N.Wales...what's a good "ball park" PSI figure to start the shock with, and also taking "sag" into account too?

bails87

Whatever PSI it takes to get the sag you want. 20-25%?