The Ford Barn

a-bone newby · 04-08-2015, 09:56 AM

I purchased a set of shocks and they are dry SO WHAT IS the recommended oil as I live in the north and dont have access to a plethora of shops I use type A trans oil in my harley tubes? any sugestions will be appreciater Barry

Mike V. Florida · 04-08-2015, 10:15 AM

Did they not come with instructions? How about calling the vendor?

A heavy grade Hydraulic oil will work in new shocks.

Patrick L. · 04-08-2015, 01:32 PM

What shocks do you have ? Some do not use oil.
Whatever though, don't use glycerin.
If I remember correctly Bill Stipe puts 30 weight hydraulic in his, I think thats what the instructions mentioned.
But, if they are used then it could take a different/heavier weight to get them to work correctly depending on how worn they are. [ I've seen some filled with grease, I wouldn't recommend that]

jw hash · 04-08-2015, 01:33 PM

Barry
first I have to ask are the reproduction shocks or originals. if they are reproductions they DO NOT have any oil in the outer chamber. the inner chamber is a seal unit. on the other hand if they are original and they did not fill the inner chamber as they put them together, it is a pain in the a-s to fill them up. my guess is they are reproductions.

tim54889 · 04-08-2015, 01:58 PM

JW, Tell me more about the repro shocks. How do they work, what does the inside look like, etc Thanks, Tim

Tom Wesenberg · 04-08-2015, 03:21 PM

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The reason you don't want to use glycerin is because it's hydroscopic. It absorbs moisture, just like the common DOT 3 brake fluid does. That's why you want to use oil in the shocks, and DOT 5 silicone fluid for collectors cars that set. Be sure to flush and remove all the old stuff first, of course.

a-bone newby · 04-08-2015, 09:17 PM

they are houdiale supposidly of a show car and rebuilt I sure hope so as the fella is well known and reliable?

Bill Underwood · 04-09-2015, 03:01 AM

Lots of folks leave shocks lubed (light grease) but dry on show cars so they don't show leakage.
Hope they don't leak when you fill them! But don't be surprised
I used to build shocks and always used 30w hydrolic
Quit because there are very few build able cores. At best 1 in 10 and folks almost want pushing $20 for unknown cores. That equates to having over $600 in cores before you start.....no way!
��

C26Pinelake · 04-09-2015, 04:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by a-bone newby

they are houdiale supposidly of a show car and rebuilt I sure hope so as the fella is well known and reliable?

The best advice is of course is to call the vendor. He will answer your questions in a few seconds on the telephone. Wayne

Bill Underwood · 04-09-2015, 07:45 AM

I'm reading him as original restored off a show car???

BILL WILLIAMSON · 04-09-2015, 09:30 AM

Vermin has UNKNOWN shocks???? They are beautiful, smooth, & have a Ford logo. I drove it once, when I got him, 3 years ago. On our SPEED bumps, they worked EXCELLENT. Vermin also has what appears to be NEW springs!
I have NO documented or written history of him, but he came with a LOTS of old PICS!
He has BEAUTIFUL, .010 over STEEL drums & woven linings that fit perfectly to the drums & looks like they have only 77 stops on them!!
Bill W.

04-08-2015, 09:56 AM	#1
a-bone newby Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: b.c. canada Posts: 153	shocks I purchased a set of shocks and they are dry SO WHAT IS the recommended oil as I live in the north and dont have access to a plethora of shops I use type A trans oil in my harley tubes? any sugestions will be appreciater Barry

04-08-2015, 10:15 AM	#2
Mike V. Florida Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: South Florida Posts: 14,054	Re: shocks Did they not come with instructions? How about calling the vendor? A heavy grade Hydraulic oil will work in new shocks. __________________ What's right about America is that although we have a mess of problems, we have great capacity - intellect and resources - to do some thing about them. - Henry Ford II

04-08-2015, 01:32 PM	#3
Patrick L. Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Largo Florida Posts: 7,225	Re: shocks What shocks do you have ? Some do not use oil. Whatever though, don't use glycerin. If I remember correctly Bill Stipe puts 30 weight hydraulic in his, I think thats what the instructions mentioned. But, if they are used then it could take a different/heavier weight to get them to work correctly depending on how worn they are. [ I've seen some filled with grease, I wouldn't recommend that]

04-08-2015, 01:33 PM	#4
jw hash Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Auburn Washington Posts: 2,552	Re: shocks Barry first I have to ask are the reproduction shocks or originals. if they are reproductions they DO NOT have any oil in the outer chamber. the inner chamber is a seal unit. on the other hand if they are original and they did not fill the inner chamber as they put them together, it is a pain in the a-s to fill them up. my guess is they are reproductions.

04-08-2015, 01:58 PM	#5
tim54889 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Posts: 120	Re: shocks JW, Tell me more about the repro shocks. How do they work, what does the inside look like, etc Thanks, Tim

04-08-2015, 03:21 PM	#6
Tom Wesenberg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 27,582	Re: shocks Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) The reason you don't want to use glycerin is because it's hydroscopic. It absorbs moisture, just like the common DOT 3 brake fluid does. That's why you want to use oil in the shocks, and DOT 5 silicone fluid for collectors cars that set. Be sure to flush and remove all the old stuff first, of course.

04-08-2015, 09:17 PM	#7
a-bone newby Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: b.c. canada Posts: 153	Re: shocks they are houdiale supposidly of a show car and rebuilt I sure hope so as the fella is well known and reliable?

04-09-2015, 03:01 AM	#8
Bill Underwood Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Tennessee Posts: 445	Re: shocks Lots of folks leave shocks lubed (light grease) but dry on show cars so they don't show leakage. Hope they don't leak when you fill them! But don't be surprised I used to build shocks and always used 30w hydrolic Quit because there are very few build able cores. At best 1 in 10 and folks almost want pushing $20 for unknown cores. That equates to having over $600 in cores before you start.....no way! ��

04-09-2015, 07:45 AM	#10
Bill Underwood Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Tennessee Posts: 445	Re: shocks I'm reading him as original restored off a show car???

04-09-2015, 09:30 AM	#11
BILL WILLIAMSON Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: FRESNO, CA Posts: 12,560	Re: shocks Vermin has UNKNOWN shocks???? They are beautiful, smooth, & have a Ford logo. I drove it once, when I got him, 3 years ago. On our SPEED bumps, they worked EXCELLENT. Vermin also has what appears to be NEW springs! I have NO documented or written history of him, but he came with a LOTS of old PICS! He has BEAUTIFUL, .010 over STEEL drums & woven linings that fit perfectly to the drums & looks like they have only 77 stops on them!! Bill W. __________________ "THE ASSISTANT GURU OF STUFF"