The Ford Barn

jwilliams81 · 08-23-2017, 10:02 AM

I have a 31' town sedan. I noticed the other night that they are dripping from the needle valves.

I have been searching and reading. I would like to try and fill them to see if they are working at all before I pull them off the car this winter.

How are the needle valves sealed? is it an o-ring that I could just replace?

100IH · 08-23-2017, 12:59 PM

As I recall there is a graphite string packing. It is possible different gasket makers and suppliers have tried different things over the years, try snugging the nut below the pointer. Careful, they tend to break, if its frozen -leave it. Any wobble in the shafts in the center of the cover, if so not good.

Oldbluoval · 08-23-2017, 01:10 PM

I have used o-rings...you may have to stack a couple. Also, plumbers teflon string backing (not tape) will work. It's just tough to get those boogers to not leak. Usually around the cover however.

jwilliams81 · 08-23-2017, 01:47 PM

Thanks for the input. I haven't touched the shocks since I bought the car. But I have been noticing drip marks on the garage at 3 of the four corners. I was under the car last night and noticed one of the front ones was leaking from around the needle.

I haven't tightened any of them yet.

I was going to tighten and fill them to see what happens.

100IH · 08-23-2017, 02:05 PM

If the shafts are not wobbly, Next try to figure out what the fluid is. It could easily be a mix of stuff, sometimes things that are not compatible. Ford even changed the fluid more than a few times during the V8 years. At this point, motor oil will do to see the leaks. It won't hurt anything. If they hold OK, you have won the lottery. They still need to be rebuilt by one of the experts.

jwilliams81 · 08-23-2017, 03:43 PM

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I am going pull the fill plug and use a vacuum to suck out anything that's in there.
I was going to try and refill with 100% glycerin

08-23-2017, 10:02 AM	#1
jwilliams81 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: Cincinnati OH Posts: 418	Shock needle valve removal I have a 31' town sedan. I noticed the other night that they are dripping from the needle valves. I have been searching and reading. I would like to try and fill them to see if they are working at all before I pull them off the car this winter. How are the needle valves sealed? is it an o-ring that I could just replace? __________________ 1931 Murray Town Sedan. Black body with Apple Green pin stripe. 1923 Model T Touring with electric start. Low radiator Cincinnati, Ohio

08-23-2017, 12:59 PM	#2
100IH Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: SW Idaho Posts: 970	Re: Shock needle valve removal As I recall there is a graphite string packing. It is possible different gasket makers and suppliers have tried different things over the years, try snugging the nut below the pointer. Careful, they tend to break, if its frozen -leave it. Any wobble in the shafts in the center of the cover, if so not good.

08-23-2017, 01:10 PM	#3
Oldbluoval Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Signal Mtn, TN (SE TN) Posts: 2,371	Re: Shock needle valve removal I have used o-rings...you may have to stack a couple. Also, plumbers teflon string backing (not tape) will work. It's just tough to get those boogers to not leak. Usually around the cover however.

08-23-2017, 01:47 PM	#4
jwilliams81 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: Cincinnati OH Posts: 418	Re: Shock needle valve removal Thanks for the input. I haven't touched the shocks since I bought the car. But I have been noticing drip marks on the garage at 3 of the four corners. I was under the car last night and noticed one of the front ones was leaking from around the needle. I haven't tightened any of them yet. I was going to tighten and fill them to see what happens. __________________ 1931 Murray Town Sedan. Black body with Apple Green pin stripe. 1923 Model T Touring with electric start. Low radiator Cincinnati, Ohio

08-23-2017, 02:05 PM	#5
100IH Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: SW Idaho Posts: 970	Re: Shock needle valve removal If the shafts are not wobbly, Next try to figure out what the fluid is. It could easily be a mix of stuff, sometimes things that are not compatible. Ford even changed the fluid more than a few times during the V8 years. At this point, motor oil will do to see the leaks. It won't hurt anything. If they hold OK, you have won the lottery. They still need to be rebuilt by one of the experts.

08-23-2017, 03:43 PM	#6
jwilliams81 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: Cincinnati OH Posts: 418	Re: Shock needle valve removal Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) I am going pull the fill plug and use a vacuum to suck out anything that's in there. I was going to try and refill with 100% glycerin __________________ 1931 Murray Town Sedan. Black body with Apple Green pin stripe. 1923 Model T Touring with electric start. Low radiator Cincinnati, Ohio