Vintage Dirt Bike Q & A

Hi guys, I'm rebuilding my mates shocks. 1980 CR80. Can anyone help me find the amount and type needed please.
Cheers, Lee, Melb. Aus.

I Have Honda service manual for that bike (80-81) as I am restoring one curently (1980 CR80R)--will look up specs and post this evening when I get home....DOUG

there´s nothing about rebuilding the shocks in the manual.

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I rebuilt a set of these some time ago. I do believe I was guided from someone to using ATF. I would recommend using modern shock oil though, Bel Ray hvi being a sure thing.

The quantity specification isn't needed. You fill the reservoir until you can put the bladder in with no air space remaining. Then fill the main tube up. Push the piston in while rocking it back and forth to displace air, then do the same with the seal head. The idea behind overfilling and making a mess like this is to remove the air so that the shock has only 100% oil inside, and only has air inside the rubber bladder. That prevents the oil from foaming and spoiling the action.

Watch the rest of the process so you don't hurt anything, the circlip and such.

Good luck,
Jon

Yeah--nothing in manual except a warning to not blow yourself up with the compressed nitrogen in the shock.....can't help you. I guess mrmikkelsen advice is best so far--dunno about the nitrogen part though.....D

The nitrogen valve is accessed from the end of the reservoir. Knock one edge of the sheet metal cap inward, and the other side will pop outward. Pry it out, and you will find a normal schraeder valve underneath. If you haven't rebuilt a modern shock, then read up somewhere first. Other than that funky cosmetic steel cap, the insides of this one come apart and go together just like any shock built after it. DeCarbon style with a rubber air bladder in the reservoir.