F15a shock absorbers

[Andrew H.]

Are these shocks the same as the Houdaille ones found on the Model A Ford? They look identical.

[Jacques Reed]

Hello Harle,

I was not present when the mechanic removed the shock absorber arms so I do not know what puller he used. He told me. however, that he made up one to do the job. He normally just restores A model Ford shock absorbers.

Heat: He used an oxy-acetylene torch to heat it at the arm around the rotor shaft. A simple propane torch would not be able to heat the arm rapidly enough to expand the hole to make removal easier. From my own experience removing frozen nuts, the speed at which you heat a frozen nut is the most important thing. The idea is to heat the nut rapidly before the heat transfers to the bolt so the nut expands more than the bolt to make the nut removal easier. This principle would also apply to removing the arm from the splined rotor shaft.

I was not there, but I would think it would need to be heated dull red at least to get the arm to expand far enough to pull it off the splines.

Safety: Yes, care must be taken whenever heat is used around any oil. I would assume they were drained and the heat only directed at the arm and the flame kept off the cover. If I did it I would place some insulating material between the cover and the arm also. Perhaps immersing just the cover into a tub of water leaving the arm above the water would be a good safety procedure while heating it.

And to answer your question Andrew they are similar in design but substantially different. Rotor arm shaft and method of attaching the arms are different and I haven't got an A Model shock to compare but I believe they are smaller than the Ford CMP truck ones.

Cheers,

[Dave Schindel]

well, I took the shock absorber apart ,which was not that hard to do. Cleaned it out and re-assembled. I replaced the packing with an O ring. The only problem I have is that they leak where the cap threads onto the body. I used a pipe thread sealer but it did not work.Not sure if I will take them apart again, perhaps later when it's driveable.Thanks for all the info, guys.

[Jacques Reed]

Hi Dave,

Great to hear you mostly had success with rebuilding your shock absorbers.

I too, have one leaking shock absorber at the cover even after being professionally restored.

I noticed on some other shock absorbers I have, and in the parts list that there is a gasket between the cover and the lower ring: Part No. C01TS 18032 Gasket- Reservoir. The black gasket can be seen in the photo of the unrestored shock absorber. The restorer just smeared Silastic at the joint between the cover and the lower ring and didn't make a gasket for there. I was a bit annoyed about it but it held on three of them.
He obviously thought he would take the easy way out with silicon sealant.

One day I might dig out the old silicon sealant and cut a neoprene gasket to fit. I should be able to back off the cover and massage a new gasket into place. For the time being I can live with it, as annoying as it is.

As a matter of interest, did you use one of the weaker Locktite thread sealants? That stuff is pretty good. If you use the stronger stuff, however, you would need a gorilla to help you loosen the cover next time!

Cheers

[Harlé Sylvain]

Hello
My schock are also in parts now , I order new gaskets, and waiting for them.
For the reservoir ,I find a small O ring that fit, but will maybe use a tread sealand . I also change the small ring of the adjusting screw .

The schocks were full of a sort of mud and smell ricin oil.
I think cleaning them without opening them would be fast impossible.

Removing the arm is not easy, and need to be heat very hot.

Thank you all for your help!

We know more about this schocks now
Sylvain

[Dave Schindel]

hmmm...I don't recall seeing any sign of a seal, but I was wondering how the unit was supposed to hold oil.I think I will follow your idea and try to fit a seal in there without taking the whole thing apart again. I did not use Loctite, just a pipe thread sealer,thick stuff. Great info!

[Jacques Reed]

Hi Dave,

Thanks for that information too.

I just had a look at the Locktite website and Locktite 565 thread sealer might be a good sealer for added leakage protection on those fine threads on the reservoir cover. It states in the characteristics "controlled strength for ease of disassembly" (Saves calling in a gorilla mate if you ever have to open it up again!)

The beauty of Locktite is it fills microscopic gaps in threads which prevent even low viscosity liquids from passing through.

If I ever pull mine apart again I would consider using it in addition to the gasket.

Cheers,