F15a shock absorbers

[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,

[Dave Schindel]

Good idea,Jacques,and thanks for all the info.
Dave

[Jacques Reed]

Hi Dave,

You are most welcome. Always glad to help.

Had a look at the shock absorber that I pulled apart and I have another thought about the gasket between the reservoir cover and the lower ring.

Looking at the sealing area between them, there is a very distinct taper and not a square mating surface as shown in the photos.

I am thinking maybe an O-ring would do the job there instead of laboriously cutting a gasket. The V groove formed by it would squish the ring tight against the threads and against the edges of the tapered surface.
Those kits to make your own O-rings might do the job. Perhaps 2-3mm diameter O-ring material would work there.

Just a thought anyway. Gluing a length of O-ring material is a lot easier than cutting out a thin rubber gasket and may be worth a try.

Cheers,

[Dave Schindel]

Hi Jacques, now I think I see what I did wrong. I was not aware of the O ring gasket. When I took the cover off the ring came off with it, in one piece. How does the ring separate from the cover?

[Jacques Reed]

Hi Dave,

The ring should just come apart from the cover but after 7 decades it probably is well stuck. Rubber becomes a great glue with age. Just look at trying to break the tyre bead on these old trucks.

If the ring stays on the body of the shock absorber, and you want to remove it, it can be screwed off after a good wire brushing of the exposed threads and application of lots of penetrating oil. There is a tiny hole visible on the lower ring so it would not be to difficult to fabricate a special wrench if needed but I just got mine off by wire brushing, lots of oil, and working it back and forth.

Besides sealing the unit I believe the lower ring is to also used to allow the cover to be positioned with the filling plug uppermost. By adjusting the position of the ring when the cover is screwed down tightly it will allow the plug to be on top.

Cheers,

[Dave Schindel]

Jacques, thanks for the explanation . Mine was indeed stuck together enough that I thought it was one piece ! Great pics . Thanks so much.
Dave