Anyone have experience refilling FAC dampers?

[amamet]

Need to refill my fac dampers on my lemans 1 and cant seem to find the procedure or any information to do so.
Any help is appreciated
Thx
Allen

[Kiwi_Roy]

I assume you meant rear dampers.
I did a quick search for FAC shocks and came up empty
Are they gas filled, that would be a problem.

Hang on, here we go
http://www.thisoldtractor.com/moto_guzzi_tonti_fac_damper_rebuild_information.html

[amamet]

really surprised no-one has chimed in on this.  they are front dampers for my lemans 1 forks.  can't seem to find any manufacturer info online either.  I guess ill just figure it out on my own?  with one held vertically I started with 70ml of 10 wt fork oil, after burping the damper, the rod "fell" about a half inch till the damping effect slowly lowered the rod.  I added @5 more ml until there was no free fall of the rod.  I guess thats it?

[chuck peterson]

Are you talking about replacing fork oil? Or opening the sealed FAC damper that’s inside the fork?

If its fork oil, typically ATF for lubrication in Guzzi, you’ll need to check specs. I know for a Convert, its not much. 100ml or less if I forget. Overfilled and the fork locks up after a short travel.

The FAC’s were fantastic on a heavy convert for me, but I didn’t find any need to rebuild it after 50k. Don’t remember seeing any way in or out of the sealed damper without destroying something

[amamet]

hey chuck, yes the damper unit.  the top just unscrews. when I was disassembling the forks, I figured id change to oil in there too.  didn't realize there is no information on this anywhere , here included

[amamet]

just noticed your in new haven, chuck,  my girlfriends daughter just committed to univ of new haven,  we had a pretty bad experience at frank pepes a few weeks ago.  were both pizza families.  any other recommendations?  or should we try again.  im just assuming everyone enjoys pizza as much as we do :)

Allen

[amamet]

Alright, so nobody know how to refill these things, does anyone know how to find the manufacturer?  Somebody is making them so they have to know how to refill them. Google is getting me nowhere in finding the company

[John Croucher]

Alright, so nobody know how to refill these things, does anyone know how to find the manufacturer?  Somebody is making them so they have to know how to refill them. Google is getting me nowhere in finding the company

I used your method once.  I rinsed the dampers out with  naptha, drained, added oil.  I used teflon tape on the screws.  seemed to work. 

The set i worked on did not have a drain/fill hole.  I drilled a hole into the cylinder on the end where the top mounting

[Roebling3]

Sorry I'm no help with dampers, but

Modern Apizza 874 State Street New Haven, CT Since 1934!!! Wood Fired.
If that's not modern enough I cannot help. There's a bakery nearby for dessert'
    Cannolis, of course.  Enjoy. R3~

[amamet]

I’ve heard good things about modern apizza. I’m hoping my bad experience was just due to a busy night. I’ll have plenty of opportunities in the next 4 years to go back

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

I used your method once.  I rinsed the dampers out with  naptha, drained, added oil.  I used teflon tape on the screws.  seemed to work. 

The set i worked on did not have a drain/fill hole.  I drilled a hole into the cylinder on the end where the top mounting

I think you mean my method (although it's not really "mine" - I saw it somewhere or someone passed it along to me long ago). None of them have drain holes, I drill one in the same location as you did. First set I ever refilled was on my '79 SP back in '85 - cured it's "wallow in bumpy turns" issue. My Convert is running dampers I refilled - the first few thousand miles they were very firm, but have now "broken in" again and the ride is still slightly firm but well controlled.

[Kiwi_Roy]

What was wrong with the info I posted from Greg Bender's site?

[amamet]

Nothing per se, but the amount of oil suggested left a section of the damper free falling before damping took effect. I would love to find manufacturers info on these dampers.  There has to be info out there. Did I put in enough oil? Too much? Is too much an issue or not? 

[Tony F]

I think you mean my method (although it's not really "mine" - I saw it somewhere or someone passed it along to me long ago). None of them have drain holes, I drill one in the same location as you did. First set I ever refilled was on my '79 SP back in '85 - cured it's "wallow in bumpy turns" issue. My Convert is running dampers I refilled - the first few thousand miles they were very firm, but have now "broken in" again and the ride is still slightly firm but well controlled.

I used this method also. On the dampers from my '79 SP1000 back in 1981 in fact. I read about in a UK Moto Guzzi Club magazine. Its success depends on the condition of the seals in the dampers. If you don't get the same amount of oil out of both dampers that flags a failed seal (or the same amount could flag failed seals in both dampers). It worked well for me but the seal leaked slowly in one of the dampers so it wasn't long lasting. I replaced them with aftermarket dampers when they first became available.

Tony

[chuck peterson]

just noticed your in new haven, chuck,  my girlfriends daughter just committed to univ of new haven,  we had a pretty bad experience at frank pepes a few weeks ago.  were both pizza families.  any other recommendations?  or should we try again.  im just assuming everyone enjoys pizza as much as we do :)

Allen

Choosing between Frank Pepe or Sally's is similar to Yankees vs Redsox around here. (See carb vs efi, tire pressures, synthetic vs Dino) If your bad experience was a 2 hour wait, well that's just normal. But the Pepe's clam, broccoli and garlic w white sauce pizza is to die for.

We had a Connecticut guzzi group meet at Modern Pizza....eh..

[Chuck in Indiana]

Nothing per se, but the amount of oil suggested left a section of the damper free falling before damping took effect. I would love to find manufacturers info on these dampers.  There has to be info out there. Did I put in enough oil? Too much? Is too much an issue or not?

Too much is definitely an issue. They will lock up.

[wirespokes]

I've had an oil expert tell me that ATF is somewhere around 15-20 weight - depending on which ATF.

And then tests have also shown that manufacturers of fork oil don't have any standard measure of viscosity. One's 10wt might be less or more viscous than another's 10wt.

With all the variables it would be nice knowing what viscosity oil to use, and specifically which brand and weight worked well for you.