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Hey guys wanna try and service my sunken rear skid shock...having a hard time finding info i know theres gotta be a video somewhere...
How to rebuild fox air sleeve???
- Thread starter rwsqurl153
- Start date
If you are only trying to change the seals on the air sleeve here is what you need to do for a standard Float or Float II:
1. Let the pressure out of the air chamber.
2. Clamp the shock eyelet that has the Schrader valve by it in a vise with aluminum jaws.
3. Unscrew the air sleeve (black part) from the end that is clamped in the vise. These are only supposed to be hand tight, but sometimes it takes a rubber strap wrench to get them loose. Kind of like a spin-on oil filter.
4. Slide the air sleeve off the end of the shock.
5. Clean parts and replace seals.
6. Lubricate new seals with Float Fluid. Get this when you get your seals from your Cat dealer or from a Fox service dealer. The most economical way to by it is in a small pint-sized jug, but it is offered in "pillow packs" that have the right amount in a disposable tube.
7. Slide the air sleeve back on almost all the way.
8. Add 5cc, or one pillow pack, of Float Fluid into the air chamber.
9. screw the air sleeve back on. Hand tight only.
While you have the air sleeve off, compress the shock and make sure it moves smooth and returns to full extension on its own. If it does not, you need to have the actual shock serviced. This requires several special tools and will most likely need to be taken to your dealer or sent to a shop to have it done.
1. Let the pressure out of the air chamber.
2. Clamp the shock eyelet that has the Schrader valve by it in a vise with aluminum jaws.
3. Unscrew the air sleeve (black part) from the end that is clamped in the vise. These are only supposed to be hand tight, but sometimes it takes a rubber strap wrench to get them loose. Kind of like a spin-on oil filter.
4. Slide the air sleeve off the end of the shock.
5. Clean parts and replace seals.
6. Lubricate new seals with Float Fluid. Get this when you get your seals from your Cat dealer or from a Fox service dealer. The most economical way to by it is in a small pint-sized jug, but it is offered in "pillow packs" that have the right amount in a disposable tube.
7. Slide the air sleeve back on almost all the way.
8. Add 5cc, or one pillow pack, of Float Fluid into the air chamber.
9. screw the air sleeve back on. Hand tight only.
While you have the air sleeve off, compress the shock and make sure it moves smooth and returns to full extension on its own. If it does not, you need to have the actual shock serviced. This requires several special tools and will most likely need to be taken to your dealer or sent to a shop to have it done.
Ck out these sites:
Ridefox.com
Service.foxracingshox.com
I dont recall the sites but came across a few videos when I googled it a few years ago. I dont recall if they were snowmobile specific or for bicycles but the basic shock construction appears similar.
Ridefox.com
Service.foxracingshox.com
I dont recall the sites but came across a few videos when I googled it a few years ago. I dont recall if they were snowmobile specific or for bicycles but the basic shock construction appears similar.
I've just been looking into this too. I've never touched any of the shocks on my M8, and I'm sure they're in need of attention. I'm planning to do the air sleeves on the front shocks on my own, and planning to have the rears rebuilt and re-valved to 2011 specs (or slightly softer) by gas shock repair. (Who was the fat boy that tuned the early Cat floats???)
I may eventually have the front shocks re-valved too, as I'm getting too old for the beating that my sled likes to give me when the trail gets rough. I may try doing the fronts myself though, just for fun... I recently discovered that the 2011+ front shock piston is shared with the fox shocks that are on my '02 Z Sno Pro, and I have an extra set of shocks that I could rob them out of...
I found "rebuild" kits for the air sleeves for $20/shock on ebay, but if the seals are still good, I should think a good cleaning and a dose of new float fluid would be all they need.
BTW, from what I read, adding the air chambers to both the floats and float 2's seems to help the ride no matter what the valving. DeyCore has the front kits on sale right now for $50. Their cylinders are slightly bigger than the Fett Bros cylinders... Just a heads-up.
I may eventually have the front shocks re-valved too, as I'm getting too old for the beating that my sled likes to give me when the trail gets rough. I may try doing the fronts myself though, just for fun... I recently discovered that the 2011+ front shock piston is shared with the fox shocks that are on my '02 Z Sno Pro, and I have an extra set of shocks that I could rob them out of...
I found "rebuild" kits for the air sleeves for $20/shock on ebay, but if the seals are still good, I should think a good cleaning and a dose of new float fluid would be all they need.
BTW, from what I read, adding the air chambers to both the floats and float 2's seems to help the ride no matter what the valving. DeyCore has the front kits on sale right now for $50. Their cylinders are slightly bigger than the Fett Bros cylinders... Just a heads-up.
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