Rear Shock Vacuum Bleeder

So after learning how to go over the forks I plan on doing my own shock maintenance in the future also.

And to do it right a vacuum bleeder is the way to go.

Decided to build my own, had I found this solution before ordering parts I would probably gone that route.

Had already ordered a clear PVC pipe and some thick aluminum to create a chamber for the bleeder.

The cut edge on the pipe was rough and needed quite some grinding to smooth it out:

Marked out how to work the aluminum end pieces of the chamber:

My father helped out some milling out the recess for the O-ring:

Recess done, need some more drilling of the holes:

Bottom plate with O-ring in place, M10 thread in the holes on the corners for some threaded rod to clamp chamber together, center hole with an 1/4″ BSP thread:

And chamber bolted together:

Did some tests just using a single hose for both vacuum suction and pressure filling oil into the shock but that caused lots of bubbling during vacuum cycle (kind of suspected that but wanted to try it).

Also tried using cheapo quick connectors for air pressure but they let air in during vacuum cycle so that was no good, there are high quality connectors that are suitable for vacuum applications and might look at that if I see that things start working as I want but was changed to a threaded connector that seals up well for now:

So reworked it with a dual hose setup with vacuum hose connected to top of chamber and a pressure hose to bottom of chamber, also changed to clear hoses making it a lot easier to see any bubbles:

Got the gauge that handle both vacuum and pressure called a compound gauge and installed that:

Also changed back to a single hose connecting to the shock and have everything working now bubbling is not that bad when not having any leaks, its a bit rough but works.

Im also looking to sell this one as a bit of a project for someone to raise some fund for my charity.

Since the big expensive parts I had to order enough to build two of these.

Have it up for sale through bids on a Swedish off-road forum with a starting bid off a little over 100 Euro + shipping, thought I would accept bids from other parts of the world also but outside of Europe shipping would probably be to much.

If sold 100% would be to charity!

AND IT HAS ALREADY BEEN SOLD SO DONT CONTACT ME ABOUT IT =)

Included would be chamber as seen in picture complete with adapter that fits many WP shock having a R1/8 bleed plug and 2 extra O-rings for chamber.

A vacuum pump and a compressor with filtered and preferably regulated air will be needed.

Small O-ring for the adaptor will also be required.

If interested any bids can be sent to johan@dirtyadv.com

Minimum 100 Euro + shipping, if I get a bid an end date will be set and I will keep bidders updated on progress.

Contact me and I can look up shipping costs, weight will be about 5 kg and box 50 x 20 x 20 cm.

AND IT HAS ALREADY BEEN SOLD SO DONT CONTACT ME ABOUT IT =)

If no bids during April 2015 it will not be sold and I will refine it and build a sludge chamber with the material I have left for vacuum bleeding brakes and other uses.

A post about how to bleed shocks will be added later.