Air Ride Failed...

N8KAM

Well-Known Member
Ok while this actually happened two weeks ago it has taken this long until I had time to write something... Took an overnight trip to Hillsdale Mi. Left @ 7:00 am Friday and met about ten friends from my church at the Cracker Barrel in Bellville about 14 miles from home after a Great breakfast an 6 cups of coffee we got back on the road. Head to a Harley dealer on US 12 in Cement City arround another 50 miles. Looked at the air psi gauge and found no psi……. hit the switch and heard the pump run and an obvious air leak…:angry:
While I was disappointed one of the reasons for this trip was to work any bugs out before heading off to Laconia in June. Looked at the pump and found the Release solenoid broke off of the Pump.

While installing the syst during the winter I found that the solenoid was pressing against the positive battery cable boot on the starter HARD... so I shimmed it at the battery box to move it away from the boot but that got it close to the oil tank. But not touching it so I thought I would see what happened.

Well I now know what a Pitbull feels like. :eek:

Got to our destination in the southern end of Hillsdale and gave Aaron at Full throttle a call. (Parts Manager) Great guy and very helpful.(thanks Gas for the hook up) Found that we can’t order the part of the pump I need I have to order the whole pump… (Actually I can get the part if I wanted to wait 6-8 weeks for it to come from the pump manufacture)… NOT… Ordered the pump and should see it by the end of the week. So around 200 of the 250 mile trip were without suspension.. dragged the pipes and hit a few hard bumps. :rant: :angry:



But who wants to wait that long?? Not me so I start thinking of how to remedy this situation. Knowing that even with a new pump I will still have the issue of its location... after a few days the remedy came to me.

By tapping threads into and plugging the broken end of the pump I removed the brass pipe plug on the pump and installed a high psi elbow I had from my paint ball supplies. These fittings and lines hold 4500 psi lines for paint ball guns so I think the 100-150 psi in this system shouldn’t be a problem.

The end of the Release solenoid also has pipe threads. Screw in another high psi fitting Add a piece of line and I can put the solenoid wherever I want...


I modified the mounting holes for the pump for a better fit, re-polished it and reinstall the pump,


re-run the lines and mounted the solenoid under the left side of the battery box with two sided tape and some zip ties.

reinstall the side covers and you cant even see it..


Air it up and check for leaks and all is good.. As I write this I still have the original pump installed and a new one in the box in case of a pump failure.. Never hurts to have spare parts...
 
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EJ

Member
Very nice description did your bike have air ride from the factory or did you add it on.:confused:
 

N8KAM

Well-Known Member
I added it this winter.. I also wondered "what if it fails while I'm riding it" will i get loose or what.... Well i didnt even notice it till i looked at the gauge.. The roads in the Irish Hills area are fairly nice so the ride out there was fine... Just watch the right turns.. :2thumbs:
 

EJ

Member
Was the diffrence worth the install as far as the ride quality vs stock like to ride and was wondering if it smoothed out the ride any...
 

N8KAM

Well-Known Member
The ride is great.... The original shocks were quite stiff and now on these Michigan roads it rides like a dream.. and if i want to stiffen it up it's just a button away..

I must admit it looks slick with the air down and after 200 miles of riding with it down I'm not afraid to do it on purpose :2thumbs:
 

N8KAM

Well-Known Member
The solenoid will swivel where it meets the adaptor that used to thread on-to the pump. the high psi elbow also swivels
 

bdmridgeback

Low Down Chop Shop
Guys around here ride their bikes with the air all released sitting on the bump stops so that they have that Ridged look. I have never heard of anyone having an issue.

If I ever decided to buy a K9, That is what I would do. Ride it all the time with it slammed and if i went for a long haul, air it up.
 

lee

Well-Known Member
I've tried it with it all the way down and it was absolutely horrendous - couldn't turn right at all without slamming (and I mean slamming) the exhaust into the ground - also the roads around here are not the best
 

Gas Man

Cool isn't cheap
Calendar Participant
Don't get it twisted Lee, the roads here are now where near good. But the area he was referring to, is out of the city and nice winding country roads so they aren't bad.

Good job Kam. Nice mod. Then if you decide not to keep the new air pump... just sell it to a fellow michigan guy... somebody with some spare money... like Alhall!
 

N8KAM

Well-Known Member
KamSo the 2nd shock did its job and no tire rub?

Shawn
Well the second shock is the dampening shock and the first adjusts ride height and stiffness once it is up all the way...
As bdmridgeback said the bump stops keep it from rubbing on the tire.... That being said I did hit a good hard bump on I 94 on the way home :eek: and later during the repair found that the swing arm hit the bolts for the rear fender struts that were sticking thru the frame...
 

N8KAM

Well-Known Member
Don't get it twisted Lee, the roads here are now where near good. But the area he was referring to, is out of the city and nice winding country roads so they aren't bad.

Good job Kam. Nice mod. Then if you decide not to keep the new air pump... just sell it to a fellow michigan guy... somebody with some spare money... like Alhall!
Yea i got this thing about spare parts....
Wiring harness
EHC
2 ign modules
2 Ign key assemblies
Air pump
Turn sig' housings
etc.......

Thanks Guys..... And hay 450 + miles with out a shut down Things are lookin good....

:postwhore:
 
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Gas Man

Cool isn't cheap
Calendar Participant
Well Kam I got a bunch more that I'll be putting up for sale again. Never pushed it before cause I wasn't done shacking the Phoenix out but I think I'll be doing it again soon... You saw some of the stuff I had...
 
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