Rear shock, airbag etc

[prmurat]

Just back from a 3900 miles ride and after hearing the air compressor almost always on I knew problems were coming.... fast! The compressor finally died and I had to use my hand held compressor for about 2000 miles: after a couple of days the airbag was empty 5 miles after inflation! So I rode on the shock, stock, alone for most of the time. I have the feeling the shock is gone now!! Dealer in a couple of weeks and I am wondering if I should buy an aftermarket shock or let the dealer install a new stock one?? Does the air compressor works with an Elka stage 2?? Any other choice? I kind of like the idea of keeping the compressor...
thks!!

 

[UtahPete]

Just back from a 3900 miles ride and after hearing the air compressor almost always on I knew problems were coming.... fast! The compressor finally died and I had to use my hand held compressor for about 2000 miles: after a couple of days the airbag was empty 5 miles after inflation! So I rode on the shock, stock, alone for most of the time. I have the feeling the shock is gone now!! Dealer in a couple of weeks and I am wondering if I should buy an aftermarket shock or let the dealer install a new stock one?? Does the air compressor works with an Elka stage 2?? Any other choice? I kind of like the idea of keeping the compressor...thks!!

I'm following this with interest. Never had a problem so far with either of my 2014RT ACS system, but it's probably just a matter of time.

 

[UtahPete]

Phillippe, yours is a 2014 RTS with about 25k miles, as I recall?

 

[UtahPete]

There's a related discussion going on right now over at http://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/showthread.php?106357-ACS-Rebuild

 

[DGoebel]

I just got back from a 4,800 mile trip on my '13 RTL. On the second to last day, 1,000 miles from home, on a Sunday, we determined our Air bag was leaking down quickly. I also had no fog lights, heated hand grips(didn't really notice that), and no horn, and the ACS compressor wasn't working (That turned out to be a blown 20 amp load Shedding fuse). Before we corrected the blow fuse, we were topping our air bag off every 100 miles with the cordless air pump that Lamonster sold. That helped. Today I discovered that my issue was a leakdown through the compressor check valve as it comes out of the compressor and feeds the air bag. We cleaned the check valve and the system has been holding air for over an hour now.
It's possible that check valve part ($27.00 for a new one) is just stuck open if the fuse is blown as well.

Phillip, does your horn work? If your horn is "dead" then it's probably the yellow 20 amp fuse in the right side (left as you're looking at it) fuse box. If that fuse is blown and you replace it, your compressor may work again.

 

[prmurat]

Airbag

There's a related discussion going on right now over at http://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/showthread.php?106357-ACS-Rebuild

Thks Pete. Yes my RT is a 2014 with around 27500 miles on it . Thks for the late link!

Horn and fuse are perfect. If I was courageous i’ll start checking the valves etc. but the fact that I cannot get the pressure over 30psi (could go to 45 when the problem started) makes me think of an airbag problem and then death of the compressor.
so no one can answer the question re the shock absorber??

 

[UtahPete]

Thks Pete. Yes my RT is a 2014 with around 27500 miles on it ����. Thks for the late link! Horn and fuse are perfect. If I was courageous i’ll start checking the valves etc. but the fact that I cannot get the pressure over 30psi (could go to 45 when the problem started) makes me think of an airbag problem and then death of the compressor.

so no one can answer the question re the shock absorber??

"I have the feeling the shock is gone now!! Dealer in a couple of weeks and I am wondering if I should buy an aftermarket shock or let the dealer install a new stock one?? Does the air compressor works with an Elka stage 2?? Any other choice? I kind of like the idea of keeping the compressor..."

 

[DGoebel]

Others have posted positive results replacing the factory rear shock with aftermarket Elka's, Fox, and EMS (or is it EMC) rear shocks retaining the Airbag and compressor system.
I'll try to find the saved threads as I've asked and researched the same issue, though mine turned out to just be a fixable check valve.
Several folks have posted threads in the past replacing the stock compressor (when it's failed out of warranty) with a VLAIR 97 model.
It does sound like your compressor died if the fuse is good.

 

[UtahPete]

Bump

 

[Peteoz]

So I rode on the shock, stock, alone for most of the time. I have the feeling the shock is gone now!! Dealer in a couple of weeks and I am wondering if I should buy an aftermarket shock or let the dealer install a new stock one?? Does the air compressor works with an Elka stage 2?? Any other choice? I kind of like the idea of keeping the compressor...
thks!!

Phillippe, I may have misread your post, and apologies if I have, but it sounds like you are of the belief that the airbag and the shock are a single unit. They are independent. The airbag and compressor are effectively just used to raise and lower the height of your seat. They sit above the shock. You can swap out your stock shock for an Elka, Wilbers etc, and not touch the airbag, and vice versa. I am currently running my airbag at 0psi just to see how my stage 2 Wilber shock performs.

Pete

 

[UtahPete]

Phillippe, I may have misread your post, and apologies if I have, but it sounds like you are of the belief that the airbag and the shock are a single unit. They are independent. The airbag and compressor are effectively just used to raise and lower the height of your seat. They sit above the shock. You can swap out your stock shock for an Elka, Wilbers etc, and not touch the airbag, and vice versa. I am currently running my airbag at 0psi just to see how my stage 2 Wilber shock performs.Pete

Good points, Pete.

 

[prmurat]

Phillippe, I may have misread your post, and apologies if I have, but it sounds like you are of the belief that the airbag and the shock are a single unit. They are independent. The airbag and compressor are effectively just used to raise and lower the height of your seat. They sit above the shock. You can swap out your stock shock for an Elka, Wilbers etc, and not touch the airbag, and vice versa. I am currently running my airbag at 0psi just to see how my stage 2 Wilber shock performs.

Pete

Thks Pete for your answer, exactly what I needed! The use of the airbag is confusing as it lower/raise the bike but at the same time brings some “cushioning” to the suspension. I will go for the Elka or others!
(still dreaming of a 3WD Spyder, Subaru flat 4 (or 6!!) with a Citroen Oleopneumatic suspension... Adventure type!!).

 

[Fatcycledaddy]

Remember that when the compressor fails and you air up the bag manually, the height adjust will let air out automatically every time you come to a stop and the back raises a little, the passenger gets off the bike, anything that will cause the back end to rise a little.

If you disconnect the dump solenoid the air will stay in, unless you have a leak somewhere.

 

[teninospyder]

how to disconnect the ACS "dump" solenoid

Remember that when the compressor fails and you air up the bag manually, the height adjust will let air out automatically every time you come to a stop and the back raises a little, the passenger gets off the bike, anything that will cause the back end to rise a little.

If you disconnect the dump solenoid the air will stay in, unless you have a leak somewhere.

I probably missed this somewhere and I sincerely apologize if I did. In looking at the parts diagrams.....Can you see and disconnect this solenoid WITHOUT pulling the RT side panels off an RTL? I posted a question about "what if you just remove the side cargo inner shell - can you get it that way?" Also, "how to disconnect?" Not wanting to destroy the connector, is it locked on with tabs or just a straight pull apart? Appreciate input from those who have done the actual disconnect.

 

[Fatcycledaddy]

I do not think you can disconnect it without pulling a side panel. I pulled the panel on mine when I did it.

 

[wingit3611]

Height Adjustment

Also need to disconnect my height Adjustment. 2013 RTL compressor is toast but bag holds air.

 

[UtahPete]

Also need to disconnect my height Adjustment. 2013 RTL compressor is toast but bag holds air.

And, how to disconnect that link without setting off a brake error or whatever code it throws?

 

[DGoebel]

teninospyder, you don't have to pull the rear trunk and saddlebags like I did, but you do at least have to pull the right upper side panel to see the connector.

 

[UtahPete]

teninospyder, you don't have to pull the rear trunk and saddlebags like I did, but you do at least have to pull the right upper side panel to see the connector.

Thanks. Very helpful

 

[mcalva]

J...... Does the air compressor works with an Elka stage 2?? thks!!

In my humble opinion, the original shock absorber has no adjustments. The adjustments are made through inflation (manual or with compressor) and the Elka Shok 2 have preload, rebound, etc. settings. so it seems that we should remove all the adjustments to the Elka to adjust with compressor and then I do not see the meaning of the operation.