Riding with no air in air suspension on F3-T

[gnorthern]

What is bad about having no air in the air suspension?

I am going on two major trips before I can get my leaky air bag fixed. What exactly should I be on the look out for besides a bit rougher ride?

Thanks.

 

[papanorm]

I perceive your F3T may bottom out without the assist of the airbag. Perhaps there is some sealer that might plug your leak, such as a flat tyre sealer. Just a thought.

 

[gnorthern]

I perceive your F3T may bottom out without the assist of the airbag. Perhaps there is some sealer that might plug your leak, such as a flat tyre sealer. Just a thought.

My dealer will fix it, but not until after the trips. I am reluctant to put a sealer in there.

 

[Highwayman2013]

It shouldn't hurt anything.

 

[SpyderAnn01]

It may hurt your butt but that’s about it. There are many, many riders who have no air in their bag and have no idea that they should have.

 

[mrNewt]

Duct Tape... fixes everything! .

 

[PW2013STL]

No air in the air shock and towing with 47# on the hitch should be a very harsh ride.

 

[AeroPilot]

The 47 # on the hitch will be loading he hitch and forcing down the rear wheel a little more.... the no air in the air bag will be compressing the spring around your rear shock and bottoming out more. It probably will let you know to slow down a bit more on rough roads :dontknow:

 

[Peteoz]

I perceive your F3T may bottom out without the assist of the airbag. Perhaps there is some sealer that might plug your leak, such as a flat tyre sealer. Just a thought.

I’m not so sure that having air in the bag will stop bottoming out, Norm. The shock still only has the same amount of travel before it bottoms out. The air bag simply raises the seat height, and will of course take some of the jarring out when the shock DOES bottom out....

Pete

 

[PW2013STL]

I’m not so sure that having air in the bag will stop bottoming out, Norm. The shock still only has the same amount of travel before it bottoms out. The air bag simply raises the seat height, and will of course take some of the jarring out when the shock DOES bottom out....

Pete

Pete,

When we had this issue with our RT it bottomed out a lot until it was fixed.

 

[billybovine]

With no air in the bag. It will not make the shock bottom out any more then normal. But the bag will bottom out. Never happened to me so I don't know how it feels. I would imagine it would be just as irritating.

 

[gnorthern]

Sounds like I can do the trips without damaging my Spyder, albeit with less comfort. Thanks.

 

[safecracker]

I am glad you brought this subject up. I lost my compressor over Memorial weekend. Last year I replaced my check valve and lines and connectors. Compressor was fine at that time. Yesterday I removed the compressor. Took compressor apart and it was toast. my check valve had failed again and killed compressor. The air bag is really a tough durable air bag. I doubt your air bag itself has failed. So I just ran a new air hose from air bag to shrader valve. I converted my air bag to standard Rt. Put 70lbs of air in bag and it is stiil there. I never used the switch. Some day I may install the aftermarket compressor. So back to your issue. If air bag is good you might be able to remove your air suspension relay. On my RTS it was relay 1. This way you can add air and not have your air bleed off on you. Carry a small compressor with you to add air. Bruce

 

[Peteoz]

Pete,

When we had this issue with our RT it bottomed out a lot until it was fixed.

I’m not sure how that can be, PW. The shock itself still has the same travel to bottom out, regardless of what PSI you have in your bag. Is it perhaps that you were just feeling the bottoming out more because your air bag was flat. I’m not chasing this to be cantankerous, but just because I am interested

Pete

 

[PW2013STL]

I’m not sure how that can be, PW. The shock itself still has the same travel to bottom out, regardless of what PSI you have in your bag. Is it perhaps that you were just feeling the bottoming out more because your air bag was flat. I’m not chasing this to be cantankerous, but just because I am interested

Pete

Pete,

It may have been due to having the BRP hitch on as the Spyder was low enough that the hitch mud flap was hitting the pavement on bumps. I ended up cutting an inch off of it to reduce the number of hits. Air in the bag makes a noticeable difference in the rear height. Another thing that happened was the tire was making contact with the nuts from my extra mud flap.

 

[Peteoz]

Pete,

It may have been due to having the BRP hitch on as the Spyder was low enough that the hitch mud flap was hitting the pavement on bumps. I ended up cutting an inch off of it to reduce the number of hits. Air in the bag makes a noticeable difference in the rear height. Another thing that happened was the tire was making contact with the nuts from my extra mud flap.

Yeah, there is nothing worse than having the tyre making contact with your nuts, PW....:yikes:

Thanks for the extra info :thumbup:

Pete