Desert Fox GAS shocks

[dieselboy]

Just bought some of these for the front of the surf. One of them seems pretty soft? Soft enough where I can relatively quickly compress it between both hands in front of my chest.
The other one is about as soft for about an inch or half an inch of that travel, then becomes so stiff the only way I can compress it is putting it on the floor and gripping it with both hands to press downwards.

Do I have two faulty shocks or just the one?

Also, the two paper gaskets that came with the free wheeling hubs both tore in transit

[si tate]

Just bought some of these for the front of the surf. One of them seems pretty soft? Soft enough where I can relatively quickly compress it between both hands in front of my chest.
The other one is about as soft for about an inch or half an inch of that travel, then becomes so stiff the only way I can compress it is putting it on the floor and gripping it with both hands to press downwards.

Do I have two faulty shocks or just the one?

Also, the two paper gaskets that came with the free wheeling hubs both tore in transit

Silly question but are the shocks second hand.

[TonyN]

you're supposed to cycle shocks up and down a few times before fitting them, to settle the gas/oil after they have layed down while shipping.

try it again after doing that.

[BUSHWHACKER]

Just bought some of these for the front of the surf. One of them seems pretty soft? Soft enough where I can relatively quickly compress it between both hands in front of my chest.
The other one is about as soft for about an inch or half an inch of that travel, then becomes so stiff the only way I can compress it is putting it on the floor and gripping it with both hands to press downwards.

Both shocks should be like this, I've just finished fitting two fronts.

Do I have two faulty shocks or just the one?

See above.

Also, the two paper gaskets that came with the free wheeling hubs both tore in transit

No big deal, instant gasket or Hermetite will suffice.

[dieselboy]

Silly question but are the shocks second hand.

Hope not, they're from roughtrax

[dieselboy]

you're supposed to cycle shocks up and down a few times before fitting them, to settle the gas/oil after they have layed down while shopping.

try it again after doing that.

Ok thanks, I'll do this a good few more times to see if it makes a difference. I can hear bubbles in the soft one, but not in the stiff one.

Thanks also, BUSHWHACKER.

[si tate]

Hope not, they're from roughtrax

I knew it was a silly question to ask you but some people do the daftest things, like buying second hand shocks & brakes.

[dieselboy]

The soft one seems to get softer.

The stiff one seems to get stiffer the more it's compressed - hands are killing now. Sometimes I cannot even compress it to the end. Although sometimes near the top it can move about an inch with hardly any effort at all - but not all the time. Whats your view on that? Last time I handled shocks they were SPAX and about 5 years ago. I don't think I tested them as thoroughly like this though

[KERRSURF]

Send em back get em checked by Barry at Roughtrax, call him first, he will help you out.

[TonyN]

Send em back get em checked by Barry at Roughtrax, call him first, he will help you out.

Do this, they should both be the same, regardless how how stiff they actually feel to you.

[dieselboy]

Thanks, I'll bell him tomorrow. Ones limp the other is stiff so theyre definitely different!

[KERRSURF]

Thanks, I'll bell him tomorrow. Ones limp the other is stiff so theyre definitely different!

I'm pretty sure having a stiff one is preferable to a limp one.

[dieselboy]

I'm pretty sure having a stiff one is preferable to a limp one.

Sure. That's what she said!

[Albannach]

Dampers are generally misunderstood. But as has been said, they should both be the same. My guess is that if you have one that isn't fully compressing and extending, that's the faulty one.

[dieselboy]

Dampers are generally misunderstood. But as has been said, they should both be the same. My guess is that if you have one that isn't fully compressing and extending, that's the faulty one.

Hmm some contradicting views here.