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TR2/3/3A Before and after lever shock absorber pictures

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TuffTR250

Jedi Warrior
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Here are before and after pictures of the drivers side rear shock absorber on my '61 TR3. I thought it seemed as though the rear shocks were not working, and the drivers side seemed worse. But I suspect the passenger side is in similar condition. Just now getting around to checking the shocks since I've owned it.
Thanks to Poolboy for this url he posted on a BCF thread back in 2014 concerning TR6 rear shocks.
https://sites.google.com/site/morganatica/suspension/armstrong-lever-arm-dampers---adjustment

I was not at all familiar with how to clean up the gunk. This url about Morgan rear shocks was a big help! I used Kerosene and an air suction gun to shoot kerosene into the shock. I would not have been able to get all the gunk out without taking the top plate off the shock and also removing the large nut at the bottom. It still took a lot of spraying and a lot of pumping the shock lever arm to get it clean. I plan to refill with 15 weight motorcycle fork oil I got at a local motorcycle shop. Hopefully the shock will work when I get remounted on the car.
Regards, Bob
 

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TuffTR250 said:
...I plan to refill with 15 weight motorcycle fork oil I got at a local motorcycle shop. Hopefully the shock will work...
Click to expand...

FWIW - I seem to recall there is some process to get the shock filled and bled so it pumps up and works correctly. I recall no more than that - just saying that I don't think it is merely a matter of refilling the shock body.
 
Geo Hahn said:
FWIW - I seem to recall there is some process to get the shock filled and bled so it pumps up and works correctly. I recall no more than that - just saying that I don't think it is merely a matter of refilling the shock body.
Click to expand...

Yeah, you just need to operate the shock arm back and forth to expel any trapped air in the chambers.

On my TR6 but same principle


https://youtu.be/oGUhb90Voyk

Cheers
Tush
 
Great! Thanks Tush! I was wondering about how to bleed the air out of the shock and your video was very helpful!! I bought 15 weight fork oil (which I have not opened yet) but based on your video I'm wondering if I should use 30 weight.

What is the recommendation on the oil weight for the TR3 shocks?
Regards, Bob
 
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I called several motorcycle shops and none of them stocked fork oil greater than 15 weight. So since I had bought 15 weight, I decided to go ahead with it. It seems to be working correctly. At least I can move the drivers side of the car up and down which I couldn't before I changed the oil, and it seems about right movement. It's started raining now so I'll have to wait until tomorrow to try driving it to see how it does.
Regards, Bob
 
John, sorry about creating more work for you! :D When I opened up my shock and saw that gunk, I immediately thought of the picture you posted showing the black gunk on your overdrive filter screen.
Regards, Bob
 
TuffTR250 said:
John, sorry about creating more work for you! :D When I opened up my shock and saw that gunk, I immediately thought of the picture you posted showing the black gunk on your overdrive filter screen.
Regards, Bob
Click to expand...

Honestly...on this car I have removed every rivet and every bolt, with the exception of the rear shocks. I just figured I couldn't deal with what was inside. Now that I know what's in them, thanks to you and Tush, I have to do them now.

One question, what are you doing about a gasket? Making your own?
 
On the one shock I cleaned up and put in new fluid, the gasket was in really good shape. It is a kinda rubber coated gasket and I very carefully removed it. I put a VERY light coat of Hylomar on both sides of the gasket before I put the top plate back on. So far it does not appear to be leaking. I'll have to keep a watch on it. Hopefully the shock on the passenger side will also have a good gasket. I would think it is ok to make your own gasket out of a good quality gasket material.
Regards, Bob
 
Here are pictures of the passenger side rear shock. UGH, it is worse than the drivers side. The gunk is quite stiff inside as you can see from the picture showing the crud standing on the end of a knife blade. I have not thoroughly cleaned it yet, but when I dug out a lot of the really think stuff and poured some mineral spirits in the top, it seemed to pump good, so I'm fairly confident it will work once I get it cleaned out and new shock oil in it. It does look like I will have to make a new gasket for the top on this passenger side shock. It is not in nearly as good condition as the one on the drivers side shock.
Regards,
Bob

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