TomE_1953 Posted June 24, 2002 Share Posted June 24, 2002 Saw a recent posting giving advice to a guy who needed to check and fill his "Lever Action Shocks".<P>I knew my '53 was due for this routine maintenance so I filled mine this past weekend. I found a little trick that I wanted to share with my fellow "lever-action" owners to help you out.<P>TIP #1<BR>Buy one of those plastic ketchup bottles with the pointed top. Fill it with shock fluid leaving about 2-3" from the top (gives you room to tip the bottle while under the car). Attach a small rubber hose (12") over the tip of the bottle you might want to duct tape it to hold it on). Insert the rubber hose into the top of the lever action shock and tip the bottle to fill the shock. You want to make sure you keep the hose just inside the filler hole so you know you get the shock filled to the top. One of those very small funnels could also help in place of the bottle/hose.<BR>Once the shock is filled you can push on the bumper to get the air out.<BR>--NOTE:-- You want to leave some 'expansion' space for the fluid to expand and avoid shock leakage.<P>TIP #2: Get a small mirror to hold up over the lever-action shock to see the filler hole from under the car. Coming from a guy in the "Show-Me-State (MO) I have to 'see' the fill hole and want to make sure it's topped off with fluid. Worked pretty slick and I was done in no time flat (without a single swear word).<P>Hope this tip helps somebody out.<BR> <p>[ 06-26-2002: Message edited by: GR8 53 Roadmaster ] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rocketraider Posted June 24, 2002 Share Posted June 24, 2002 Anytime someone can find a way to work on their old car and not get reduced to a swearing fit, that's a good tip! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old-tank Posted June 24, 2002 Share Posted June 24, 2002 These are all good tips but you should leave a little airspace at the top of the shock , this is to allow for expansion of the fluid when it gets hot. but if your shock absorbers leak like mine do you'll soon have your ready made airspace. <BR> Thanks for sharing your tips with us.<BR>Willie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
our51super Posted June 24, 2002 Share Posted June 24, 2002 I always used a trash bag tie (the white paper ones) and bent a half inch "L" out of it and used it to measure the required airspace (rear only on a '51). Great tips - I wish I knew them when I did it.<BR>See you all in Kokomo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stan W. Posted June 25, 2002 Share Posted June 25, 2002 Tom, thanks for the great tip. I used the bottle method to fill the rears, but I never thought of the mirror. When it's time to do it again I'll definitely give it a try. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 25, 2002 Share Posted June 25, 2002 The "official" Buick special tool (made to fill lever shocks)has a tip that readily goes into the lever shocks.The tip is 1 inch long to pull off excess fluid. If you fill lever shocks completely,you force leakage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Howard Purvis Posted June 25, 2002 Share Posted June 25, 2002 Wouldn't it be easier just to remove the rear wheel for access to the shock absorber? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Old Guy Posted June 25, 2002 Share Posted June 25, 2002 I have a lever type oil can that I bent the spout on that I have used for thirty years, but I never thought of the mirror. Thanx for the idea. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craig cw Posted July 21, 2022 Share Posted July 21, 2022 I ended cutting the bottom of a water bottle . I folded it a little and cut it with a spout. It worked good! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TexRiv_63 Posted July 21, 2022 Share Posted July 21, 2022 This works the best of everything I have tried, and leave the smallest puddle on the floor! 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ply33 Posted July 21, 2022 Share Posted July 21, 2022 2 hours ago, TexRiv_63 said: This works the best of everything I have tried, and leave the smallest puddle on the floor! As long as we are reviving a 20 year old thread. . . I use the same thing. I have a label on mine stating it is fluid for the shocks so if I just grab an oil squirt can I don’t accidentally grab that one. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
60FlatTop Posted July 21, 2022 Share Posted July 21, 2022 Also the best tool for filling convertible top reservoirs. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
60FlatTop Posted July 22, 2022 Share Posted July 22, 2022 I have serviced cars with rear lever shocks, a few Cadillacs. I like to disconnect the shock arm link and work the arm by hand as I fill them. That gets the air out and you can feel the resistance as they begin to work. 4 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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