Anyone do a bladder conversion on the shock yet?

[TCMB371]

I want to do a bladder conversion on my shock to make maintenance/tinkering with valve stacks a lot easier. Has anyone done the conversion yet?

JBI makes one. Not sure if it will fit though.
WP Shock Bladder Kit

SDI also makes one, and its a shorty version that looks like may clear our subframes. I contacted them asking them to measure it.
SDESBCAKT16S-Blu Suspension Direct | Suspension Direct, Inc.

 

[Fog 25]

Yes Bryan at N2Dirt change mine. Gave him a call he can point you in the right direction. 6612520269.

 

[OneLapper]

Yes I did and no it doesn't.

The SDI kit does not clear the sub frame, but I thought it was close enough to make it work by heating it with a heat gun. Well, 6 hour later and a lot of "WTF"s, I got it to work. I'm not proud of this modification but I didn't really have a choice after I started with the heat gun.

 

[OneLapper]

Yes Bryan at N2Dirt change mine. Gave him a call he can point you in the right direction. 6612520269.

What did Brian sell you? What he sold me was the SDI bladder system

 

[Philip]

A piston is not that difficult to service, once you figure out how far to push it one way or the other.

 

[TCMB371]

When Mark and I revalved my shock, the piston was seemingly hitting some sort of hard stop halfway down the reservoir before charging it with nitrogen. We just figured that's where it needed to be set before filling the other side with nitrogen.

 

[Fog 25]

What did Brian sell you? What he sold me was the SDI bladder systemView attachment 1919

We used a TANK from MX-TECH.

 

[TCMB371]

The Tank is still a piston style reservoir. I'm looking for a bladder conversion.

 

[TCMB371]

What did Brian sell you? What he sold me was the SDI bladder systemView attachment 1919

Your shock looks different than mine. Mine has a thicker silver female end that the reservoir threads in to.

 

[OneLapper]

Might be the difference between the MX and MXRs. I need to find another picture of a MX.......

Yup, looks like the MX, EX and EXR have a different rear shock to the MXR. I never notice before.

 

[Philip]

It's the same shock. The Tank just looks a little larger on the OD. The piston is 2mm larger. Not sure I would be able to tell the difference at my riding skill level.

 

[OneLapper]

It's the same shock. The Tank just looks a little larger on the OD. The piston is 2mm larger. Not sure I would be able to tell the difference at my riding skill level.

My MX's bladder tank has internal threads, looks like the MXR tank has external threads.

 

[snydes]

My MX's bladder tank has internal threads, looks like the MXR tank has external threads.

Maybe this confirms what you suspected about your shock?

 

[Philip]

My MX's bladder tank has internal threads, looks like the MXR tank has external threads.

OOPS! I am sorry, I thought @TCMB371 was talking about the @Fog 25 shock. Those are the same.

The MX and MXR shocks are indeed different. The MXR shock is the latest WP shock, and the MX is the generation before that.

 

[OneLapper]

Maybe this confirms what you suspected about your shock?

No idea what they did to the shock, but Brian straightened it all out. I did just discover that I have non-OEM front rim!

 

[TCMB371]

I'm working with SDI now to see if they can provide a solution. They told me their shorty bladder reservoir extends 98mm beyond the threads. Thats roughly 3.8" and would probably rub against the subframe. I'm asking to see if i can trim about 1/4" off the threaded end and make it work. Otherwise, @Mark911 has offered to machine a custom reservoir for me. What a great guy! That will be last resort, though.

 

[Mark911]

I'd probably replace the SDI upper cap with a very low profile cap and add a remote tank to re-establish proper gas volume. Might be able to add a tapered needle valve between the two to adjust the pressure differential somewhat like the Enzo subtanks do for forks. Another thought would be to design a super short spin-on adapter with a 90 degree feature for installing the SDI kit sideways like Yamaha. All very doable but not likely to see in production due to lack of demand.

 

[TCMB371]

I'd probably replace the SDI upper cap with a very low profile cap and add a remote tank to re-establish proper gas volume. Might be able to add a tapered needle valve between the two to adjust the pressure differential somewhat like the Enzo subtanks do for forks. Another thought would be to design a super short spin-on adapter with a 90 degree feature for installing the SDI kit sideways like Yamaha. All very doable but not likely to see in production due to lack of demand.

I love your thinking, Mark! That sounds totally trick.