Motor Trike Air Suspension Air Bag Replacement

[3W-lonerider]

if you get the push in fittings, they do work great. and i also agree make sure you cut them at 90 degrees. once cut take a little piece of sand paper to go over the end of the tube. any little lip or burr on that tube will cut the oring in the fitting.

 

[powerclocks]

IMHO, push fit fittings are the way to go. They work very well and are simple to use. You just have to be careful and make clean 90⁰ cuts to the hose. Obviously the fittings directly to airbags will be screw-in on one side but can have push fit on side where hose attaches. There are quite a few kits on Amazon that come with the fittings, hose, and cutter for reasonable price. I'm not sure though what would be needed to connect that compressor to the air line but there are also many different fittings available on Amazon as well.

Amazon.com : airbag suspension parts fittings

Thanks for that, I did buy a Chinese Kit off eBay along with other bits, As usual I overthink things and this is turning into more than I wanted it to be. "Never before was Simplicity so Complicated" I have no desire to variable adjust pressure on the go, all I want is a air bag system that I can top up if required either when starting first thing or whilst riding and with a capability of latching the compressor on if a slow leak threatens to ruin a ride.

I want to utilize wireless pressure gauges on all air points, on the front and both rear wheels and for the air bag setup with a view screen on the bars, I want a handlebar control switch and I want the compressor to have big readable digital readout and be variable but only when stationary. I think I have achieved all this but only in the fitting up will I know if I got it right and on a very tight budget, all this can be done easily if you have a bottomless wallet and are prepared to let the local workshop work it out for you, I hope to do the lot for a bit less than $600.00aud including the ($355.00 aud) bags delivered. Any constructive criticism is welcome along with better ideas?

 

[powerclocks]

if you get the push in fittings, they do work great. and i also agree make sure you cut them at 90 degrees. once cut take a little piece of sand paper to go over the end of the tube. any little lip or burr on that tube will cut the oring in the fitting.

Thanks for that, I was thinking of using a pencil sharpener to taper the front edge but sandpaper may be easier to handle.

 

[pwhoever]

Thanks for that, I was thinking of using a pencil sharpener to taper the front edge but sandpaper may be easier to handle.

I wouldn't taper the front edge. The squared off air line is what gets grabbed inside the fittings. And that's why a clean 90⁰ cut is necessary. You taper it and it's likely to not get fully grabbed inside the fitting and continually pop out causing you issues. I did nothing when I installed the air lines on my truck other then insuring it was a clean 90⁰ cut. I could see lightly, and I do mean lightly sanding having some benefits as the air line is pretty smooth.

 

[3W-lonerider]

I wouldn't taper the front edge. The squared off air line is what gets grabbed inside the fittings. And that's why a clean 90⁰ cut is necessary. You taper it and it's likely to not get fully grabbed inside the fitting and continually pop out causing you issues. I did nothing when I installed the air lines on my truck other then insuring it was a clean 90⁰ cut. I could see lightly, and I do mean lightly sanding having some benefits as the air line is pretty smooth.

i agree with the tapering part. the reason i suggested sanding the edge is because it all depends on what you cut the airline with. if its airline cutters then there shouldn't be anything to sand off. even a razor blade would accomplish that. but i have seen guys grab side cuts to cut airline which creates a sharp edge on the end. and that would deffinatly damage the internal oring in that fitting. but yes i would not taper that end.

 

[powerclocks]

I received my Air Bags today, I must say they look identical to the ones I already have on the bike,I will do a temp fit up tomorrow and show a couple of pictures, I have more parts coming to set up my pressure adjuster switch and pump that needs a bit of fiddling to make it do what I want it to along with the pressure sensors on each wheel so things will start happening quick now. I will give some measurements of the Air Bags I bought and show the bits I bought to set them up, it may help someone else get their bags done without involving a dealership. DIY in this case is way cheaper.