Penton Owners Group

General Discussion => Penton Talk => Topic started by: tvrc18 on March 19, 2009, 10:40:57 PM

Title: yellow Bilsteins
Post by: tvrc18 on March 19, 2009, 10:40:57 PM
Do the old yellow bodied Bilsteins have to be run in the upside position or can they be used shaft on top?
Terry
Title: yellow Bilsteins
Post by: tvrc18 on March 23, 2009, 11:19:03 AM
WOW, read 115 times with out a reply. Did no one use these yellow shocks or no info on correct position?
Terry
Title: yellow Bilsteins
Post by: firstturn on March 23, 2009, 11:45:15 AM
Terry,
  Back in the 1970's (1974 to be exact) I saw these ran both ways.  I know the fast guys in Houston ran them upside down for less unsprung weight and they worked great.  I did not ever use them as we were using Koni and Zokes.

Conclusion: Run them upside down until I talk to some of the old guys this week.

Ron Carbaugh
Title: yellow Bilsteins
Post by: tvrc18 on March 23, 2009, 12:35:55 PM
Thanks Ron.
Title: yellow Bilsteins
Post by: rob w on March 23, 2009, 10:01:50 PM
Those were the first shocks I remember seeing that had to be ran upside down from conventional. At least that's what everyone said. Were they not notorious for the dampening being too stiff.
Title: yellow Bilsteins
Post by: tvrc18 on March 24, 2009, 03:28:32 PM
I did notice on Bruce Herbison's fine looking steel tank that was on the home page for quite some time has them mounted in the convential position. I am not sure on the dampening being to stiff, they do seem to be smooth and have a nice feel.
Terry
Title: yellow Bilsteins
Post by: Larry Perkins on March 24, 2009, 05:56:05 PM
The original gas Bilsteins will pump themselves out of oil and good damping in the traditional upright position.  They were designed to be run upside down.  Unfortunately they were also apparently designed to blow way too soon as we never got a pair through too many races in a forward mount or layed down position back in "The Day".

Larry P
Title: yellow Bilsteins
Post by: firstturn on March 24, 2009, 07:58:49 PM
Terry,
  Upside down as The Perkins said.  And Larry's description on the quality is correct too.

Ron Carbaugh
Title: yellow Bilsteins
Post by: tvrc18 on March 25, 2009, 08:08:30 AM
Thanks for the input, I am going to use them on a short travel bike, maybe a steel tanker so they might hold up for a short while. I remember they worked good on the 3 to 4 inch travel bikes back then but I never used them sticking with Koni or Curnutts. Now that was a good shock in my opinion, the Curnutts. Would love to have a 13 to 13.5 inch pair of those.
Terry
Title: yellow Bilsteins
Post by: Mike Lenz on March 26, 2009, 05:59:40 PM
It doesnt matter.  They wont last long enough before blowing the seals that will matter! I have some that need seals.  Anybody rebuilding these with good seals?