Shock fluid?

[trainguy]

What type of fluid do you use to refill ford leaver shocks? Phil

 

[keith oh]

Mac's Ford sells it, part #18099

 

[trainguy]

Thanks,Ilooked in Mac's,must have missed it .Again Thanks Phil

 

[Juergen]

According to the 38-39 Early Ford V-8 Club restoration book, "Some shock absorbers were filled with a blycerin-based shock absorber fluid, M-1046-B, and should havea flat top filler plug, 353054-S. Some were filled with a mineral oil based fluid, M-4633, and should have a tip on the filler plug, 35068-S. In 1939 a sostor oil based fluid was added.... Service Bulletins indicate it is important NOT to mix different types of fluid in the same shock absorber."

I think the latter just recommends draining the old fluid out before adding any new fluid.

 

[Juergen]

Spelling errors: blycerin should be glycerin and sostor should be castor

 

[flatheadfan]

I have always used hydraulic jack oil. It is cheap and readily available, seems to work fine and doesn't leak.

Tom

 

[rotorwrench]

Any mineral based hydraulic fluid should work with adjustments for viscosity. Modern Houdaille type dampers for the old Bell helicopters use MIL-H-5606 hydraulic oil. Modern hydraulics weren't really developed well until just before WWII so they used old world products. After the war they started to develop the modern shocks we use today and even had retrofit kits for the 40s model Ford products.

Kerby