I took delivery of a shiny brand new shock the other day, but from previous experience and a lack of an oily sheen on the shaft I’d like to check how much oil there is in the air can before riding it. However I can’t get the air can off!

Where would you get a rubber strap wrench from locally? Screwfix don’t seem to do them, which leaves me immediately out of ideas. Motor factors? Other DIY places?

I use an oil filter strap wrench. Halfords etc.

Kitchen ware shop, one of those things to remove lids from glass jars

I use an inner tube to get a better grip on the air can.

old inner tube would do the trick.

Never had one that needed a wrench on it. Try manning up… 😉

I tried an inner tube, but the piggyback bit of the shock (’tis a Monarch RC3) stops you getting your hand round it properly. Could I bodget a strap wrench out of an inner tube and some pliers or something? Hmmm.

(Failing this, any other sneaky tips that might help would be grand…)

RP23 came off by hand…

Kayak23 – I work with computers, I have girly soft hands… 🙄

he he…computers huh?
Maybe ask your mum to do it? 😉

In all seriousness, go to somewhere like Robert Dyas, and they have those strap things for opening jars. That would probably be spot on..

Vice
2 bits of wood
Clamp shock
Screwdriver in eyelet

Job jobbed. 🙂

There are lots to choose from on ebay.

Have you tried compressing the shock by hand a few times, with as much air out as possible then seeing if you can get any more air out.

If the air can is very tight it normally means there is some air stil in it 😉

A leather belt can sometimes work!