Risse Racing shock service

Risse Racing shocks don't have a bleed port and rely on fast assembly to minimize air in the shock, so it's virtually impossible not to have some air mixed with the oil. The solution is assembling the shock immersed in suspension oil. It would be messy and expensive to fill a small bucket with oil, but there's a trick to making it easier.

First, clean the inside and outside of the shock very well. Then fill the body of the shock with oil, the fill a gallon Ziploc bag with about 1/2 to 3/4 quart of suspension oil, place both halves of the shock in the bag, and press all out the air and seal the bag. Have someone hold a corner of the bag, or clamp it in a vise, to free both your hands.

Now assemble two halves of the shock through the bag, making sure not to let any residual air in the bag into the shock. Make sure to "burp" both halves of the shock before assembly to get any residual air out. Get the two halves as tight as you make them by hand; it'll be enough to keep oil from leaking out. The oil will eventually soften the Ziploc bag, so don't take too long.

Once the shock is reassembled, open a corner of the bag, pour the unused oil back into the bottle, remove the shock, snug the gland nut, and clean it up well with alcohol.

The shock needs to be bled with the air chamber pressurized, however, then the design of the shock traps an air bubble under the IFP, which is released once the shock cycles. I found the easiest way to deal with it is bleeding the shock, releasing the pressure and cycling it with the shock upside down, pressurizing it, and loosening the gland nut, putting it back in the Ziploc filled with oil, separate the shock to release the air bubble, and finish bleeding it again.

NOTE: Many of the bottles of suspension oil I've used, even brand new bottles, have sediment on the bottom, so be aware when pouring it into the bag.