Spheres

[saintjamesy89]

What's the age limit for spheres to be ok to use? My GT came with 3 pairs, two dated 2008, two dated 2003 and two undated but marked on the box as rears.

Can't get them tested until the car is on the road, so for now i'll either have to fit these (sealed non re-gassing types) and make do or buy new ones.

[Defender110]

Unfortunately I would say iy is pure luck of the draw. They may be perfectly sealed and hold full pressure they may have leaked a littyle pressure. You will never know without trying or testing them. Personally i would have no qualms about trying any of them if they are new old stock.

[mat_fenwick]

Personally i would have no qualms about trying any of them if they are new old stock.

Same here - I know it's often mentioned not to use old spheres but I don't actually know of anyone who has used them and found there to be a problem!

[MULLEY]

The only way to know is to either fit them to your car & you can do the bounce test or connect them upto a sphere tester which will let you know how much pressure they are holding & therefore their health. I'm guessing that fitting is probably the way forward for you you, unless you know of anyone localish that has a sphere tester?

Personally, when buying spheres (unless they are Westroen one's), i just won't buy old spheres, it reduces the risk of them being flat or not lasting as long, thats just me though.

[saintjamesy89]

Will fit them and see. Thing is they came with the car, obviously been in it for a while as most of them are still in taped up boxes (as they were delivered I suppose) and when opened they were all mouldy!

[MULLEY]

If they've never been fitted to a car, then there is a fairly good chance that they'll be fine, once fitted though, for some reason they can then lose pressure, i'm sure there was an explanation of why this might happen on this forum a while ago now.

[citronut]

you can check if the bladder is inflated but not how much pressure it contains by feeding a thin piece of the likes of locking wire into the hole in the center of the end of the sphere, if the wire only goes in by an inch or there abouts the bladder is inflated,

i have always thought they dont loose much if any pressure whilst on the shelf, or not being worked

regards malcolm

[smiffy1071]

Quite honestly if they retain gas pressure, then they are ok to use no matter how old they are.
Good quality ones can have a shelf life of several decades, while cheap shitty ones can last a lot less.

Personally, I'd fit them, and if the car ISN'T rock solid, then they are ok to use.

[Tim Leech]

As Smiffy says, fit them and see how they go, as youve got them already they will cost you nothing!

[andycadabra]

Just bought and fitted a pair of 'XL' reconditioned spheres from a motor spares shop who put them on gumtree at £10 each. There was no date mentioned on the sphere or the box , but one side appears to be noticeably harder than the other, so maybe is past its use by date.
I still haven't bled the system fully - I don't suppose this could be something that resolves itself when the hydraulic system settles down?

[MULLEY]

Are they identical spheres? If the outside dimensions are the same, check to see whether the valve is of the same design, if not, that might be the issue, or perhaps one is virtually flat? I'd alway's walk away from any re-conditioned spheres that aren't genuine citroen one's, they don't tend to be as good at holding their re-charge, unless you knew the history from a previous owner who you knew hadn't let them go too flat before they were re-charged & then it probably doesn't matter what make they are.

[andycadabra]

Funny you should mention that about the valve, Mulley, because despite the fact they both have the same part number, according to the sticker on them, the one that appears to be a dud has a 3 mm hole, whereas the good one has a 1 mm hole like the ones that I'd removed.

I have refitted one of the old ones, and will return the 'dud' for a refund.
I'm still curious as to why there is a difference, though..

[JayW]

3mm?!?

IIRC the largest for any BX is 1.75!

[smiffy1071]

That sounds more like an accumulator...

[MULLEY]

I think Smiffy might be onto something.