Sphere life

Anything about BXs
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Jaba
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Sphere life

Post by Jaba »

Conventional wisdom is that spheres have a limited life of 3 to 5 years before we should think of replacing them and that unused spheres slowly lose their pressure.

Well I ripped off the spheres from two of my BXs and drove the third BX up to Westroen a few weeks back to get them all tested and or replaced as most of them had been fitted since 2005. But I only needed to replace two of them as the rest still had good pressure left and also a pair of new unused rear spheres dated 04/06 still had the full 40bar left in them. According to Westroen they do not lose pressure when idle it is only using them that causes the pressure to get slowly dissipated.

The GTi rears fitted 3 years ago have probably done 20k miles and have a hard life on mountain roads in the Alps every year but had only lost 10 bar and were down to 30 which means they are still usable for a few more years.

The fronts on the TD estate, fitted 08/06 were only down to 40 from 55 and obviously still good for a few more years.

So all in all an interesting visit which has left me far less concerned about the pressure left in the spheres whether new or old.
The Joy of BX with just one Citroën BX to my name now. Will I sing Bye Bye to my GTI or will it be Till death us do part.
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Post by MULLEY »

I've been to Westroen a couple of times & i've found them extremely helpful. Were all the spheres original citroen one's, or clone's that you got tested? Westroen from memory only use citroen one's as they are the best quality for re-gassing.
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Jaba
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Post by Jaba »

They bought a large job lot of genuine spheres and that is why that is all they sell. There is no real quality difference, they said, between the different makes. My spheres are mostly Amtek and seem to have done well by exceeding my expectations.
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Post by Kitch »

Mine have been on since 2005 too. I don\'t read too much into it, I just replace them when the ride turns shite!
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Post by Wooscary »

I turned up at Westroen at few months ago expecting to be told I needed regassing (well, not me personally), but nope, I too was told that they were fine.
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Post by Defender110 »

How do they test them, do they take them all off and put them on a pressure gauge and how much do they charge if all is fine?
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Post by Jaba »

Yep, they take them off the car and put them on a LHM powered pressure tester for no charge. Recharging is £14 or new sphere for £30.
Its a good service for the likes of us.
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Post by Defender110 »

That's a brilliant service, spot on to Westeron ^^ ^^
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1992 TZD Turbo Estate - SORN
1991 Gti 16V - Blaze - crash damaged, will get repaired - SORN
1990 Gti 8Valve SOLD - looks like it's been scrapped
2002 Mini Cooper S - SOLD - i miss this car
1992 TXD - Scrapped in March 2014
1988 CX 25 GTI Turbo2 - SORN
1996 - AX Memphis 1.5D - Dream - SORN
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Post by MULLEY »

They also come with a 3yr warranty which beats citroens own 2 yr warranty :D
2002 C5 2.0 HDI Estate - Jasmine - Now SORN
2011 Mini Cooper D Clubman - SOLD
2016 Mercedes A180D Sport - Auto refinement
1992 TZD Turbo - Bluebell - My daily
1991 Gti 16V - Blaze - crash damaged, will get repaired.
1990 Gti 8Valve SOLD - looks like it's been scrapped
2002 Mini Cooper S - SOLD - i miss this car
1992 TXD - Scrapped in March 2014
1988 CX 25 GTI Turbo2 - SORN
1996 - AX Memphis 1.5D - Dream - SORN

I'm not just a username, i'm also called Matthew.
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Post by philhod »

:) I used them once or I should say Dek had them done for me while I was working abroad, as the ride had become indeed shite.
He was very impressed with the service at the time (2003)
I only replaced those 3 years ago but I bought new ones from Europarts at
£18-50 each. The change over is simple enough and only takes 45 minutes for all 4. A bit longer if you change the accy sphere.
67 and still rockin (but not in a chair)
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