It is possible to load the BX so much it doesn't go up!

BX Tech talk
Post Reply
User avatar
hilarystone
BXpert
Posts: 318
Joined: Wed Oct 05, 2011 10:44 pm
Location: Ebbw Vale, Fa and Dihewyd
My Cars: Citroen BX 16V, BX Van 16V, Visa GTI, CX Ambulance Turbo diesel, Xsara VTS Phase 1 and 2, Lotus Elan 1970, Clan Crusader, C8 2l petrol, 1982 GSA Pallas, 1974 GS Birotor
Contact:

It is possible to load the BX so much it doesn't go up!

Post by hilarystone »

I have found today when loading logs into my van its possible to load it so much the suspension does not rise properly! I have never managed to do this to a Citroen hydraulic suspended car before… But it still drove fine without any problems…

Image

Loaded with logs as below.

Image


Removed a few and it went up OK.

Image
Hilary Stone

http://www.Hilarystone.com
Period bikes, frames and parts

1985 Citroen CX Ambulance, 1989 Citroen BX 16V, 1987 Citroen Visa GTI, 2008 Citroen C8 2l petrol, Citroen BX Van 16V, Clan Crusader, 1970 Lotus Elan, Citroen Xsaras VTS phase1 and Phase 2, Citroen GSA, GS Birotor
User avatar
JayW
1K Away
Posts: 1590
Joined: Thu Dec 07, 2006 6:40 pm
Location: Now listen here you mullet...
x 13

Re: It is possible to load the BX so much it doesn't go up!

Post by JayW »

I once loaded a GTi 8V with the back seats down to the roof with paving bricks (in Croydon B&Q car park) and it lifted fine and had no ill effects. I thought tyres would be likely to pop before the suspension did.

I'm sure Mat has stuffed more logs than that in his!
I have zero patience for your tedium.
rutter123
Over 2k
Posts: 2695
Joined: Sun Sep 02, 2012 9:54 pm
Location: South Lincs
My Cars: 90 Bx Tzd turbo ven red 295k
74 D Super 5 black
05 Volvo V50 2.0d 180k
65 Peugeot Boxer work van 280k
x 136

Re: It is possible to load the BX so much it doesn't go up!

Post by rutter123 »

I too have had approx 1000kg in the back of my t/d, with no issues, 35 x 25kg bags of sharp sand and cement (the chap at the builders yard was speechless) and another time 25 bags of compost and regularly a full load of cut logs which weighs in at a half ton ish. Try putting that in the back of your VW golf!! Other cars are available.
90 BX Tzd turbo 294k SORN undergoing major surgery
90 BX Tzd turbo estate 46k awaiting surgery
65 Peugeot Boxer Van the new workhorse
52 Toyota Rav4 180k Bulletproof Jap reliability
User avatar
hilarystone
BXpert
Posts: 318
Joined: Wed Oct 05, 2011 10:44 pm
Location: Ebbw Vale, Fa and Dihewyd
My Cars: Citroen BX 16V, BX Van 16V, Visa GTI, CX Ambulance Turbo diesel, Xsara VTS Phase 1 and 2, Lotus Elan 1970, Clan Crusader, C8 2l petrol, 1982 GSA Pallas, 1974 GS Birotor
Contact:

Re: It is possible to load the BX so much it doesn't go up!

Post by hilarystone »

I do wonder with van whether the hydraulic filters are as clear as they might be – the steering is sometimes a little heavy soon after starting…
Hilary Stone

http://www.Hilarystone.com
Period bikes, frames and parts

1985 Citroen CX Ambulance, 1989 Citroen BX 16V, 1987 Citroen Visa GTI, 2008 Citroen C8 2l petrol, Citroen BX Van 16V, Clan Crusader, 1970 Lotus Elan, Citroen Xsaras VTS phase1 and Phase 2, Citroen GSA, GS Birotor
xantia_v6
BXpert
Posts: 330
Joined: Wed Dec 16, 2015 6:13 pm
Location: here and there
My Cars: Peugeot 308 CC
Citroen XM V6 ES9
Citroen Xantia V6
Jaguar XJ-S V12
x 51

Re: It is possible to load the BX so much it doesn't go up!

Post by xantia_v6 »

I have loaded a Xantia V6 hatchback with concrete bricks until the back would not rise - take one brick out and it came up to normal height, but was terribly bouncy.

Xantia breaks had larger diameter rear ram pistons to increase the load capacity. I don't know if BXs did.
rutter123
Over 2k
Posts: 2695
Joined: Sun Sep 02, 2012 9:54 pm
Location: South Lincs
My Cars: 90 Bx Tzd turbo ven red 295k
74 D Super 5 black
05 Volvo V50 2.0d 180k
65 Peugeot Boxer work van 280k
x 136

Re: It is possible to load the BX so much it doesn't go up!

Post by rutter123 »

BX estates have the fatter rams on the rear to cope with the extra load.
90 BX Tzd turbo 294k SORN undergoing major surgery
90 BX Tzd turbo estate 46k awaiting surgery
65 Peugeot Boxer Van the new workhorse
52 Toyota Rav4 180k Bulletproof Jap reliability
User avatar
themildbunch
BXpert
Posts: 592
Joined: Fri Apr 30, 2010 9:38 pm
Location: Stroud, UK
x 5
Contact:

Re: It is possible to load the BX so much it doesn't go up!

Post by themildbunch »

hilarystone wrote:I do wonder with van whether the hydraulic filters are as clear as they might be – the steering is sometimes a little heavy soon after starting…
This is pretty common - and as the fluid warms it'll get better.. My 16v is like this and I've put hydraflush in it for now... This being thinner should stop the heavy steering and might help clean out the system if you leave it in long enough..
1988 BX 19 Gti 16v
1991 BX 17 TZD Estate
1991 BX 17 TZD Estate
User avatar
Jaba
1K Away
Posts: 1893
Joined: Tue Jul 05, 2005 7:54 am
Location: Usually in the garage
My Cars: BX GTi, C3 Auto
x 80

Re: It is possible to load the BX so much it doesn't go up!

Post by Jaba »

It might be related to the rear hc adjustment. What happens if you raise height lever when the overloaded suspension is not responding ? If nowt perhaps the pump or even the hc have exceeded their best before date.
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.
KevR
1K Away
Posts: 1767
Joined: Mon Apr 12, 2010 8:46 pm
Location: Normandy
My Cars: It's all in my signature
x 4

Re: It is possible to load the BX so much it doesn't go up!

Post by KevR »

A reasonably healthy BX should definitely lift that many logs unless they're green and soaking wet. The only time I've overwhelmed mine was with around 1500 roofing slates. At other times I've had building materials, a JCB back axle and even a whole GSX-R1100 motorbike in the back with no problems.
1990 BX TZD Estate ('the grey one', 1991 BX TZD Estate ('the white one'), 1982 2CV6 Charleston (in bits), 1972 AZU Serie B (2CV van), 1974 HY72 Camper, 1990 Land Rover 110 diesel LWB, 1957 Mobylette AV76, 1992 Ducati 400SS, 1966 VW Beetle, 1990 Mazda MX-5, 1996 Peugeot 106D, 1974 JCB 2D MkII, 1997 BMW R1100RS, 1987 Suzuki GSX-R1100, 1978 Honda CX500A, 1965 Motobecane Cady, 1988 Honda Bros/Africa Twin, 1963 Massey Ferguson 825, and a lot of bicycles!
User avatar
hilarystone
BXpert
Posts: 318
Joined: Wed Oct 05, 2011 10:44 pm
Location: Ebbw Vale, Fa and Dihewyd
My Cars: Citroen BX 16V, BX Van 16V, Visa GTI, CX Ambulance Turbo diesel, Xsara VTS Phase 1 and 2, Lotus Elan 1970, Clan Crusader, C8 2l petrol, 1982 GSA Pallas, 1974 GS Birotor
Contact:

Re: It is possible to load the BX so much it doesn't go up!

Post by hilarystone »

They were green and welsh wet… It did not go up when I moved the height adjustment lever to high…
Hilary Stone

http://www.Hilarystone.com
Period bikes, frames and parts

1985 Citroen CX Ambulance, 1989 Citroen BX 16V, 1987 Citroen Visa GTI, 2008 Citroen C8 2l petrol, Citroen BX Van 16V, Clan Crusader, 1970 Lotus Elan, Citroen Xsaras VTS phase1 and Phase 2, Citroen GSA, GS Birotor
User avatar
mat_fenwick
Moderator
Posts: 7326
Joined: Tue Sep 20, 2005 4:08 pm
Location: North Wales
x 19

Re: It is possible to load the BX so much it doesn't go up!

Post by mat_fenwick »

I've not loaded with as many logs as that; this is about the most:

Image

Rear tyres were a bit sqirmy but otherwise OK. However in 2005 or so I found a BX in a scrapyard with another car on its roof. As the keys were still present I brought in a battery (with the excuse of checking the engine as I was interested in buying it) and started it up purely to see whether the car would rise. It did! However that's likely to be around 1000 kg fairly evenly distributed, so possibly not as taxing as a similar weight solely over the rear.
Image

1993 1.9 TZD Turbo Estate
1996 3.9 V8 Discovery
1993 VW LT35 campervan
1985 Hyundai Stellar V8
2016 Hyundai iLoad
User avatar
rmattila
BXpert
Posts: 412
Joined: Sat Dec 25, 2010 5:00 pm
Location: Finland
Contact:

Re: It is possible to load the BX so much it doesn't go up!

Post by rmattila »

You could calculate the approximate max load by comparing the distance between high and low position of the suspension to the travelling distance of the piston within the cylinder. That ratio is the same as the average ratio of wheel load to cylinder load over the travel.

With 180 bar max pressure and 37 mm piston, the cylinder load is 1935 kg. Use the aforementioned ratio to convert that to max wheel load.
Speechless quad lying flat on his bed, communicating by moving eyes.
BX Van 1.9D -90 Gone.
BX Van 16S -90 For sale.
BX Van 1.9D -90 (Earned!) Gone.
BX Break 1.9D -90 (officially a "5 seat van" since 2005) Waiting to be towed to a new home.
Post Reply