DIY AHC Globe Refill

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lezduit

lezduit

Joined
Jul 17, 2024
Threads
3
Messages
6
Location
San Ramon California
Thinking of ways to refill the globes on an lx470 and/or any ahc globe. The theory is that I can tap two holes for valves on each globe and therefore purge then refill the globes with nitrogen out of a rented nitrogen tank from any welding or gas supply shop. A quick search shows they store nitrogen at about 2-3000 psi so they should fill the globes no problem. Does anyone have any insight as to any problems or what kind of valves to tap for and use? Thanks
 
lezduit said:
Thinking of ways to refill the globes on an lx470 and/or any ahc globe. The theory is that I can tap two holes for valves on each globe and therefore purge then refill the globes with nitrogen out of a rented nitrogen tank from any welding or gas supply shop. A quick search shows they store nitrogen at about 2-3000 psi so they should fill the globes no problem. Does anyone have any insight as to any problems or what kind of valves to tap for and use? Thanks
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Sounds ballsy. Why not just replace the globes?
 
Take pictures...or video :popcorn:
 
Neat idea, but what about the integrity of the rubber membrane? That is also subjected to wear and tear and you wouldnt be able to replace it.
 
Rhetoric said:
Neat idea, but what about the integrity of the rubber membrane? That is also subjected to wear and tear and you wouldnt be able to replace it.
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That too. Eventually you’ll just introduce a bunch of nitrogen in the whole system.
 
TequilaMechanic said:
Agree. The problem we are trying to solve is that the pre charge leaked out. Why did it leak out? Because the bladder failed.
This won’t work without rebuilding bladder.
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Exactly, the nitrogen only has an issue when the rubber has an issue. Sounds like an explosion waiting to happen instead of buying $600 worth of parts and doing it right. Is there some assumption that you’re gonna drill a hole into a globe that’s holding thousands of pounds of pressure because again if there’s no nitrogen, it’s not a nitrogen problem..
 
baltistyle said:
Exactly, the nitrogen only has an issue when the rubber has an issue. Sounds like an explosion waiting to happen instead of buying $600 worth of parts and doing it right. Is there some assumption that you’re gonna drill a hole into a globe that’s holding thousands of pounds of pressure because again if there’s no nitrogen, it’s not a nitrogen problem..
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Got it, I figured that most of the time the rubber is leaking nitrogen slow enough for you to be able to “recharge” the globe and still get some use out of it. As for the globes internal pressure, they come factory at about 330 psi and would likely be less as they age so I wasn’t too worried about a rupture. But I think you’re right that it is a better solution to just buy new globes.
 
This seems like a great example of not respecting the integrity of the problem at hand.

Yes, you could drill the globe body and attach valves to fill to 300-400 psi. Do those newly drilled valves stand a chance at sealing perfectly for a decade? No, not remotely. Never mind the degrading membrane that is sometimes dissolving into the fluid before anyone knows it's failed.

The cost of new globes is a rounding error in the grand scheme of the cost of creating a refilling solution that would last 25% as long as actual replacement globes.

A cool experiment maybe, but not a functional solution to a $600 set of globes from Toyota/Lexus/Citroen.
 
And while the nitrogen may be that pressure when it’s not in the car, add the weight of the car ( since process will likely not be followed) and we’re talking about way more pressure under compression.

Op, looks like you now understand the danger and unlikely nature of a home repair. We are here to help when you get the new globes.
 
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