Will Buy A Xm

Hi Caique,

Regarding sphere pressure measurement and recharging with nitrogen.

When in use on the car the nitrogen pressure in all the spheres falls slowly due to loss of gas escaping via diffusion and leakage. As a very general rule on a regularly used XM the sphere pressures will have fallen significantly after 2 to 3 years use. The normal practice is to either fit brand new spheres (from Citroen or other aftermarket suppliers) or alternatively from a supplier of recharged 2nd hand spheres (The UK company 'Pleiades' is a pioneer in this area).

Not many people recharge their own spheres but it is possible to do it SAFELY with the right kit.

For DIY there is a device described by NOZ in the self help files. See http://club-xm.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=316

Alternatively the Italian company TECNOSIR sells (Citroen approved) equipment which allows you to recharge spheres whilst they are on the car. Basically the sealing plug on the sphere is replaced by a one way ball valve and plug. Details at their website http://www.tecnosir.com/

The facility to measure sphere pressures is very useful and both NOZ and myself have built simple test rigs. See NOZ's article at http://club-xm.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=287
My tester is shown at http://club-xm.com/forum/index.php?showto...t=0&#entry14935
Also see http://club-xm.com/forum/index.php?showto...t=0&#entry15045
Also see http://club-xm.com/forum/index.php?showto...t=0&#entry15046
Also see http://www.mars.dti.ne.jp/~ynar/bxorg_archives/t03/t03e.html

I'm sure all the above will give you food for thought!!

Ken

This post has been edited by kenhall1202 on September 21, 2008 05:14 pm

Jan-Hendrik wrote "What's the ORGA number of your car? To be able to answer questions like yours this reference is necessary. I've mentioned that before. Incidentally, I seem to be the only one here who lists this number in my signature"

No you're not. But mine is listed under RP number.

The forum has a neat search function. But what you need is here:
http://club-xm.com/forum/index.php?showto...=cruise+control

Hello

For 14 days I've been traveling. I remembered all of you a lot, even without seeing a single Citroen for two weeks. In USA there are no french cars. In the air & space museum (Smithsonian) in Washington DC, I took this picture, only to post here, green spheres in the space!!!

Cheers

Caique

Interesting stuff - but what are they in actual fact!
Sure you weren't all just watching the derriere of that girl!?

Andrew

This post has been edited by Andmcit on October 05, 2008 11:57 pm

Its a gate to space, the spheres as in other devices seams to pressurize "things" like door seal, air trap- to avoid air to scape, etc

Diode

My PCB is different from the one used in this forum for explanation, so I imagine placing a diode like the pic, using the wires. Am I wright?

thanks

Caique

Time to show improvements

This forum is not only a school, it's a family!!!
I say thanks again to all of you, for your efforts trying to help everyone here.
As a conclusion of all said here, I could fix almost all problems on my XM.
When I started a topic saying I Will buy "A" XM, I supposed the car was in mint condition, but some issues appeared. After two months reading what you have posted here, I learned how to treat her, well at least how to give her some flowers and chocolate!!!
The susp, engine, steering, hidraulics and everything else but the rear spheres are now a state of art. The magic carpet is back again thanks to two inexpensive diodes and your help, the front struts are very thight and safe due to a chain as you'll see on the pics, I used a chain and a heater hose; transmission I didn't even touch and is working great (no ATF change).
All I want now is to have an opportunity to go to Europe and know you all personally!!!

Cheers from Brasil

Caique

This post has been edited by cmacedo on October 22, 2008 04:14 am

Hi Caique

Regarding the chain, it shouldn't hug the struts top bracket with any kind of strenght, in fact the top moves right/left at a degree that's very visible to the eye when you turn the steering, and also it moves up/down absorbing some of the road's roughness. This chain should lay very-very relaxed over the top...can't see well in your photo but seems tight?

cheers
George

Hi Guys,

if you have a parts car you can very easily build a sphere tester with parts on hand .... I did

http://www.shanescitshed.com/spheretester/spheretester.htm



I'd love to make a recharger, but I don't see how I could until I get a lathe someday !

seeya,
Shane L.

Nice rig you built yourself there
If only I had a few hundred square metres of space next to my property I would do all these things you are doing. Beginning with getting a spare XM. These can be had dirt cheap these days here too. Just saw a 1997 V6 on offer for 10,000 yen! Nothing wrong with it apparently. What a waste
But we can all wish . . . You need to be satisfied with what you've got, eh?

This post has been edited by Jan-hendrik on October 22, 2008 11:49 am

Hi

Today I changed tire pressure from 32 to 30 front rear still 26, what do you think?
Our roads are not so even!!!

I think therecommended pressure for my Xm (on 195.65.15s) is 32 front and 27 rear.

That strikes me as a little low, im not sure if my tyres have weak sidewalls but they look too soft, especially 27 on the rear.

Also when 'pressing on' the front tyres seem to roll over too much, so i think a little more pressure helps that. Although granted it may make the ride a tiny bit harder.

So i have mine set to 34 front and 31 rear.

I may reduce them to the stated pressure and see how i get on.

This post has been edited by Citroenmad on October 25, 2008 05:48 pm

Sphere test

I had rear spheres tested last week, until now I didn't understand how the mechanic did it. He pressurised to 35BAR and the gauge showed a drop very fast, lets say 3 seconds. Can you please explain whats the mechanism and procedure to test them?

thanks

Caique

With my limited sphere knowledge:

My dad and me regassed the Xms spheres yesterday, (he used to be a citroen specialist) so we have all the gear needed to do it.

Firstly you need to test the spheres pressure, we have a rig which the sphere screws on to, you then pump a handle and when the pressure stops rising thats whats in the sphere.

Or another way, you obviously need a gas bottle and gauges with the fixing nipples to attatch to the sphere. You can slowly pressure a sphere and when you see the needle on the gauge stop thats how much pressure is in the sphere, you can then correct the pressure to the recommended psi. This way is easier if the sphere is in an awkward place and hard to remove.

Ours were only a tiny bit down as we keep regular checks on them, but we upped the rear pressure to 40bar in boths spheres, 68bar in the rear soft sphere (that was down to 48bar) and i think we put 75 in the front soft sphere. Also regassed the acc. sphere, but i forget what we put in that.

The ride is very much improved now. It was good before but its silky smooth now! The sports setting it still pretty much the same, providing great handling and very little body lean in corners. A quick blast down a twisty country road really showed the difference.

We have 4 speed bumps at the top of our road, they are long drawn out ones, most cars you need to slow to 10-15mph or its a bit sudden, you dont even notice them in the xm at 30, its quite unreal!

The ride is softer than before, so im impressed, its very very comfortable but maintains the handling.

This post has been edited by Citroenmad on October 29, 2008 01:21 pm