There actually is very definite procedures for identifying a deficient accumulator. Unfortunately it requires a good high pressure gauge. It also requires enough labor that if you were paying for it it would be cheaper to buy a new accumulator (but not two)

A good accumulator will have the same pressure nitrogen charge as when new. That pressure is stamped on the sphere and read in bar or atmosperes (same thing sorta).

If the sphere was rated at 1000psi (take bars or atmosheres and multiply by 14.2) then it should have 1000psi pressure inside. Since the gas is captive it can't be directly measured but almost. The way to do it is to install the gauge and start the pump. The pressure will instantly go to the pressure of the gas and then slowly build as the sphere is injected with fluid.

On load leveling systems both spheres and both struts are hooked together so testing this way will only rate the worse sphere. To do the test on each sphere the other must be disconnected and the line plugged.

The question then becomes: at what pressure do you throw them away. Beats me!

__________________
Steve Brotherton
Continental Imports
Gainesville FL
Bosch Master, ASE Master, L1
33 years MB technician