Outer Limits 4x4 Board

Took off one of my pro comp shocks ( can't remember type but they are the basic non adjustable ones) the other day and while off the car it opens to full extension by it self. I then had to put force on it to close it to get it back on the car.
I'm no expert on shocks but in my experience they should be neutral.
What exactly is wrong with it if anything?
and is this common

thats a good sign that it fully opend by its self
and was hard to close
means there is not fluid leaks inside

when iut becomes easy to push down and pull up thens its fucked

nothing wrong with that buddy,
pop it back in and off u go

Its when they have the resistance of a pushbike pump they are fawked

can ya tell without taking them out?

So it is ok for a shock to be full extension with pressure and require pressure to close half way to fit to car. (as in if I close it fully it will open fully by itself. It is still hard to open by hand (is in make it open quicker than by itself) so ther must be a fair bit of pressure to force itself open.
The valving must still be working as I can here it struggle as it opens.

Last two sets of shock I have had (monroe and tough dog) Just stay where they are, and require pressure to move them.
unlike this case where there is a pressure making them open on there own.?
I'm very confused that everyone says this is ok. Why are they different.

Most gas pressurised will open by their self (not real fast just rises slowly). They are then generally hard to push in.
Leaf ones a bit easier.

This is not a way to check a shock only a general feel.

Bazzle

Bilsteins caught me out this way. Put shock on bottom of car, rotated top to line it up with the mount, and suddenly it started extending itself with quite a good degree of strength.
Since the one I'd just taken off the car blew itself apart when I removed it, by extending itself into two parts with a great blast of oil in all directions, I was quite perturbed to put it mildly. Imagining any second to have $300 worth of brand new shock do the self-destruct I'd just seen on the one I replaced. But it only extended so far, then it stopped.

The Bilsteins seemed to have a lock that was released when the top and bottom were rotated slightly. Is that the norm?

My Pro-Comps shocks did exactly the same thing bruiser. I was a little worried as well, but they're fine. Bit of a pain to install them when they're fully extended as compressing them under the vehicle is hard.

Like most have said this is how they are supposed to react. Infact this is exactly how they are when brand new out of the packaging. When in their packing they are compressed and held that way with a wire from eye to eye. When they are unpacked and wire removed they open up

Thanks guys. I will be able to sleeps toninght.
Never scene this before.
Out of interest why did my tough dog big bores not behave like this nor the monroes?

Gas shocks will extend, foam cell will not.