remove shock without taking off exhaust ..

[Geordie]

First off Hope ye all have a good new year and are havin a dram the nicht ..
Was planning on removing the shock on my Storm this winter as I have split the spring height seat / adjuster when trying to turn it about nine months ago .. slightly dodgy riding around with it like this, so looked in to taking it out and fitting something newer / better / more easier adjustable shock. Right now Id settle for a working standard replacement as all aftermarket shocks seem to be extortionate .. !
My question / problem is that it appears I must dismantle the whole exhaust system to be able to extract the shock. Has anybody managed to get it out with having to fanny about with the front downpipe ? .. as I know for a fact I will have seized studs in there and tbh I can't be arsed with the whole start a wee job ending up in major machining and tapping new holes, etc ..
Any ideas ?

Cheers

Happy New Year

Geordie

[vtrsteve]

last time I took the shock off I certainly didn't remove the exhaust headers, just undo the suspension linkages underneath and the top bolt and it should all drop out the bottom IIRC. Take the time to clean and regrease all the bearings etc while you're at it. You'll need something to hold the back end of the bike up in the air tho.

[tony.mon]

First the good news:

I have a good workable spare for £15 plus p+p.

Now the not so good news, yes- ish.
As Steve says,
you can do it, but it's easier if you remove the swingarm, rear wheel, and linkages.
Alternative method, loosen the wiring harness and unbolt the rear subframe, undo linkages and top shock mount and it'll come out that way.
You'd also have to remove the battery, rear plastics, rear light, undertray, and a few other odds and sods.

Do-able, though.

But really, the easiest way is to bite the bullet and get the seized studs snapped off, drilled out and replaced. It'll probably be quicker in the end, and saves having to strap the bike to the ceiling if you use a block above the back tyre to hold the subframe up.

Sooner or later you're going to have to sort the studs anyway.....

[AMCQ46]

As others have said, take the linkage off and the shock can be lowered out through the bottom......but you obviously can't use a padlock stand, before I got an abba stand I used axle stands under the foot rest plates (where the exhausts are mounted) to hold the bike up when the shock was removed.

You can get the shock off by removing both silencers and link pipes, but you also have to slacken the joint in the rear down pipe as the lower shock bolt has been put in from the exhaust side, and although you can get it undone, you can't get the bolt out without a bit of "persuasion" to leverage the pipe away from the bolt.
When you put it back together, put the bolt in from the other side, then you never have the problem again.

Might be easier as said above if you remove all the linkage, then you don't have the problem removing the lower bolt in situ, but still remember to put in in from the other side when you rebuild, it makes it 100 times easier to remove

[Geordie]

.. mm thanks for thr quick replies guys..

Yes hadnt thought of taking the whole swingarm off, which would obviously generate lots of space, but again such a lot of hassle just to take out one component .. grr
After years of mucking about and maintaining old cars and the like I am very much of the attitude if it ain't broke don't go anywhere near it .. !!! I always read of so many simple jobs very fast becoming a nightmare .. just don't have the time or patience for all these damn unforseen issues ..

Think I will explore the swingarm removal as option number one .. studs can stay where they are !!
Incidentally managed to get the linkage bolts slackened and all bolts are in great condition and moved freely, just not far enough to actually drop out due to obstruction by the exhaust .. ! No sign of seizure and my bike is '97 R, has 32000miles, riden in winter all weathers with no hugger, was quite surprised.

So im thinking wheel off, chain out the way, hang bike from frame, undo long swingarm bolt, slide out, whole contramption should fall apart .. dae fine.
Cheers folks.
Away to get changed for the pub(s)
Have a good one.
Geordie

[nora2004]

The easiest way i found when I was Richard about with my new shock was to simply get a nice big chunk of wood, cut it down to size to fit between the swinger and rear subframe, wedge it in and remove the shock and linkages from the bottom! This way you can use a rear paddock stand and keep the bike nice and stable!

Only downside is when refitting it you'll need a friend to lift the rear end up for like a second so you can slip in the bottom bolt in the shock!

Used this method about 8 times now whilst I was setting the rear ride height on mine!

However if this is the first time the linkages have been removed, you'll have a nightmare of time getting the linkages off as the bearing tube and bolt will be practically welded together with rust!

Infact Id just order the bearings now as they will need to be replaced! From your name Im guessing your from the north east area? If so, just give GT Bearings a bell with the bearing numbers or sizes and they'll get em in for ya for a fraction of the price Honda want!

[sirch345]

.. mm thanks for thr quick replies guys..

Yes hadnt thought of taking the whole swingarm off, which would obviously generate lots of space, but again such a lot of hassle just to take out one component .. grr
After years of mucking about and maintaining old cars and the like I am very much of the attitude if it ain't broke don't go anywhere near it .. !!! I always read of so many simple jobs very fast becoming a nightmare .. just don't have the time or patience for all these damn unforseen issues ..

Think I will explore the swingarm removal as option number one .. studs can stay where they are !!
Incidentally managed to get the linkage bolts slackened and all bolts are in great condition and moved freely, just not far enough to actually drop out due to obstruction by the exhaust .. ! No sign of seizure and my bike is '97 R, has 32000miles, riden in winter all weathers with no hugger, was quite surprised.

So im thinking wheel off, chain out the way, hang bike from frame, undo long swingarm bolt, slide out, whole contramption should fall apart .. dae fine.
Cheers folks.
Away to get changed for the pub(s)
Have a good one.
Geordie

Geordie,

I know what you're saying, but in this case it is worth servicing the rear end (as in this link below) as it could just save your life:-
http://www.vtr1000.org/phpBB3/viewtopic ... 31&t=11809

Chris.

[Kev L]

You not out on the razz tonight Chris? You are making way too much sense to all these posts! Happy New Year fella.

[sirch345]

You not out on the razz tonight Chris? You are making way too much sense to all these posts! Happy New Year fella.

Ah yes those were the days A Happy New Year to you as well Kev

Chris.

[Geordie]

Update for interest
Managed to wrangle the complete shock unit and still attached top mount bracket from the rear of the bike by simply taking out the swingarm bolt and dropping it to the ground .. Lots simpler that exhaust removal .. All bushes and pivots really good nick and moving freely which was good to see ..
The reason for removal is due to the aluminium collar for adjusting the ride height has in fact split and was about to spring off which may have resulted in collapsed suspension by the looks .. Not so good .. Anyhow .. Anybody ever managed to rig up a remotely adjustable shock from another bike to fit .. ?

[Wicky]

http://www.vtr1000.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=21459

http://www.vtr1000.org/phpBB3/memberlis ... ile&u=1909

[Geordie]

yeah thanks I read through some of these .. it seems he has made an extention for the shock so that it fits the firestorm mounts. I am thinking it may be better to make up a top mount bracket with a 40mm block spacer and a longer bolt so to bring the top mounting point downwards from the frame saddle as there is little movement in the top bush I don't see any problems.. I guess the spring would have to be designed for both the shock and the firestorm leverage in terms of spring rate and length .. ? The only question really is .. is there enough travel on the cbr shock to accomodate all the suspension travel on the firestorms swingarm .. given the geometry of the suspension linkages will most probably be different between the cbr and the vtr .. ? Or surely there are other mono shocks that have remote adjusters that are a closer match in terms of length .. ?
Any thoughts .. or new thread .. ?!
G

[Wicky]

Or surely there are other mono shocks that have remote adjusters that are a closer match in terms of length .. ?

http://www.superhawkforum.com/forums/te ... post196265

There's plenty of shortier ones, hence why he uses the quite common F4i shock.

He can respring for different rider weights

http://www.superhawkforum.com/forums/te ... post196015

[Geordie]

Thanks guys ..
Yes read most of this somewhere before..
Pity hes in the states .. I'm sure there are companies in the uk who could make up a custom spring to suit you and bike and mods .. But I'm guessing the cost may be a much as a hagon replacement shock .. Hmm

Ps how would a storm look in cafe racer guise .. ?

[Wicky]

http://www.vtr1000.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=18629