how to easily compress your shock springs

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sunnbobb
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how to easily compress your shock springs

#1

Post by sunnbobb »

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1978 Learning Experience
1980 County Road Hauler "Brain Damage"
1978 Cafe Custom Gl1000 "Vyper"
1977 Bulldog Inspired "Vaincre"
1981 Street Fighter GL1100 "No Quarter"
1983 Supercharged Street Drag "Anubis" (in worx)
1983 gl1100 mint restoration "Kristen"
1985 Aspencade..pondering.
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robin1731
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Re: how to easily compress your shock springs

#2

Post by robin1731 »

Sorry but that just doesn't look too safe to me. Something like this http://www.ebay.com/itm/Laser-4764-Moto ... c2&vxp=mtr works much easier. And doesn't cost that much.
1976 Goldwing Super Sport
1985 Honda Elite
1976 KZ900 Dragbike
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Re: how to easily compress your shock springs

#3

Post by sunnbobb »

Rob, I have used click tighteners for lots of things and never had one fail on me. Holding a ton of glass against a rack, pulling two framing members together, etc.The trick is knowing how to loosen them smoothly. You can buy a set for around 15 bucks that will be more than enough to do a bike spring.
I found the end of the internet

---- Bradshaw Bikes custom polishing for your wing. Visit us on facebook!

1978 Learning Experience
1980 County Road Hauler "Brain Damage"
1978 Cafe Custom Gl1000 "Vyper"
1977 Bulldog Inspired "Vaincre"
1981 Street Fighter GL1100 "No Quarter"
1983 Supercharged Street Drag "Anubis" (in worx)
1983 gl1100 mint restoration "Kristen"
1985 Aspencade..pondering.
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robin1731
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Re: how to easily compress your shock springs

#4

Post by robin1731 »

I trust you. It just looks spooky. ;)
1976 Goldwing Super Sport
1985 Honda Elite
1976 KZ900 Dragbike
1992 ZX7 Dragbike (KZ900 style motor w/NOS)
and a rotation of various purchases
Randakk approved Carb Rebuilder
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Oldewing
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Re: how to easily compress your shock springs

#5

Post by Oldewing »

I have done the same with "big" zip ties :shock: :shock: :shock:


Spooky, yes, but it worked.
82 GL1100 Interstate-Oldewing October 23 BOTM
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delling3
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Re: how to easily compress your shock springs

#6

Post by delling3 »

I have a setup that works great for me. Go to the hardware store and pick up a couple of rigging turnbuckles, a couple of S-hooks, and a threaded rod or bolt about 2" long, with some matching nuts and washers. Install the turn buckles on either side of the lower clevis using the bolt/nuts/washers. Then unscrew the turnbuckle to an appropriate length, and use the S-hooks to connect the top of the turnbuckle to the springs. Tighten the turnbuckles a few turns at a time to compress the spring evenly on both sides.

Total cost of about $10. It has worked great for me during the restoration of two different sets of shocks.
delling3

1979 Yamaha XS750SF

Previous:
1978 GL1000 - JUNE 2017 BOTM: Sold
2006 Kawasaki Concours: Sold
1995 Kawasaki Concours: Crashed/totalled.
1976 GL1000: LAST RESTORATION, sold
1981 Honda CB900F Supersport: 3rd restoration, sold.
1979 Yamaha XS-750F: 2nd restoration, sold.
1982 Honda FT-500 Ascot: First (only) new bike. Family forces sale.
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Roady
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Re: how to easily compress your shock springs

#7

Post by Roady »

Slick!
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Re: how to easily compress your shock springs

#8

Post by sunnbobb »

Update: An even easier way. Autozone has a program for renting tools. They sell you a spring compressor, let you use it, and return it with no hassle. They have a lot tools they will do this with.
I found the end of the internet

---- Bradshaw Bikes custom polishing for your wing. Visit us on facebook!

1978 Learning Experience
1980 County Road Hauler "Brain Damage"
1978 Cafe Custom Gl1000 "Vyper"
1977 Bulldog Inspired "Vaincre"
1981 Street Fighter GL1100 "No Quarter"
1983 Supercharged Street Drag "Anubis" (in worx)
1983 gl1100 mint restoration "Kristen"
1985 Aspencade..pondering.
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jimmyz3286
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Re: how to easily compress your shock springs

#9

Post by jimmyz3286 »

Or put the lower shock mount in a vice and have a 230lb friend hang on the spring while you put the retainer in place.
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1982 GL1100 Silverback
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sunnbobb
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Re: how to easily compress your shock springs

#10

Post by sunnbobb »

Yes, finding a friend willing to lose his fingers was key.
I found the end of the internet

---- Bradshaw Bikes custom polishing for your wing. Visit us on facebook!

1978 Learning Experience
1980 County Road Hauler "Brain Damage"
1978 Cafe Custom Gl1000 "Vyper"
1977 Bulldog Inspired "Vaincre"
1981 Street Fighter GL1100 "No Quarter"
1983 Supercharged Street Drag "Anubis" (in worx)
1983 gl1100 mint restoration "Kristen"
1985 Aspencade..pondering.
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robin1731
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Re: how to easily compress your shock springs

#11

Post by robin1731 »

sunnbobb wrote:Update: An even easier way. Autozone has a program for renting tools. They sell you a spring compressor, let you use it, and return it with no hassle. They have a lot tools they will do this with.
Oreillys does this too. You buy the tool, use it, return for your money. I thought everyone knew that. :roll:
1976 Goldwing Super Sport
1985 Honda Elite
1976 KZ900 Dragbike
1992 ZX7 Dragbike (KZ900 style motor w/NOS)
and a rotation of various purchases
Randakk approved Carb Rebuilder
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sunnbobb
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Re: how to easily compress your shock springs

#12

Post by sunnbobb »

Well, uh, ya, I knew that. :oops: :oops: :oops:
I found the end of the internet

---- Bradshaw Bikes custom polishing for your wing. Visit us on facebook!

1978 Learning Experience
1980 County Road Hauler "Brain Damage"
1978 Cafe Custom Gl1000 "Vyper"
1977 Bulldog Inspired "Vaincre"
1981 Street Fighter GL1100 "No Quarter"
1983 Supercharged Street Drag "Anubis" (in worx)
1983 gl1100 mint restoration "Kristen"
1985 Aspencade..pondering.
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John Schmidt
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Re: how to easily compress your shock springs

#13

Post by John Schmidt »

Here's what I made to change the shock springs on my Valkyrie. A larger unit would be needed for something the size in the video, but it a bit safer than using those tie down straps....and faster. It's easy to build, I just used some aluminum scrap and cut the hole in the bottom just large enough for the top ring to pass through without the top spring cover going through. The tubes on the side are simple elec. conduit, the eye bolt has a small piece cut out to hook the top eye of the shock. Did that rather than heat and bend it open, possibly weakening it. I set the bottom in a vise and hook the top of the shock and start cranking. When I get it far enough up into the tool, I'm able to remove the retaining ring which works very similar to a valve keeper on a valve spring. Once the keeper is removed, just crank the eye bolt down to release the tension and the top will then lift off, followed by the spring. I started using a second nut on top just an extra safety measure in case the threads would strip on the eye bolt. Been using it for a few years now with nary a problem.

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Sugs
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Re: how to easily compress your shock springs

#14

Post by Sugs »

That is brilliant, very simple and easy to make. Thanks for posting!
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rudolphwolven
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Re: how to easily compress your shock springs

#15

Post by rudolphwolven »

I WAS AT THE SAME SCHOOL AS FRED FLINTSTONE......
(we always had not enough pocket money)


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