Shortening Shocks
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- peteybug
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Shortening Shocks
I had some spare time on my hands (laid off for a few weeks) So played with shocks. First I have to thank Whiskerfish for the shocks. Without him I couldn't have done this. Tools you need are coilspring clamp. Got mine at harborfreight for 11.00 on sale. Hammer, wrenches,visegrips, hacksaw, metric die that match's thread and cutting oil.
Take shocks and put spring compressor in spring. One will fit in saddle, screw a bolt into threaded part of saddle.
You will only need to compress spring enough to get a wrench on the nut on the shaft. When nut is exposed put your wrench on it.( mine was 17 mm) Now put a round object in hole. Smack it with a hammer to break it loose. (ratchet I used was a junk one).
When you get it apart (release spring clamps) take visegrips with a piece of rubber so as not to mar shaft. Brake nut loose and remove.
Now fasten shock to bench with shaft hanging over edge so it will not move.
Measure the threads mine were 3/4 in. Add an inch that would be 1-3/4 in and mark on shaft.
Now take your metric die and cutting oil and rethread shaft to mark.
Now take hacksaw and cut off 1in. of threads. I used a sawall ( I'm lazy)
Now reassemble in reverse order. Shocks will be 1in. shorter. Just a note Not all shocks have same thread. Allso some shocks do not have threads at all they are pressed in. So if you try this make sure you have shocks with threaded shaft. My threads were 12-1.25 mm. Like I stated some are different sizes.
Again my thanks to Whiskerfish for shocks. Shocks cleaned up nice Steve.
Take shocks and put spring compressor in spring. One will fit in saddle, screw a bolt into threaded part of saddle.
You will only need to compress spring enough to get a wrench on the nut on the shaft. When nut is exposed put your wrench on it.( mine was 17 mm) Now put a round object in hole. Smack it with a hammer to break it loose. (ratchet I used was a junk one).
When you get it apart (release spring clamps) take visegrips with a piece of rubber so as not to mar shaft. Brake nut loose and remove.
Now fasten shock to bench with shaft hanging over edge so it will not move.
Measure the threads mine were 3/4 in. Add an inch that would be 1-3/4 in and mark on shaft.
Now take your metric die and cutting oil and rethread shaft to mark.
Now take hacksaw and cut off 1in. of threads. I used a sawall ( I'm lazy)
Now reassemble in reverse order. Shocks will be 1in. shorter. Just a note Not all shocks have same thread. Allso some shocks do not have threads at all they are pressed in. So if you try this make sure you have shocks with threaded shaft. My threads were 12-1.25 mm. Like I stated some are different sizes.
Again my thanks to Whiskerfish for shocks. Shocks cleaned up nice Steve.
love new ideas for old wing's. AS I have three and am always working on them
[img]http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh55/peteybug8/motorcycle040-1.jpg[/img][img]http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh55/peteybug8/motorcycle037-1-1.jpg[/img][img]http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh55/peteybug8/3%20wings/Townworkandbikes036-1.jpg[/img]
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- anarki
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- Whiskerfish
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Excellent Write up!! Gald I counld contribute!
"Agreement is not a requirement for Respect" CDR Michael Smith USN (Ret) 2017
"The book is wrong, this whole Conclusion is Fallacious" River Tam
"Yea I do dance awkwardly, and I am having more fun than you" Taylor Swift
2008 GL1800 IIIA "TH3DOG"
1984 GL1200 Standard
1975/6/7/8/9 Arthur Fulmer Dressed Road bike
1975 Naked Noisy and Nasty in town bike
Psst. oh and by the way CHANGE YOUR BELTS!!!!
"The book is wrong, this whole Conclusion is Fallacious" River Tam
"Yea I do dance awkwardly, and I am having more fun than you" Taylor Swift
2008 GL1800 IIIA "TH3DOG"
1984 GL1200 Standard
1975/6/7/8/9 Arthur Fulmer Dressed Road bike
1975 Naked Noisy and Nasty in town bike
Psst. oh and by the way CHANGE YOUR BELTS!!!!
- CYBORG
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- peteybug
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Cyborg I left the spring the length it was. As for bottoming out I don't see a prob. As this is for my bobber. Its a solo bike and due to my (awsome) body structure should work fine for me. I'm 5-10 160lbs. take a 30 waist pants. I could prob just use a spring . I don't think I would use it on a 2 person bike but will try it this spring and see. Right now we have 12ft. snow banks so trying now is out of the question.
love new ideas for old wing's. AS I have three and am always working on them
[img]http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh55/peteybug8/motorcycle040-1.jpg[/img][img]http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh55/peteybug8/motorcycle037-1-1.jpg[/img][img]http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh55/peteybug8/3%20wings/Townworkandbikes036-1.jpg[/img]
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- CYBORG
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Great write up...............
I have some spare shocks that I would like to try that on..............I had success compressing the springs with some giant worm clamps(?), you know like hose clamps, if stretched out they are probably 18" long.
I used two, they were easy to snake between the coils.('8)')
I used two, they were easy to snake between the coils.('8)')
bum
8 wings + 1 Triumph +2 Musclecars = 1 pissed off wife !!!
8 wings + 1 Triumph +2 Musclecars = 1 pissed off wife !!!
- peteybug
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Just make sure you have right die some are 12mm found some with 10mm and one realy weird one with 11mm and thats is a weird one.
love new ideas for old wing's. AS I have three and am always working on them
[img]http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh55/peteybug8/motorcycle040-1.jpg[/img][img]http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh55/peteybug8/motorcycle037-1-1.jpg[/img][img]http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh55/peteybug8/3%20wings/Townworkandbikes036-1.jpg[/img]
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- WingerDave
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Fantastic........ and you'd never have been able to do such a good job without the Rapid Tap. That stuff rocks !!!
Dave
Dave
If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
'80-'81 GL 1100 Hybrid Vetter Interstate 90K km
1989 GL1500 58K mls
Previous bikes
1973 Suzuki GT 500
1975 BMW R60/6
1982 Suzuki GS 550
1980 GL1100 (frame went to current bike, rest parted out)
1983 GL1100 Interstate
'80-'81 GL 1100 Hybrid Vetter Interstate 90K km
1989 GL1500 58K mls
Previous bikes
1973 Suzuki GT 500
1975 BMW R60/6
1982 Suzuki GS 550
1980 GL1100 (frame went to current bike, rest parted out)
1983 GL1100 Interstate
- peteybug
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Won't leave much room for travel. Mine are working great with just a little over an inch shorter.
love new ideas for old wing's. AS I have three and am always working on them
[img]http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh55/peteybug8/motorcycle040-1.jpg[/img][img]http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh55/peteybug8/motorcycle037-1-1.jpg[/img][img]http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh55/peteybug8/3%20wings/Townworkandbikes036-1.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh55/peteybug8/motorcycle040-1.jpg[/img][img]http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh55/peteybug8/motorcycle037-1-1.jpg[/img][img]http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh55/peteybug8/3%20wings/Townworkandbikes036-1.jpg[/img]
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short shocks
Peteybug,
I shortened my shocks just like your post, works great, makes it much easier to control my bike when stopped.....thanks 8)
I shortened my shocks just like your post, works great, makes it much easier to control my bike when stopped.....thanks 8)
bum
8 wings + 1 Triumph +2 Musclecars = 1 pissed off wife !!!
8 wings + 1 Triumph +2 Musclecars = 1 pissed off wife !!!
- peteybug
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- Joined: Sun Feb 10, 2008 2:20 pm
- Location: northern new york
Your welcome glad I could help save you some cash.
love new ideas for old wing's. AS I have three and am always working on them
[img]http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh55/peteybug8/motorcycle040-1.jpg[/img][img]http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh55/peteybug8/motorcycle037-1-1.jpg[/img][img]http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh55/peteybug8/3%20wings/Townworkandbikes036-1.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh55/peteybug8/motorcycle040-1.jpg[/img][img]http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh55/peteybug8/motorcycle037-1-1.jpg[/img][img]http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh55/peteybug8/3%20wings/Townworkandbikes036-1.jpg[/img]
- 78AZWing
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