Rear shock service

[avion]

I've done over 30 000km's on Angie now - and I've had to adjust the damping quite a lot just lately to keep the rear wheel on the ground over bumps so I thought it's time to get it serviced.

Removal is pretty much as the workshop manual states, however getting the resevoir out is like a chinese puzzle. Bit of shiggling, swearing and persuasion and I got it out.

The top bearing is tight so that has to be redone. Apart from that, the drop and drag links are in good shape, just need a re-grease and clean. New seals possibly on the bottom spherical.

Here's some pics on Angie all tied up. :ya2:

Rear shock, ready to get dropped off @ Rob Davies, he does Chris Leesons bike too.

I'll let you know how much difference it's done to the handling when I get it back in.

...

 

[DaveM]

Shame all tied up and nowhere to go :y114:

 

[CarlS]

Nice work. I don't have a garage for projects like that, unfortunately. I am literally a shade tree mechanic. :y114:

 

[avion]

Went to see Rob just now. There is no gas left in the shock at all!!!

It made a little pffffft and that was it.

He's also going to adjust the rebound valving for me. Woooot - smooth ride a coming.

...

 

[CarlS]

Ah, that would explain the problem! It will be like a new ride.

 

[avion]

I forgot about this one.

Yep it totally changed the bike. I had a bit of adjusting to do. After fiddling about for a week or so I settled on removing a lot of preload, slowed the rebound a tad and softened the compression by about a turn and a quarter.

Since switching to the Pirelli Diablo Rossa Corsa (damn that's a mouthful), I had to increase compression by half a turn again.

All good now.

*edit.

There is no upper / top bearing. It's a rubber bush. Doh wotta plonker.

 

[CarlS]

It is good to hear that you got it dialed in.