Topic: Is it possibe to adjust rear shocks without a spanner wrench?

[lostmykeys]

 The rear shocks on my bike are set to their lowest setting and after picking up a girl on the road the other day I noticed the shocks seemed to bottom out. No she wasn't pretty and I told my wife already,it was a very hot day and she was walking uphill so I helped ,oh and she smelled bad to.she was about a buck 15.
 Anyway my wife thinks the bike is ready for the local car/bike show [me thinks not] this weekend and I would really like to adjust my rear shocks to a higher setting.
 Can I do this with a large set of vice grips and a piece of leather so I dont scratch anything?
 Speaking of scratching,I have felt a little itchy since I gave that poor girl a ride.

[cmonSTART]

Ah the many hazards of picking up hitchhikers...   

I have a set of channel-locs that I use which work well for me.  But, scratched shocks are not really a concern on my bikes. 

[Steve_K]

I have put my 550 on the centerstand and used my hands to adjust the tension.  I may have weak springs, but it happened.
Steve

[Magilla]

I've done it by hand a few times.

[nancy]

I use the slip-grips (channel locks) on mine..but wrap a piece of cloth onto the jaws.

[metric-wrench]

You can also use needle nose "vise grips" and get those right into the notches... does the trick and no scratching (if you're concerned about that).

[lostmykeys]

 Sounds easy enough,Thanks
 I have strong hands as I've been a guitar player most of my life.
 I didnt even try to twist it with my hands,I'll give it a shot.

[socalenduro]

they make inexpensive lock ring wrenchs that work great
http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=lock+ring+wrench&hl=en&gbv=2&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=14716935776604026682#

[lostmykeys]

 thanks I'll ckeck into it.

[ekpent]

Always save your rim liners and old tubes to cut up for channel lock cushions for jobs like this,unless you get to many and get called a hoarder--- 

[camelman]

I use my hands. Those springs aren't all that stiff.

[lostmykeys]

 I just want to be a Macho Macho man. God I hated that song but not as much as the sagging pants thing we have going on today.
 I think if the kids today knew the true story behind of the saggy pants thing they would buy a belt.
 Or if they dont then us older farts are in for a long hard road.
 I think Ronald Regan must have been a foward thinker when he said..."say no to crack"
 Sorry,for the off topic response and I will try this with my hands.