Author Topic: using eyelet shocks in place of clevis  (Read 2481 times)

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jon44

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using eyelet shocks in place of clevis
« on: November 10, 2008, 04:47:45 pm »
I have a '76 cb550 and i'd like to get some 11" shocks in a style other than clevis.  Found some shocks that have two eyelet mounts that i like the look of better.  Anyone have any suggestions for modification?  should i get a different swing arm or modify where the shock mounts?  suggestions?

Thanks
Jon

Offline rhinoracer

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Re: using eyelet shocks in place of clevis
« Reply #1 on: November 10, 2008, 05:35:58 pm »
Get a set of lowering blocks and modify accordingly, or make your own.
Baja native.

jon44

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Re: using eyelet shocks in place of clevis
« Reply #2 on: November 10, 2008, 10:25:15 pm »
Thanks for the quick response.  I'm trying to stay away from lowering blocks though.  Any other ideas?

Offline KRONUS0100

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Re: using eyelet shocks in place of clevis
« Reply #3 on: November 11, 2008, 06:25:42 am »
Hey, bigger bike, same idea.  I made box brackets for my Cb750F, and now run the air shocks off a CB1000C, GL1100, etc.  The bike handles a lot better and is more comfortable to ride.
MATT
current bikes:  1976 CB750F, 1981 GS1100E
bikes owned:1981 GL1100I, 1990 GS500E, 1981 GS850, 1977 and 1979 GS750, 1974 CB750, 1975 CB750, and a 1982 GS750E

Offline Alan F.

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Re: using eyelet shocks in place of clevis
« Reply #4 on: November 11, 2008, 06:29:07 am »
Have a look at some other bikes that use twin eye to eye shocks, dealerships are full of cruisers, check out how it's done on those bikes, get creative, and use the right materials.
You'll probably have to get some cold-rolled steel sheet metal scraps to form up the lower mount for the eye.  Use sheet metal with a thickness similar to what you saw in the dealership, but don't go any thinner.  Grind the paint off the swingarm in the area that you'll be mounting the bottom of the shocks to. bolt your new lower mounts to the bottom of your shocks, jack up the bike with the rear wheel on the floor until you've reached the desired ride height, be sure to account for spring sag when deciding on a position.  Then tack weld your lower mounts to the swingarm and lower the weight of the bike onto the shocks.  If the position is wrong, grind off the tack welds and do it again, If you like what you see....take it all apart and weld the mounts to the swingarm in a professional manner, sand or grind down any slag or high spots, then clean it up with solvent and paint it!  Bolt it all up and ride the wheels off of it!  You can grind off the original clevis bottom shock mounts if you care to, but if you're the kind of guy to keep your options open, you may decide to leave them for the future.

Get creative Dude!  Swapping to a different swingarm is a large project with many variables.  Besides I've seen plenty of aluminum swingarms from modern bikes bolted up to a SOHC CB750 that have been modified with mounts for eye to clevis shocks.  It all comes down to a few things:  budget, your skill/comfort level, and what you're willing to pay someone else to do what you're not prepared to do yourself.  There are plenty of eye to clevis shocks out there that will fit, they're not all from hondas, check ebay and get some ideas.  Shocks from recent models will still be available new if you're willing to pay the price.

Offline igraul

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Re: using eyelet shocks in place of clevis
« Reply #5 on: November 11, 2008, 06:59:00 am »
Hey, for what it's worth, I've got a pair of new 11" double eyelet shocks that I bought by mistake ??? that I'd like to unload; send me a pm if you are interested.