Topic: Bottom shock bolt just spinning

[starion88esir]

I got my short shocks in and decided it was time to swith them out. The bottom bolt just spins. I need to salvage it to use fro my new shocks. I don't know if it's stripped or if the stock shock threads are stripped or what.  Any ideas on how to get it out and still be able to re-use it provided the threads aren't stripped?

[CrisPDuk]

Provided it's spinning freely in the bush in the swingarm, you should be able to force a blade (screwdriver, chisel, etc) between the bolt head and the clevis on the shock, if you then carefully apply a levering force behind the bolt head whilst carefully turning it, that should be enough to persuade it to twist out.

I say carefully because it's all to easy to twist the lever out from under the head and either, impale yourself or, worse, damage the bike

Until it's out there is no way of knowing which thread is actually stripped, but the chances are that it's the bolt i'm afraid.

[joeb]

Better the bolt to be stripped than to have to drill and tap a new hole. You can get a new bolt from honda or a hardware store.

[CrisPDuk]

Not if he's binning the shocks joeb

[754]

Vise-Grips on the bolt head (aluminum shims optional)

Give it a few LoveTaps with a hammer while turning. it  is a bolt not a carb...

[starion88esir]

Yeah, I'm not re-using 31 year old shocks. They should've been chucked long ago. I got the right side shock off just to find out the bushing on the 11" shocks doesn't fit. Looks like it will with the inner metal piece removed. I pull it out and try sliding the new shock on, hell no it still doesn't fit, but starts tearing up the new bushing.  I hate this crap. I just want to ride the damn thing. End rant.

I tried prying a screwdriver between the bolt and the mount and backing it off, did nothing, still spins. I tried pushing from inside againste the bolt, still did nothing but spin. I have no idea how to get the bolt out without tearing up the swing arm.  This really sucks.

[CrisPDuk]

Sounds like the bolt's rusted into the bush to me, drilling it out is probably the only solution. You'll scrap the bolt and the bush but there's no reason why the swingarm should end get damaged.

[754]

You could carefully weld a bolt that fits in a slidehammer to yours, head to head, and drift it out..

[Patrick]

Dremel tool. Cutting blade. Cut either the bolt or the nut.

[starion88esir]

I don't have a welder, but I do have a dremel. I think I'll be cutting the head off the bolt and then cutting the side of the shock tab that is threaded to slide it out.

Does anyone know what grade of bolt I need for a replacement?

[754]

With the wheel off and swingarm against something for support, use a punch from inside the swing arm and drift it out...

[CrisPDuk]

The bolt is just a standard grade 8.8.  You need to make sure that you get one that isn't threaded where it passes through the swingarm though.

[MoTo-BunnY]

Also, the bolt should be M10 x 1.25mm (fine pitch) as opposed to the much more common M10 x 1.5mm (coarse pitch) so ya know what to look for if you just go to a hardware store. (at least thats what is on my '73 CB500, so I assume its probably the same on other bikes?)

[starion88esir]

The bolt is just a standard grade 8.8.  You need to make sure that you get one that isn't threaded where it passes through the swingarm though.

The one on the right side is threaded even through the swingarm bushing. Why would this cause a problem?

[754]

It will wear down because it can and wear the steel sleeve in the swingarm bushing.

Nothing to worry about, unless you want to go around corners!!

Enough slop in there already, why add more??

[CrisPDuk]

You get a bigger problem with corrosion too, that thread creates a nice big surface are for rust to take hold, with the result being the bolt corrodes into the bush and you are back to square one the next time you want to remove the shock:(