Topic: Servicing rear shocks

[Ibsen]

That will work with stockshox.. just dont start laughing..

You are right. The Marzocchi' required a bit more force to be compressed. That's where the tie downs came in handy.

[Tim.]

Well, the good news is the $19 spring compressor was on for 1/2 price - only $9.99

The bad news it it's way too big for these small springs.  Designed for automotive springs.

So I'll probably give the ratcheting tie-downs a try.

[malcolmgb]

Found it - now to find something like this locally.

http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=330195134718&ih=014&category=43996&ssPageName=STORE:PROMOBOX:NEWLIST

I bought one of these, not had chance to use it yet, but it certainly appears to be the right tool for the job. One of my Winter jobs.

[754]

Think about the tool I described.. A few minutes on a lathe, 1/2 hr forming and welding.... and you will be getting springs off a PAIR of shocks in under 3 minutes...

[Tim.]

Well, I don't have a lathe, welder or any materials    so making something myself isn't in the cards.

Not enough room between the spring and the black resin sleeve in the top 1/3 of the spring area to slip a strap in, at least from what I can see.  I did for fun just pull down on the spring with my hands and was able to compress it, but certainly not hold it down.  Will take me and a friend to do it, perhaps with some big zip-ties and 4 hands.

I also will call around to some local bike shops to see if anyone has the right tool.

[Tim.]

Well, with the help of the wife, I managed to get them apart easily.  I pulled down on the springs and she pulled the clips out with needlenose pliers.  No drama.

That being said, I noticed stamps on the ends of the coils.  One reads 18, the other 23    Lead me to count coils and sure enough, one has 13 and the other 14 coils.

So it appears I have two mismatched Hagon springs.  PITA.  Was going to have the springs, clips and pre-load adjusters chromed this week but no point if I'm running into trouble with two different springs.

Maybe I could compensate with more pre-load on the 18?  Any thoughts on how major an issue this is?  It's gonna bug me that's for sure.

[Tim.]

Any opinions on the two different spring rates?  Aside from the obvious it's not the ideal situation of course

[malcolmgb]

I know this is not an answer to your question but if you go to http://www.ikonsuspension.com/index.shtml
look up the correct unit for your machine you can find the spring type recommended, it may give you an idea of what is required for your Hagons.

[tsflstb]

If you were going to the expense of chroming those springs, you could probably just order a new set either from Hagon or anohther manufacturer like Progressive.  Plus you could get it sprung for your particular weight and application.

[Drewery]

I'm jumping in here late but I've got to say, when compressing springs it is good to remeber that you are working on essentially a bomb. I just replaced the shocks on my triumph GT6 (car) with obviously bigger springs and with a set of spring compressors I bought in Toronto for thirty bucks. The ones I used were made in China, which is always a concern because of the questionabe grade of steel, and sure enough one of the hooks broke off mid compression. Luckaly there were two of them and so the whole thing stayed together but if it hadn't...  there are no saftey glasses made that would have been any help. Incidently I also replaced the nuts on the rebar parts with nuts made anywhere but China (as these are generally rated which most Chinese stuff isn't) because two of them stripped. These were big bolts too - 18 mil. So buyer beware. The safest spring compressors I've see on this thread are the first ones pictured. Myself. I would not use straps and certainly NOTHING made of wood.
(Geeze, did I just sound like Saftey Sam, or what?)

[754]

The wood I suggested was just a block with a divot to hold the shock from going sideways in the drillpress. If all is straight there is no side force.

Way less force on a bike shock you can depress by hand as opposed to an auto shock.. you warning about imported tools is good though.. every piece you buy is Money not spent in N. America as well....

BTW I took about 7 valvesprings off a sohc head 2 nite in under 10 minutes bu myself using my methods.. have not done it in a long time so it went slow.. 2 people its a 4 minute job..