Stripping down rear shocks

Is there an easy way of taking the rear shocks apart to blast and powdercoat the tubes, without a special tool?

Thanks

You've got to push down the coloured cilinder very hard.
So use an extra pair of hands or a tool.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/c ... jmklem.jpg
Be very careful not to hurt yourself.

If you can push it down far enough, you'll see a big nut.
Hold that with a key, and turn loose the upper part of the schock.

Et voila!

I had to build a special tool using two giant g-clamps, and 2 bits of wood. I also needed the help of my sister and brother-in-law to get them apart and put them back together again - 3 pairs of hands in total!

Be very careful - they are under massive compression and when I did mine the tool slipped and it shot out like a missile. My brother-in-law nearly had a shock embedded in his backside!!!

Along with putting the fuel tank back in, stripping down the rear shocks was one of the hardest parts of the build!

Maybe this helps:

It is hard, I buckled down and bought that spring compresser. Sorry I am not nearby I would be lending it out cause it works great.

Thanks Kumoh

I have had a look at the shocks (I took them off about 2 years ago and they have sat in a box since!) and I'm not sure that they are salvageable anyway. One looks like it may have a bend in it, and the tube is dented on the chrome piece. I think I'll get new and try to make up a tool just to meet the challenge!

Dr.ATV in the US sell a replacement shock that (supposidly) accepts the color top from a stock shock. I have the new shocks but have not tried it yet.

Of 6 bikes I have removed shocks from NONE had any ability to suppess bounce as a shock should. Some slid in and out with no resistance and others slammed in easy and jerked out in steps. So shocks are just 1 thing I always know I will replace.

Randy

Thanks Kumoh

That's convinced me! I'll hang on to them and strip them when I've got a bit of spare time (pretty short supply at the moment), and I'll get replacements in the meantime. Everything is now off and in bits ready for the shotblaster and powdercoating. Hope to get it all away this week.

Hi Guys
I have just been looking on ebay USA and rear shocks new including postage are 70 USD which seems a good price
Tufty

I think they are the same ones that are made in the far east, they appear to be an exact copy of the originals and according to the manufacturer the top cover is easily removed for painting.
The only thing that stopped me ording a couple of sets was that the quoted length between mounting eyes appeared to be about 15mm shorter than the standard ones. This may be due to a discrepancy in how the length is measuered but it made me look at my own shocks again and decide to get the top cover re-painted and the lower cover re-chromed as other that they appear to function ok.