Thread: Disassembly of rear shocks

Carl,
With the shock on a solid surface, grab the shock cover with your left hand and pull down hard to expose the nut. With the nut exposed, place a wrench around the nut (I am not sure which size it is off hand). Once you get the wrench around the nut then you can release the shock cover and spring and the wrench will stay in place with the pressure from the released spring coil. Then hold the wrench, place a long screw driver through the hold in the top of the coil and twist in opposite directions. The top piece of the shock should twist right off.Once removed the shock should come apart. It is actually quite easy although you need to be fairly strong to pull the shock spring down far enough to expose the nut.

Good luck my friend in Oz,

Alex

Thanks for that detailed reply. I'll have a good bowl of weeties to build up my strength and give it a go.

Thanks to my American friends. Carl from down-under.

I guess that anythings easy when you know how. I pulled the rear shocks apart easily. Found that both dampers are a bit bent. I'll try to straighten them up if can or may have to source new ones. the same with the springs, I'll try & get replacement springs also as these are 37 years old.

thanks again. Carl from OZ

Do yourself a big favor and source a pair of real shocks for riding. One advantage you enjoy is relative proximity to Japan where some of the better shocks are made. I'd recommend a mid-line pair of 330mm Showas (also sold under the Takegawa and Daytona monikers, the Taky branded ones will be the most expensive).

The stock OEM shocks were nicely made, but even new weren't adequate for an adult weight rider. They just plain lacked spring strength and valving. Once the piston rods have been bent, function will be further compromised and you'll easily bottom-out the virtually undamped/uncontrolled rear suspension. That's murder on the shock mounts. No question, you'd want original shocks for a concours restoration project. Unfortunately, they're only useful as appearance items and the RH cover is highly damage-prone.

Yeh. that's good advice. I guess they must have been made for lighter Japanese riders inititally. I've pulled them apart and the damper rods are bent, so I'll need new dampers & springs to bring them up to scratch so I might as well buy a new improved set. I looked at some on Ebay from Indonesia, but when i got the measurements, found that they were too wide to fit the coloured caps on. I'm happy to get better shocks, but still want to fit the caps on. Maybe I'll just google these brands or look on ebay ? thanks for assistance. Carl