| Author | Message | ||
     Rde48 |
I just had a local guy who does shocks rebuild my shock on my 99 S3. I put it on the bike and I am using the manual to set it up. So I start by setting the preload. I have my gf help as per the manual but I dont have enough preload and that with me solo. Do you think it is possible that when the shock was put back together they did not preload it enough? I have the preload all the way out and the bike still sags lower then it should. Any insight as to what may be wrong would be great. Right now with full preload it sags about a 1/4 inch to low. Thanks | ||
| Bad_karma |
Ryan Did you get a spring to match your weight? Can you adjust for static sag? Just a guess, talk with the guy that did your shock, maybe you could bring the bike to him and have it setup for you. Joe (Message edited by bad_karma on May 02, 2008) | ||
| Langperf |
"I have the preload all the way out" is a confusing statement. You know to increase preload you tighten up on the spring adjustment bolts...right | ||
| Rde48 |
I just had it rebuilt, dident change the spring. Last year I rode 2up and changed the preload for that and for solo riding so I know it worked. Now I tried to set it up for me and it sags to much, I can adjust it but with it fully preloaded, no threads showing at the rear, it is still sagging close to 2 inches from fully unloaded (per the manual should be between 1 1/4 and 1 3/4). I did take the bike over there and he did set up the compression and rebound but said he didn't know why it wasn't preloading enough. Do you think he could have put it back together wrong or without enough preset preload? | ||
| Loki |
"I can adjust it but with it fully preloaded, no threads showing at the rear" No threads showing on the body? That tells me the preload is set to its bare minimum. The more preload that is set, the more threads that will be exposed. At least with the Showas I have. | ||
| Scott_in_nh |
No threads showing on the body? That tells me the preload is set to its bare minimum. I don't agree. Shortening the shock by having few/no threads showing compresses the spring in the can and raises the back of the bike = maximum preload. Lengthening the shock with many threads showing allows the spring to be longer inside the can and lowers the back of the bike = less preload. | ||
| Rde48 |
Thanks Scott, That is what I have found also.  In this pic my "can" is screwed all the way to the left giving me full preload, I did test and if I go the other way it drops the back of the bike even lower, so i am 100% that I am doing it correctly. Before having is rebuilt I would adjust it every time my girlfriend rode with me and had no problems getting the proper sag. I was hoping someone here could tell me that they can be put together wrong so that I would have some ammunition when I take it back to this guy again and tell him to fix it. Do you think I would be better off calling Buell and asking this question? | ||
| Hugie03flhr |
It sounds like your rebuild guy missed a bushing or a spacer. I woundn't ride that bike until you verify that shock is rebuilt correctly IMO | ||
| Scott_in_nh |
Do you think I would be better off calling Buell and asking this question? No! I cannot imagine anything but the wrong spring being put back in that would cause this. | ||
| Rde48 |
Is there any way to tell if it is the stock spring? I wondered about a spacer myself but he said that there was no way. If I have to buy a spring, I hope I don't but if that is the only way i can fix the problem I will, What should I look for? | ||
| Djkaplan |
Take it back to the guy who rebuilt it. Obviously, a spacer must have been left out or assembled in the wrong sequence. Never had the spring cannister off a Showa, but there has to be some kind of base for the spring to rest on the damper body itself. Sounds like something doesn't gibe. | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
Perhaps something silly like he put the spring in backwards? Perhaps the spring is supposed to seat a certain way? |
