View Full Version : re-springing a shock
weazelz
23-11-06, 11:43 AM
I'm looking to re-spring the shock on my curvy - it's off an 06 zx10r which unfortunately has turned out to be notably softer at 8.3 kg/mm than the 04-05 model:
A link, like what would have been better to start with. (http://www.racetech.com/evalving/english/Srchpr.asp?bikeid=257&manufacture=Kawasaki&model=ZX%2D10R&year=06&TABLEINFO=street&langname=english)
I am an, ahem, fuller-figured sort of chap, so I could do with something a bit firmer
anyone have any experience putting new springs on oem shocks? is it something I'm likely to be able to do myself or will it need specialist tools - eg spring compressors, etc ?
you would then need to have it revalved or the rebound and compression will be useless.
weazelz
23-11-06, 12:10 PM
you would then need to have it revalved or the rebound and compression will be useless.
it's usable now with the softer oem spring - we're only talking about maybe +10-15% in spring rate - & I reckon I've got the shock slightly over-damped to compensate for the softer spring. so I get the former spring & wind off the damping a little - I don't see a problem with that. if it was too soft with the damping dialed in to maximum then sure, it would be no good, but there's loads of damping adjustment left
The opposite happened to me... bought a k6 gsxr shock hoping a softer less jumpy rear , and got a very stiff 9.4kg/mm shock :P
Blue_SV650S
23-11-06, 01:46 PM
Wouldn't it be more cost effective just to get a different model shock??? and to flog yours?
Maxton will re-work shocks for you (if they are not a sealed unit I suppose). but to be honest I really don't think it is going to be cost effective to go that route ...
The opposite happened to me... bought a k6 gsxr shock hoping a softer less jumpy rear , and got a very stiff 9.4kg/mm shock :P
Swapsies then boys??? ;)
weazelz
23-11-06, 05:18 PM
Wouldn't it be more cost effective just to get a different model shock??? and to flog yours?
Maxton will re-work shocks for you (if they are not a sealed unit I suppose). but to be honest I really don't think it is going to be cost effective to go that route ...
I'm not talking about getting anything major done to the shock innards - just swapping the spring & replacing it with a £20 job like this:
http://www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/products/ProductDetail.asp?cls=MCYCLE&pcode=FLK4S0150
The opposite happened to me... bought a k6 gsxr shock hoping a softer less jumpy rear , and got a very stiff 9.4kg/mm shock :P
Swapsies then boys??? ;)
could do - fancy it dotted? where are you - I'm in nw london?
Blue_SV650S
23-11-06, 05:39 PM
I'm not talking about getting anything major done to the shock innards - just swapping the spring & replacing it with a £20 job like this:
Its not as simple as that, if you change the spring you need to get the valving/damping redone to suit too. Else you will end up with an under-damped shock ...
All that aside, at the end of the day presuming you paid a fair price for your shock, you could probably sell and buy another without any financial loss ... not even £20 ...
I went from a 450spring to a 650spring and the rebound was non existant even when on max so had to also be revalved.
weazelz
23-11-06, 05:51 PM
I'm not talking about getting anything major done to the shock innards - just swapping the spring & replacing it with a £20 job like this:
Its not as simple as that, if you change the spring you need to get the valving/damping redone to suit too. Else you will end up with an under-damped shock ...
I know what you're saying, but I would have thought that for +15% change in spring rate that the shock still has enough damping in hand to cover this. I have had a good play with the shock with the standard spring & the top end of the damping is absolutely rock solid
I'm quite happy to concede that re-valving a race shock would be necessary & desirable, but for a cheapie oem shock - & with me riding it - I doubt the difference would be noticable
I went from a 450spring to a 650spring and the rebound was non existant even when on max so had to also be revalved.
well yes, but that's going +45% on the spring rate, that's a huuuuuge change, I'm not suprised that the required damping was outside the max of the shock
Blue_SV650S
23-11-06, 06:01 PM
...
I guess my point is why take the risk? If nothing else you are reducing the usable band of adjustment.
But if you want to remove the spring you will need some spring compressors.
There is a lot of energy in a shock spring, so take what I am about to say as missadvice and get yourself the proper equipment ;) ...
Bad advice:- Get your ratchet straps .... 'ratchet' the rear end down on the bike/compress the shock ... get some more ratchet straps and use them on the spring, take out the slack. Then slowly release the strap holding the rear end down and remove the shock. It should stay compressed, common sense is then needed at every point as you now essentially have a loaded weapon ready to go off!! :shock:
Refitting the new spring ... not sure how u r gonna do that hopefully they will ratchet down?? ... but this ratchet strap method worked on a car suspension i needed to compress once to change a balljoint, so ratchet straps can take quite a bit of force! ;)
My shock is sooooo easy to change the spring, just back off the preload and lift the base plate up and remove the circlip and pull the plate down and off the shock, the spring will now come off. And you can do this all on the bike if the linkage is removed.
Blue_SV650S
23-11-06, 06:07 PM
My shock is sooooo easy to change the spring, just back off the preload and lift the base plate up and remove the circlip and pull the plate down and off the shock, the spring will now come off. And you can do this all on the bike if the linkage is removed.
That's true, if you can get off all the preload by winding it off then there isn't a problem ... I am not sure what configuration the ZX10 shock is? But my guess is that the preload is adjustable but not to the point it can be completely removed? Hence needing compressing ... which setup is it weazelz?
edit: {looks for pic} ... http://i21.ebayimg.com/06/i/08/51/da/65_1_b.JPG ... that might be enough??? at least should get rid of most of it 8)
So the next thing is how do you split the bottom bit to allow the spring to be removed??? {looks on net again hoping to find an underside shot of an 06 ZX10 shock ;) }
weazelz
23-11-06, 06:15 PM
My shock is sooooo easy to change the spring, just back off the preload and lift the base plate up and remove the circlip and pull the plate down and off the shock, the spring will now come off. And you can do this all on the bike if the linkage is removed.
That's true, if you can get off all the preload by winding it off then there isn't a problem ... I am not sure what configuration the ZX10 shock is? But my guess is that the preload is adjustable but not to the point it can be completely removed? Hence needing compressing ... which setup is it weazelz?
edit: {looks for pic} ... http://i21.ebayimg.com/06/i/08/51/da/65_1_b.JPG ... that might be enough??? at least should get rid of most of it 8)
So the next thing is how do you split the bottom bit to allow the spring to be removed??? {looks on net again hoping to find an underside shot of an 06 ZX10 shock ;) }
only halfway decent pic I have is here:
http://eeyore.mu-dog.net/sv650/sv650_shock/foo_005.jpg
so there's ~20mm of thread there, so maybe 170kg of preload? possibly enough
Blue_SV650S
23-11-06, 06:18 PM
only halfway decent pic I have is here:
http://eeyore.mu-dog.net/sv650/sv650_shock/foo_005.jpg
so there's ~20mm of thread there, so maybe 170kg of preload? possibly enough
Indeed, looks hopeful on the preload/spring compression problem front, but we need to make sure the stock shock can be taken apart ... we need to see how the plate at the bottom of the spring is held in place ... before you splash out on a spring ...
The opposite happened to me... bought a k6 gsxr shock hoping a softer less jumpy rear , and got a very stiff 9.4kg/mm shock :P
Swapsies then boys??? ;)
could do - fancy it dotted? where are you - I'm in nw london?
If you don't mind having the bike lowered ~5cm , and pay 30£ for shipping to the middle of the pond :P
But let me know if you decide to sell the shock ;)
Dotted
Thank for info also bought the same shock and with the calculator and my weight the spring is almost perfect. Had not got it yet tough... At my colleague in NY still, but coming soon.
It lowered the rear with 5 cm ??
Dotted
Thank for info also bought the same shock and with the calculator and my weight the spring is almost perfect. Had not got it yet tough... At my colleague in NY still, but coming soon.
It lowered the rear with 5 cm ??
no :P but since the K6 GSXR 600 shock is about 1cm shorter than my k6 SV shock and it made the bike ~2cm lower at the tail , and curvy's shocks are a little longer than pointy shocks im guessing that the difference will be more than the 2cm i got ! But probably not 5cm :oops:
more k6 gsxr shock info here :
http://www.socalsvriders.org/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=22647
weazelz
02-12-06, 06:16 PM
update on this...
I asked on the zx10r forum, it seems that the '06 zx10r shock will need spring compressors to re-spring it. although this is probably do-able, it's also rather too much like hard work (for me anyway)
so .. bought an '05 zx10r shock off silent (http://forums.sv650.org/profile.php?mode=viewprofile&u=3502)
fitted it today & it's a big improvement & feels a lot firmer - which it should do with a 540lb/inch spring instead of a 450lb/inch one. off to brands tomorrow to dial in the damping a bit
interestingly - well, I think so - the '05 zx10r shock has enough thread on the preload adjustment to slacken all the preload out of the spring without need for spring compresors. the bottom collar can then be dropped off & the spring removed/replaced
Blue_SV650S
02-12-06, 09:33 PM
update on this...
I asked on the zx10r forum, it seems that the '06 zx10r shock will need spring compressors to re-spring it. although this is probably do-able, it's also rather too much like hard work (for me anyway)
so .. bought an '05 zx10r shock off silent (http://forums.sv650.org/profile.php?mode=viewprofile&u=3502)
fitted it today & it's a big improvement & feels a lot firmer - which it should do with a 540lb/inch spring instead of a 450lb/inch one. off to brands tomorrow to dial in the damping a bit
interestingly - well, I think so - the '05 zx10r shock has enough thread on the preload adjustment to slacken all the preload out of the spring without need for spring compresors. the bottom collar can then be dropped off & the spring removed/replaced
and the results? ;)
weazelz
03-12-06, 06:22 PM
and the results? ;)
much improved, front & back much better matched, bike feels far more balanced
I'd set the sag up beforehand, but had left the damping unadjusted - there's only so much you can do by jumping up & down on a static bike. first few laps out were a nightmare, soaking wet track & shock with minimal compression damping, virtually unrideable, the back end felt so loose
got it dialed in better over the next few sessions & it seems really good, some fine tweaking to do still, but very plaesed
anyone want to buy an '06 zx10r shock? springing & length should be ideal for ~10 stone rider on a curvy
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