Best way to change out rear shock?
 

I'm soon to be changing out the rear shock on my SV650S. Just swapping for a stock shock with much less miles (1000 vs 13,600) to match the new front forks that have been put in. I'm just wondering what the best way to change the shock would be? At the moment it's on a rear paddock stand and a home-made stand in the middle (see pic). I've got access to a trolley-jack but there doesn't seem to be anywhere to place it under the bike, not sure what to do. :(

Any ideas?

Re: Best way to change out rear shock?
 

Build another homemade stand and use the pillion pegs to lift the back wheel off the ground. Alternatively you could get a step ladder. Place the bike underneath the ladder and use a ratchet strap to lift the bike using the ladder as a lifting point.

Re: Best way to change out rear shock?
 

Would the pillion pegs be able to support that much weight? The ladder idea sounds interesting too, DIY at it's best!

Re: Best way to change out rear shock?
 

yeap easily

both ways work well

Re: Best way to change out rear shock?
 

Regarding the ladder idea, would the ladder be placed length ways underneath the bike?

Re: Best way to change out rear shock?
 

Nope, one of the ones that opens in an inverted "V" with the two sides down either side of the bike.

Make sure you crack all the bolts on the suspension so they are loose before you lift it up.

I've hung a bike from the grab rails before now, a Bandit where they bolt straight into the frame, couple of ratchet straps round a rafter in the garage and voila! :)

Re: Best way to change out rear shock?
 

You need the the back of the bike unweighted.

The stepladder idea (seen a pic of it somewhere) is to stand the ladder up as usual and have the bike inbetween the 2 vertical lengths. You'd need a specific type of ladder where the horizontal bit didnt get in the way though.

Re: Best way to change out rear shock?
 

An alternative way is to place axle stands under the main frame underneath the footpegs, and then to take off the rear paddock stand. Ive done it that way a couple of times and had worked fine for me. Just make sure the frame has a decent seating on the axle stands so it doesnt fall. Its a pretty simple and suprisingly quick job if youre swapping standard for standard

Re: Best way to change out rear shock?
 

You may as well regrease the pivot points while you have the shock out though :)

Re: Best way to change out rear shock?
 

Thanks for the suggestions guys! :D

And I think I'll be having a good ol' clean and regrease round those parts whilst the swap is taking place.

(I have an unhealthy obsession with cleaning my bike...)

Re: Best way to change out rear shock?
 

What, like an 'A'? ;-)

Re: Best way to change out rear shock?
 

:smt082

Re: Best way to change out rear shock?
 

Looking at the bike, it would be advisable to get a headstock stand (about £50 from Germany) to support the front if your swapping the shock before putting the front on the bike.

With regards to supporting the rear, strip off the rear plastics and run a decent piece of wood through the subframe, or if the missus wouldn't flip: Block and tackle like so

http://www.corporateflyfishing.com/i...twin/zx10a.jpg

Re: Best way to change out rear shock?
 

What can I say, I'm vowelaphobic! :-D:-D:-D:-D

Re: Best way to change out rear shock?
 

Will be doing it with the front end on, (probably should have mentioned this in my initial post), so there will be support for the front end. Good idea with regards to the subframe!

Re: Best way to change out rear shock?
 

And I should mention there is no missus to please in the equation... anything goes!

Re: Best way to change out rear shock?
 

Hire your local wrestling team to come and hold it up for you?

Re: Best way to change out rear shock?
 

Perfect!

Re: Best way to change out rear shock?
 

You could always buy an Abba stand.

Re: Best way to change out rear shock?
 

Good point actually, might see if anyone i know has one i could borrow. Trying to do it on the cheap you see! :)

Re: Best way to change out rear shock?
 

If you are going to have the front end attached then you can use car axle stands under the main footpeg brackets (i.e. the U shaped bit that the peg hinges in). This keeps the stands well out of the way compared to using the pillion pegs and it's perfectly stable.

Re: Best way to change out rear shock?
 

Good idea matey, taking all of this onboard! :D

Re: Best way to change out rear shock?
 

Voila!

Re: Best way to change out rear shock?
 

That'd be the one then! The guy whose kitchen the bike is in at the moment has some interesting ideas involving a plank of wood and a garden gate, i'll put all of these suggestions to him and then i'll post up some pics when we decide on the method!

Re: Best way to change out rear shock?
 

If there are two of you it'd be easy to lift the bike onto a pair of el cheapo axle stands.

Re: Best way to change out rear shock?
 

I just lifted my bike up at the back and got a mate to sling stands under the frame of the bike .

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...ayStuff005.jpg

Re: Best way to change out rear shock?
 

BOSSSSHHH and the Badgerman has it covered.

Re: Best way to change out rear shock?
 

Well you did say "El Cheapo Axle Stands" :)

Re: Best way to change out rear shock?
 

That last idea seems the most sensible, i'll see what resources are available :)

Re: Best way to change out rear shock?
 

you've probebly done it by now but i just spotted a little tip on svr. pop the pins out of the pegs and turn the pegs round the other way and pop the pins back in then put axle stands under the pegs.

Re: Best way to change out rear shock?
 

Haven't done it as yet, great idea!

Re: Best way to change out rear shock?
 

Use a scissor jack on top off the rear wheel, put a pad on top of the jack(tea towel) and wind out to press up under the rear mudguard until the pressure is taken off the suspension.

Re: Best way to change out rear shock?
 

All whilst on the sidestand?!

Re: Best way to change out rear shock?
 

Yep. do my Firestorm like this all the time when overhauling the linkage, will be doing my sv soon same way, can also use a paddock stand under swing arm for more room, very stable.