Removing a rear shock

[Xan]

#3246

I'm going to remove the rear shock from my motorcycle to send it back to Ohlins to replace the spring.I wonder what I can do to hold the motorcycle after I removed the rear shock.  😕I have to leave the motorcycle without the rear shock for a couple of weeks or several weeks until Ohlins send the shock back to me.I remember that when a friend of mine replaced his shock, he used the beam on the ceiling and ratchet to hold the motorcycle.I can't do that.I saw a special tool on the Internet to serve the purpose.But I'm not keen to buy such a tool, as this will be one-off job to me.What do people do when you replace a rear shock?

[Dave Ross]

#13480

Well, most people keep their old shocks for that reason.  You could probably just stick a piece of wood in there. More secure would be a flat bar with holes at either end to it the shock mount. You might even be able to do this with a piece of plywood that's the thickness of the of the shock ends. I am not familiar with how the shocks are attached on your bike. If you could measure the distance between the mounting holes I could probably make something for you.

[Tim BLAKE]

#13481

I just put a strap between header cross pipe and the centre stand to prevent the bike from coming off the stand if knocked forward and then support the swing arm with a jack (you could put another strap between it and the frame if you were worried that the lack might be knocked out of place.) PS I also put blocks of wood under the centre stand legs to give me a bit of extra height to take the wheel out etc. so the chance of the bike tipping forward is greater but with the strap it's fine.

[Xan]

#13482

I have come across a bigger ($ wise) issue for removing the rear shock by myself.  🙁I didn’t realise that I need to remove a rear wheel.  😳Unfortunately, my motorcycle (Duc) does not have a centre stand.I didn’t mind to buy a bike stand for front, which was quoted $175.I saw several cheaper stands but I have to see if it works for my bike or not.My problem is a stand for rear wheel.It is also quoted $175 (some are cheaper).But I have a secret plan to change my motorcycle that will be a single swing arm.I was told that the rear stand for single swing arm is special and you can’t use normal stand.So, if I buy a stand for the rear, that will be a waste.Apart from that, I am getting wondering if it is worth to spend $350 for stands for this one-off job.I will adjust chain, change the preload setting of the rear shock for track days but I can do it on the side stand.I have a quote for labour and it is $90 for removing the shock and fit it later.Thank you for your suggestions but I may cancel the DIY idea...  😐

[Anonymous]

#13483

Believe some of us will be in the same location as the Monsta on Saturday: why don't we have a see at the situation and come up with a plan, Stan? I'm with Alex, it can't be too difficultsome.

[Anonymous]

#13484

By Duc if you mead Ducati, I just use a block of wood on a floor jack under the crank case to support when working on the rear suspension. Once the suspension is out,  the bike  can just sit on the jack or you can replace the jack with some blocks.

[Xan]

#13485

Thank you for your offer, Bwucie (and Alex).  🙂But I have a time constraint too, as I must send the shock to Ohlins on Tuesday morning.(Monday is a public holiday in Auckland.)I need a different spring before 1/Mar (next my track day) and the shock must be fitted before.Rob at Ohlins promised me that he will change the spring and send it back to me in time if I send it next Tuesday.So, if I can’t do it by myself, I must take the bike to the workshop (Haldane) this Saturday, as they don't open on Sunday & Monday.They said that they will do it for me on Saturday morning if I want.(while I was typing this, I’ve got an update from BillyBM).Thanks BillyBM.Your comment makes my mission much easier.Yes, my bike is Ducati and it is a Monster 696.So, after you removed the rear suspension and the rear wheel, does the bike sit on the jack without collapsing?I thought that the bike will move like a seesaw without a rear shock and a rear wheel...

[Anonymous]

#13486

Trade it in on the new BMW 1000rr. 😀 Then you be the fast Neko on the road 😉

[Anonymous]

#13487

What I did to take the shock out of the 900 SS was jack it up , sit it on  chocks ( under the crank case)  and then use the jack under the swing arm to take the load off the bolts so I could remove the shock bolts. I had the front end in a wheel chock and it was fine. Make sure you put the chock well back. I nailed together a couple of bits of 50mm square onto a 150 by 50 so the (50x 50) chocks sat either side of the front pipe that runs under the crank case. On the 900ss you can take the shock out without removing the wheel.

[Xan]

#13488

I have discussed with my “chief mechanic” (Mr. Tucker) and we decided to miss DIY opportunity this time.Since Haldane offer me the minimum labour (0.5 hour to remove the shock and 0.5 hour to fit it back, 0.5 hour is their minimum labour unit) and I can't miss the Tuesday morning deadline.I took my bike to Haldane this morning and studied what they do.Geez, it was quick!  😮It took less than15 minutes for them.(excluding that they had to move some bikes to create a space for my bike, as my bike won't be able to move.)He used a front and a rear stand to hold the bike.Those stands are dedicated to Ducati Monsters and the bike was stable.He asked an assistant boy to jack up the bike.Told him to stop at a certain point and he just pulled out the shock.He lowered the jack a little bit and finished.Bike was completely stable while he was working on it.If you have the right tools (dedicated stands) and experience (how much jack up to remove the shock and how much lowered the jack after removed the shock), the task is really a piece of cake.They packed the shock for me (good service) so, I could send it to Ohlins this morning.I may try DIY if I get a chance and time next time and I will read your comments again.Thank you all for suggestions.  🙂

[Anonymous]

#13489

Thats about how long it took me. A bike lift would be great but as the Ducati is not mine it is a bit harder to justify, my 1100 S has a centre stand which makes like real easy as does the single sided swing arm.

[David]

#13490

And just to finish the story the shock was refitted in 10 minutes between beers on a Friday evening. Good work Haldanes! I then got to road test it in heavy motorway traffic for 30 minutes. It was perfect, soft, everything Neko doesnt want 🙂 But I am twice her weight so it should now be great for her on the track!  😀

[Xan]

#13491

Thank you, Mr Tucker for follow up.I was slack for not ending the story, sorry.  😳There was a hick up with NZ Post courier and the shock didn't arrive at Ohlins in New Plymouth until Thursday lunch time.  🙁But Rob at Ohlins worked on it as soon as he received the shock and he sent it back to me in Auckland straight away.I was surprised to see that the shock was sitting on my desk when I got to the office next morning on Friday.  😮I was going to get it fitted next day, on Saturday and I called Haldane.They reminded me that Saturday was Waitangi day and they are closed.I didn't want to leave another week, so, I dropped off the shock.I usually get to the office by car and I wondered how I can drive a car and ride a motorcycle at the same time.Even while women are capable of multi tasking  :-D, that looked like a mission impossible.  😐So, I called my help desk (Mr. Tucker) and that is why he ended to ride my Monster.Anyway, both Rob at Ohlins and Haldane were so helpful and they provide very good service.  🙂

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