i can't get the rear lock ring loosened to set the sag on my bike- looking from the top, which way loosens the ring?
never had a problem on my roadbike, but want to double check to make sure things aren't backwards here... 
rear shock- loosening lock ring
Started by
edscholl
, Jul 11 2009 02:24 PM
28 replies to this topic
Posted 11 July 2009 - 02:24 PM
ok, stupid question, but i'd rather ask something dumb than do something stupid....
i can't get the rear lock ring loosened to set the sag on my bike- looking from the top, which way loosens the ring? never had a problem on my roadbike, but want to double check to make sure things aren't backwards here...
i can't get the rear lock ring loosened to set the sag on my bike- looking from the top, which way loosens the ring?
never had a problem on my roadbike, but want to double check to make sure things aren't backwards here...
Posted 11 July 2009 - 03:01 PM
dragbiker said:
Counterclockwise.
thanks... what i was doing. i guess i gotta go get a drift, as i don't want to hit it any harder w/ a screwdriver... looks like it's going to shear part of the ring off...
Posted 12 July 2009 - 10:55 AM
DONT HAMMER the ring, you may get it out of round and if continued to force it you may ruin the threads on the shock. A little penetrating oil and a spanner wrench will make you and your shock happy. Clean the threads all the way around first.
Posted 12 July 2009 - 11:22 AM
Top Tip!
Take as much weight as possible off the shock.
What I mean is, short of actually taking the shock off put the bike on a stand & have the rear wheel free to spin.
Less compression on the spring - the easier it will be to compress it with the adjuster ring.
Take as much weight as possible off the shock.
What I mean is, short of actually taking the shock off put the bike on a stand & have the rear wheel free to spin.
Less compression on the spring - the easier it will be to compress it with the adjuster ring.
Posted 12 July 2009 - 12:42 PM
I took mine from factory adjusted setting to max compression all the way with a hammer and metal rod. That's how I roll.
Posted 12 July 2009 - 12:54 PM
A spanner wrench is the right tool. A brass drift is a acceptable tool to loosen the locking ring. If you put the bike on a stand as suggested above, you can then grab the spring and turn it by hand,, It will move the adjusting ring along with it most times.
Posted 12 July 2009 - 01:00 PM
MHouser said:
I took mine from factory adjusted setting to max compression all the way with a hammer and metal rod. That's how I roll.
Did you hammer it all the way down to the end of the threads? If so your well on your way to rolling towards a ruined spring.
Posted 12 July 2009 - 01:04 PM
i do have the bike up on a stand... oiled it last night, and let it stand... still can't get the locking ring to loosen...
what kind of spanner wrench are you guys using- there's no space to move one?
what kind of spanner wrench are you guys using- there's no space to move one?
Posted 12 July 2009 - 01:14 PM
edscholl said:
i do have the bike up on a stand... oiled it last night, and let it stand... still can't get the locking ring to loosen...
what kind of spanner wrench are you guys using- there's no space to move one?
what kind of spanner wrench are you guys using- there's no space to move one?
Most generally there is only one correct fitting wrench. One that fully engages the depth of the wrenching flat while at the same time has the correct or matching radius of the nuts OD. If both criteria are not held then you may damage the nut or your hands when it slips off. While some brands are thicker than others, you will want the slimmest one that fits correctly due to space constraints. Yes its not easy finding the good angle or room to turn it, but it can be done.
Posted 12 July 2009 - 01:15 PM
eddie odell said:
DONT HAMMER the ring, you may get it out of round and if continued to force it you may ruin the threads on the shock. A little penetrating oil and a spanner wrench will make you and your shock happy. Clean the threads all the way around first.
+1
My dad goobered up the top ring on my TTR 250 and had to have a new ring machined for it. I've done the jack the bike up and turn the spring method without any hick ups so far. If the spring turns, and the rings don't, LIGHTLY tapping on the rings with a drift and hammer then try turning the spring again.
Posted 12 July 2009 - 01:53 PM
I didn't have any trouble with mine. I used a big flathead screw driver to loosen the lock ring, then with the bike on the lift rotated the spring with my hand. I probably spent about 30 minutes from the time I rolled the bike out of its nook in the garage to the time I rolled it back.
Posted 12 July 2009 - 02:08 PM
ptgarcia said:
I didn't have any trouble with mine. I used a big flathead screw driver to loosen the lock ring, then with the bike on the lift rotated the spring with my hand. I probably spent about 30 minutes from the time I rolled the bike out of its nook in the garage to the time I rolled it back.
Yes thats usually how it goes. I'm just trying to help with this stuck ring thing??
Maybe someone else has already booogered up the threads??
Posted 12 July 2009 - 07:51 PM
eddie odell said:
Yes thats usually how it goes. I'm just trying to help with this stuck ring thing??
Maybe someone else has already booogered up the threads??
Maybe someone else has already booogered up the threads??
grrrr, ring still not moving... what specific spanner are folks able to get in there? after that, my only option is probably to remove the the shock i'm assuming?
Posted 12 July 2009 - 08:38 PM
edscholl said:
grrrr, ring still not moving... what specific spanner are folks able to get in there? after that, my only option is probably to remove the the shock i'm assuming?
You aren't going to get a spanner in there without pulling the air boot out. Probably easier to just go ahead and remove the shock.
Posted 13 July 2009 - 05:24 AM
I think I would just remove the shock at this point. I have a spanner like the first one in Bronco's post above, but I couldn't get it to grab the ring with the shock on the bike. It worked great with the shock on my workbench, though. To adjust it on the bike, I used a screwdriver and a rubber mallet and gently tap-tap-tapped for a while...
Posted 13 July 2009 - 05:37 AM
Rob H said:
I think I would just remove the shock at this point. I have a spanner like the first one in Bronco's post above, but I couldn't get it to grab the ring with the shock on the bike. It worked great with the shock on my workbench, though. To adjust it on the bike, I used a screwdriver and a rubber mallet and gently tap-tap-tapped for a while...
i have a spanner like the second one in the post and i couldn't get that think in there either. i really don't see how any spanner will fit in there. i just used a screwdriver and mallet as well and tapped it for a while till it came loose.
and just to clarify you do know that it goes counter clockwise if you are looking DOWN at the shock and not up from the bottom, right? just want to make sure.
Posted 13 July 2009 - 06:18 AM
Yeh just remove it and deal with it on the bench. You do have penetrating oil going on it and not just oil right.
Posted 13 July 2009 - 09:56 AM
djsather said:
and just to clarify you do know that it goes counter clockwise if you are looking DOWN at the shock and not up from the bottom, right? just want to make sure.
yeah, trying to turn it the right way... that was my first question in this thread when it wasn't budging- wanted to make sure i wasn't doing anything super dumb!
eddie odell said:
Yeh just remove it and deal with it on the bench. You do have penetrating oil going on it and not just oil right.
yup.
