How to dissemble factory shocks?

[82Suzie]

The shocks on my 82 GS750E are in bad shape, the piston shafts are both very badly pitted.
So I looked around for a set of original shocks and found a decent set.
They're a little dirty but should clean up well.
Now I would like to dissemble them and clean and polish.

Has anyone done this before?
Any advice?

[Dan]

The shocks on my 82 GS750E are in bad shape, the piston shafts are both very badly pitted.
So I looked around for a set of original shocks and found a decent set.
They're a little dirty but should clean up well.
Now I would like to dissemble them and clean and polish.

Has anyone done this before?
Any advice?

First loosen your preload then there is a rubber boot covering the jam nut on the piston shaft, put your open end of the wrench between the spring coil to loosen it and you just spin that side mount off the shaft to release the spring

[Eli69]

check this thread out, it might help a little: http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum...riginal-Shocks

[82Suzie]

Dan: Thanks for the directions, I'm looking forward for taking the first on apart.

Eli69: Great before and after picture, I hope mine turn out just like those.
Did you have any issues using straps to compress the springs?

If the shocks are still in good shape I'll use them, my planned riding still for this bike is mainly touring.

[SVSooke]

A more detailed thread http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum...ols&highlight= by yours truly

[Eli69]

my straps don't have the ratcheting tightener and they tend to slip around a little but no real problem. mr.svsooke's shocks turned out really nicely. it seems that if the shocks (with springs off) push in easily and pull out hard, they're working as they should.

[82Suzie]

A more detailed thread http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum...ols&highlight= by yours truly

Thanks for the pictures, I need all the help I can get and this gives me a better idea of what to do

[SVSooke]

my straps don't have the ratcheting tightener and they tend to slip around a little but no real problem. mr.svsooke's shocks turned out really nicely. it seems that if the shocks (with springs off) push in easily and pull out hard, they're working as they should.

I bought some "cam buckle" straps by accident,ratchets may be a bit more $$ but are well worth it IMO.

Thanks for the pictures, I need all the help I can get and this gives me a better idea of what to do

That is what we are here for,for the most part anyway

[82Suzie]

I'm not clear as to how to remove the dust cover dampen setting thingy.
What an I not seeing?




What happened to the post that said how to work with the dampening selector?

[82Suzie]

Borrowed a homemade spring compressor and pulled one of the shocks off my bike to experiment with.



www.dmacweb.com/bin/750/dsc_0002.jpg
www.dmacweb.com/bin/750/dsc_0004.jpg

[82Suzie]

There is a nut securing the dampening selector in place. It should be interesting finding out how to remove it without damage.

[82Suzie]

Today I made some progress with the shocks, I hope.
I experimented with one of the shocks I pulled from my bike to learn how to do this.
Got it, it's not that bad when you've done it once.

The process is:
1. Compress spring and place a 17mm open end wrench around the retaining nut.
2. Turn head of shock (the dampener setting unit) counter clockwise a couple of turns.
3. Compress spring a little to take tension off of the head of the shock.
4. Turn shock head by hand counter clockwiseuntil removed. Watch for very small spring and ball nearing that may drop out.

With the shock off my bike I was able to pull the stem upwards to get an idea to see if it worn out as the piston stem was badly corroded.

Then with increased confidence I remove the spring from the first shock I purchased for eBay.
When I pull the piston stem I suddenly hit oil! It came from the top of the stem. In the pictures you can see I lost most of the oil. The piston stem has a tiny O-ring that I assume keeps the oil in the shock and keeps the stem from coming out.
This did not happen on the first shock I tried, in fact I was not able to remove the stem.

Next I removed the spring fro the second shock I purchased from eBay, being very careful not to do anything to disturb the rod in the stem. See picture of shock, looks good right? Well I had no sooner picked up the shock after taking the picture when the rod in the stem shot up like a missile and with it most of the internal oil.

Assuming that the O-ring on the rod is to keep everything in place any idea of what oil I can use to replace what has been lost and how much I'll need for each shock??

[82Suzie]

Any idea of how much oil I'll need for each shock??