Thread: How in the hell? Shock springs

Besides the he-man technique, is there an easy way to compress the rear shock springs enough to get them screwed back together....
I spent an hour last night with a vise to hold the shock body, but I just ended up with red hands and pissed off.
There has got to be a better way.

Ok crude but effective...What i did was get a piece of heavy wood (3/4" ply is good, ) make it about 10" long, and drill a 1/2" hole on each end, then use a hole saw to cut a hole in the center large enough to go over the shock mount shaft but smaller than the cover( or spring) Then put a long rod of some type through the bottom hole, put the wood over the top, then get some motorcycle tie downs.(the crank sinching type works best) hook them into the end holes on the wood then hook around the bar on the bottom start sinching it up a little at a time back and forth until you can get to the nut and shaft...TADA Dean

Wow,

Sounds like some extreme engineering!

Go to www.hondaminitrailtools.com
Jeff makes an excellent rear shock compressor.
I highly recommend it.

Marcus

Jeff made some excellent tools. Unfortunately, he seems to have disappeared from the scene. You really should use a spring compressor to disassemble/reassemble the shocks. It is possible to use the brute force method if you have an assistant, but it's all too easy to slip when reassembling them. Think you're pissed-off now? Imagine how you'd feel after slipping an ruining freshly refinished shocks

Jeff is still in business. I just talked to him a two weeks ago.

Marcus

I made a real simple one.Find you some all thread rod,3/8 works great.And some type of base for top and bottom with a hole drilled in the top for the upper shock to pass through.Place the rod on either side with nuts and washers at both ends and allowing for the upper nuts to compress the shock when tightened.I used a piece of 1/4 in aluminum plate for the top which allows for more room when accessing the nut on the shock.I got some rubber on the bottom of the top plate to protect the shock. Works great and takes no time to build nor break the shock down. On the bottom side i used a 2x6 and contersunk a 1 -1/4 in.hole in the center 1/2 way through so the bottom wouldn't try and move/slip. LOL