Spring swap...how to?

[rbuzaleski]

I need to take a spring from one shock and put it on another. I don't need advice on whether the actual swap is a good idea; I know it's a compromise but have had the ending shock/spring rate combo recommended by several knowledgable people.

The problem is that I can't find an MC shop that has the tools to do it. So I have two questions:

Should most automotive shops be able to do a swap like this on a motorcycle shock?

If not, assuming I buy a good spring compressor and respect the power of the spring, is this something I can do myself? I'm fairly mechaically inclinced, have replaced suspension on cars and bikes, done brake work and most of the other things it's possible to do yourself on a car/bike, I've just not done anything like this.

[curley]

try one of the guys below - suggest the powder coater - they have to take the spring off the shock to coat it - some of the HD guys may have the stuff to do it too- can't let those Hawgs bottom out on the pot holes on I-271!.....good luck

AMERICAN CYCLE WORKS INC 5340 BROADWAY AVE 44127 (216) 441-1940
CLEVELAND MOTORCYCLE MANUFACTURING CO 4327 LORAIN AVE 44113 (216) 961-5151
CUSTOM POWDER COATING 7334 ASSOCIATE AVE 44144 (216) 281-8098
DELZANI'S CYCLE 1251 LINDA ST 44116 (440) 356-2730
FISHER CYCLE 22790 LAKELAND BLVD 44132 (216) 731-3911
HYDRO-SPORTS JET SKI REPAIR 12600 BROADWAY AVE 44125 (216) 901-9820
KUSTOM CYCLE INC 2010 DENISON AVE 44109 (216) 741-4269
MOTORCYCLE SPECIALTIES INC 4306 WARNER RD 44105 (216) 883-4551
PHANTOM CYCLE 3819 W 140TH ST 44111 (216) 251-5475
PLATINUM CYCLE ASSOC 6602 SUPERIOR AVE 44103 (216) 426-0069
RIDERS CHOICE MOTORCYCLES 12501 LARCHMERE BLVD 44120 (216) 795-0537
SUMMIT CYCLE 4575 STATE RD 44109 (330) 945-7809

[twf]

what shock?

[rbuzaleski]

I have an 03 636 and an 05 'busa. SVRaceshop has advised me that I could probably get away with the 'busa, but I would need a different spring, in the neighborhood of 550#. The 636 spring should be 540#, right?

Or is this just something that's not done? I can't afford to buy the new spring yet, so I was hoping to get by with what I had. There's no way to fit the 636 shock in my bike without totally relocating the battery. I'm gonna need a thinner battery for the 'busa, but it looks like an R1 battery will work.

If I am being stupid, don't hesitate to tell me.

[twf]

hayabusa spring is way to stiff.putting 636 spring on(if it fits)will make shock way out on valving and depending what you weight still be stiff.
you got bad advice.

[rbuzaleski]

I weigh about 250, so I think the 540/550# spring might be where I want to be, no?

Is there any shock that's about the right length (I don't mind a slight increase in seat height, I'm tall) and psring rate?

The 636 seems perfect, just 1 cm longer and with the 540# spring, but I don't see how to make it fit with the 05 battery box. Am I missing something? Any help appreciated.

[racinteach]

the 636 fits better then the others on the 05 bike...it has a smaller reservoir on it..it will rub up to it and depending on the bike...may only require just a bit of trimming...if any...

[twf]

Originally posted by rbuzaleski
I weigh about 250, so I think the 540/550# spring might be where I want to be, no?

550 is ok,for street you can go even softer(500),depending on your riding.
jam that 636 shock in and forget about busa one.
03-04 gsxr 1000 would be good also.

[Kyoseki]

Originally posted by twf
550 is ok,for street you can go even softer(500),depending on your riding.
jam that 636 shock in and forget about busa one.
03-04 gsxr 1000 would be good also.
I'm 250+ gear and Penske recommended me a 600 lb/in spring for my 1000 (8981 shock), I have to say it's a little too stiff, I think I'm going to have to replace it with a 550.

Fortunately that shouldn't require a revalve.

[twf]

usualy big twins run one size up on spring.

[Kyoseki]

Originally posted by twf
usualy big twins run one size up on spring.
It still feels rather oversprung at the back, I've got 1.05kg/mm fork springs on it and they feel great.

On the whole though I'd rather be too stiff than floppy :)

[rbuzaleski]

I'd have to trim more than a little bit to get the 636 shock in there. I've already got most of the front of the box trimmed off, and would have had to trim off the part where the tip sensor mounts to fit the 636 in there. That's why I liked the 'busa shock, since its reservoir points the other way and could be fit in without relocating the sensor. Also, its reservoir doesn't project into the battery box as much. I could probably have gotten away with using a thinner battery if the 'busa had been usable.

With the 636 shock, I had it in there with the bolts and dog bones all in place and it projects so far into the box that no battery is gonna fit. Is there something I could be doing wrong that would make it push in that far? The only way I can think of to make it work is to relocate the tip sensor to the inside back of the battery box, then cut away most of the tool box and fabricate a battery box down there, but I'm not sure if the top of the battery would clear the shock if I did that.

Thanks for the help so far. Any more advice is appreciated.

[rbuzaleski]

BUMP

Can anybody think of anything I could be doing wrong to make the 636 shock push too far into the battery box? I'm not removing the rear wheel or anything, just taking off all the tail plastic and seatss, hanging the rear from straps, and letting the swingarm hang down as far as it wants to.

Any help appreciated. I'd like to take another crack at it this weekend.