showa shocks

[tygerfifteen]

just got one from battlescooter (thanks abe)
do i have to do anthing special to it, oil or grease or anything before the install?

thanks.

[Turkish]

Didn't do anything to mine, watch ya don't bend in the tabs @ the bottom end of the shock when tightening it on..

[Robo-Mod]

Which length did you get?

[Turkish]

Me..?

I bough the stock length, um 260mm was it..?
3 clicks of preload, I weight about 165, and ride on crappy asphalt city streets most of the time...

[Robo-Mod]

I'm thinking of a 245mm, and setting the preload high.

Do you thing that is too low? Hows the preload? Stiffer than stock?

[tygerfifteen]

i got the 285,

how do you adjust the preload , what tool do you use, was the shock supposed to come with some sort of key?

thanks

[Dandy Dan]

You just twist a thing. You'll see it. It's a bit hard to twist all the way up to 5/5 but if it's too hard use leather gloves or something. There is a tool but I'm not that strong and I got mine to 5/5 w/o any tools or anything.

[SqUiRmInAtOr/ Phred 501]

dandydan said:

You just twist a thing. You'll see it. It's a bit hard to twist all the way up to 5/5 but if it's too hard use leather gloves or something. There is a tool but I'm not that strong and I got mine to 5/5 w/o any tools or anything.

They used to give you a spanner wrench that would grab a notch in the adjustment ring. I had one from a bicycle that worked. Here is another reason to have a strap wrench laying around. Grabs great and no worries of slipping off and scratching a finish. ;D

[Dandy Dan]

Yeah the strap wrench is a great idea if you don't have the spanner tool. With my bare hands the first 2-3 clicks came pretty easy but the 4th and 5th ones were a bit of hard work. You need to have good grip to get it all the way to 5 so the leather gloves work good if they fit well and you're up for a challenge.

[tygerfifteen]

dumb ques, but clockwise or counter?
thanks

[SqUiRmInAtOr/ Phred 501]

Yep dats a goodin!! Are you viewing from the top or the bottom JOKING The adjusting collar has steps that fit in the tab welded on the side of the shock tube and compress or let the spring open. Turning in the direction that compresses gives you more preload or a stiffer ride.Lengthen the spring by turning the opposite way for a softer ride. Clear enough?

[Turkish]

leather gloves are all I used to click the preload up, it makes for a much less "bouncy" ride.

[Dandy Dan]

Once you get the shock it'll be pretty obvious. If you turn it one way there'll be steps you're clicking it up (picture the siluette (sp?) of a mountain range in which the mountains are getting higher and you'll have a good idea) and if you turn it the other way you'll run into a wall. Don't worry about it, it's easy.

P.S. If the shock is right side up I think you turn the aluminum step piece counter-clockwise as if you were loosening a nut off of a bolt but I could be wrong. It was 8mth ago-ish that I installed mine.

[Dandy Dan]

turkish said:

leather gloves are all I used to click the preload up

Yeah! Vote #2 for leather gloves. It may not be the easiest to click all the way to 5/5 but everyone's got a pair somewhere and it just takes a sec. Do it this way if you don't have a strap wrench or something. Even if you have the strap wrench you still need to hold the shock still somehow so leather gloves are ideal.