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Gbaz
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 19, 2008 - 09:18 am: | 
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I was thinking about shimming my forks and rear shock. Anyone know off hand what size pvc pipe each uses? IE- 1 inch in front and 2-1/2 in rear sch80? Gona do the 1/4inch thinck spacer in rear and 1 inch in front with 30wt oil when i have time to pull everything apart. |
Maximum
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 19, 2008 - 10:14 am: |
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For the front springs, I used a couple 3/4" schedule C straight connectors, which has been working great. Just cut down to size a little (about 1"). This is a two man operation...but pretty easy to do.
For the rear shock, I went a different way. I purchased a rubber muffler hanger from the auto parts store. With a light coat of oil, the rubber ring slipped over the shock perfectly!
The toughest part was compressing the spring enough to get the snap ring off, and it was even more difficult to get the shock compressed that extra 1/4" to get the snap ring back on. I even purchased a Race Tech spring compressing tool, and it was still a bear! I had to modify this $100 tool to get it to work on the Blast shock and then had to use a ratchet strap in order the make this a one man operation. Check out the flex it the steel Race Tech tool.
The energy in this spring is so great that for I while I thought my strap was going to break and that it would kill me (OK, maybe a little drama there). But in the end...the tool and rig worked great, and the shock came back together fine, and the ride is feeling perfect!
So just in case I didn't emphasis it enough...the Blast spring is very difficult to compress...and very very dangerous while compressed...so be very very very careful during this process! |
Ezblast
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 19, 2008 - 10:48 am: |
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Bravo!
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Gearheaderiko
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 19, 2008 - 07:29 pm: |
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Cool!
"I had to modify this $100 tool to get it to work" LOL! Been there done that! Thats an awfully scary looking tool to use.
Some day, I'd like to find out who makes the professional grade spring compressors for small shocks. I've seen them. They look like Macpherson strut compressors (which I've used on mc shocks), only smaller.
I'd love to see some of these tools listed in the "Tools needed to work on your Blast" thread.
PS most of the spring/shock tools you see commonly listed anywhere are junk (read Progressive Suspension). Ask around to see if they are worth buying before you do or what mods will be needed to use them! |
Gearheaderiko
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 19, 2008 - 07:37 pm: |
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WARNING:
When pulling apart the front forks DO NOT LOSE the circlips that hold the stops in. They are IMPOSSIBLE to buy and almost impossible to find on the ground.
They are simple clips that can probably be found at a good bearing or transmission parts place, but dont count on it!
Its not really a 2 man job to do the front springs, but if you havent done it before an extra set of hands will really (really) help. (and an extra set of eyes to help you find the clip)
PS Dont forget to lift the front end of the ground before you pull the forks apart!!! IT happens! |
Gbaz
| | Posted on Thursday, March 20, 2008 - 08:04 am: |
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well i did not like the look of the tool listed above, and i had so many problems finding a shop to pull off my vstar's spring that i started looking for a spring compressor again. I found one listed as a motorcycle spring compressor on ebay for $40. i cant like it because im at work, but the seller's name is pit posse out of FL. I ordered one and will let yall know how well it works, or dosent, when i get it in. |
Gbaz
| | Posted on Friday, April 11, 2008 - 02:58 pm: |
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well that tool worked great, no problems puling the shock apart, and putting the shim on. |
Gearheaderiko
| | Posted on Saturday, April 12, 2008 - 02:19 am: |
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Pictures (of tool)? |
Gearheaderiko
| | Posted on Saturday, April 12, 2008 - 02:28 am: |
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Lots of good stuff on their site. You could actually use this tool with the shock on the bike!
No problems with it slipping off?
(Message edited by gearheaderiko on April 12, 2008) |
Gbaz
| | Posted on Saturday, April 12, 2008 - 11:54 am: |
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no, it worked great. i think it was meant for a smaller dirt bike, but it compressed the spring enough for me to slip a rubber hanger on like max did. would be really hard to do on the bike though. much easer to take it off.
(Message edited by gbaz on April 12, 2008) |
Gearheaderiko
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 16, 2008 - 01:31 am: |
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Would you be able to pull the shock apart or only slip in a spacer? (IE: could you pull the top locking piece or snap ring off).
When compressing did it seem that you were reaching the limits of the tool as far as stress or strength was concerned?
Thanks! |
Gbaz
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 16, 2008 - 09:33 am: |
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I was able to pull it apart, the rubber spacer requires that you take it all apart. The tool seemed fine, the only issue i had was that it was a close fit with the spring fully compressed and the spacer installed (i was only compressing 3-4 bands of the spring). I dont like working with springs, too much energy stored in one when you have it compressed, but i never felt that the tool was going to fail, or slip off. There are no safety devices like there are on car spring compressors, and i did not have a vice to put the shock in, so i was really careful with the thing.
On a side note, i shimed the rear, and have not messed with the front yet and it feels like the bike does not bottom out when i hit potholes and such.
(Message edited by gbaz on April 16, 2008) |
Gearheaderiko
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 16, 2008 - 10:55 pm: |
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Sounds good. I've used some tools that were very scary. Considering the power of the Blast spring, that tool sounds like a winner. |
Gbaz
| | Posted on Thursday, April 17, 2008 - 08:01 am: |
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and the good thing is you only have to do it once.... |
Berkshire
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 25, 2008 - 05:02 am: |
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I just bought a set of GSXR shift & brake levers from that same seller for making rearsets - looks like I have something else to combine shipping now! |
Berkshire
| | Posted on Sunday, August 24, 2008 - 05:53 am: |
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It turns out the little mounts to attach the pegs & levers aren't cheap, so rearsets are on hold for now.
I didn't win the auction for the spring compressor, but other people are selling them for less than the vendor mentioned above, so no loss there.
Actually, i've been wondering... does the front mount for the rear shock on a tuber mount directly to the crankcase? I've been thinking a tuber shock & swingarm setup might be more cost-effective than an aftermarket Blast shock, and it seems like there should be some sort of shock mount that would attach to the underside of the motor near the front, but I've never had a close look at one. The tubers have a different primary cover, so if there is such a bracket it might not fit a Blast anyway, but it's something to think about...
I bet it would look cool! |
Berkshire
| | Posted on Sunday, August 24, 2008 - 06:22 am: |
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nevermind - I found a pic of the bracket - it appears to mount to the bolts that hold the cases together at the front, so I don't think it would work on a Blast. |
Ezblast
| | Posted on Thursday, October 09, 2008 - 03:42 pm: |
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Edward,
Good Morning and thanks again for your call earlier. We do have some
interest for this bike however not enough to put into production. We could
do a special run/Group Buy for this bike with a 25-30 SuperBrace minimum.
Can you make a few posts to see if there's enough interest?
Ride safe and looking forward to a possible of a Blast Group Buy,
Chris
SuperBrace - the Ultimate Fork Stabilizer
www.superbrace.com
If anyone is interested - PM me.
EZ |
Johnnymac
| | Posted on Friday, October 10, 2008 - 09:22 am: |
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Ed, is there any idea what the price per brace would be? |
Ezblast
| | Posted on Friday, October 10, 2008 - 10:58 am: |
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He said a bit less than 150.
EZ |
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