| Author | Message | ||
     Jon |
I installed a Penske shock on my X1. I installed it in the same fashion as the stock shock was installed, with the resevior line leading toward the front of the bike...however, the line is so long, I amd wondering if the shock should have been installed the other way around. Does it matter? What is an optimum place for the reservior? | ||
| Nocompromise |
I'm about to buy a Penske myself. Here is a link to some discussion on mounting the reservoir. Let me know if you find a good solution since I'll be dealing with the same thing soon. http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/384 2/251321.html?1174501613 | ||
| Ratbuell |
I mounted the one on my S1W on the front isolator mount downtube, just above where a frame brace would go. Its mounted with the adjuster at the top and I put a keychain ring thru the adjuster so I can reach down with my left hand while riding, and make "on-the-fly" adjustments if I need to. For routing, I ran the braided line above the exhaust and thru the gap between the header hangar and the engine case. I'll have to get a pic, I'm sure that sounds confusing.... | ||
| Jon |
Thanks, Guys. Geat pics. The length of the line is a question mark for everybody, it seems. Looks like everybody mounted the shock the way I did. I was concerned about the reservior being mounted too close to the engine and getting too hot. Is that a concern? (Message edited by jon on July 16, 2007) | ||
| Kdkerr2 |
Yes it is. One of the reasons that Buell abandoned the underslung shock on the Tubeys was because on racing Buells they suffered from premature fluid failure because of the heat from the exhaust can. KK | ||
| Djkaplan |
"Premature fluid failure". What exactly is that? | ||
| Jon |
A concern I have about the 90 degree downward elbow is shearing it off if I happen to bottom out on a curb, etc. I've scraped the bottom of the can lightly a time or two. | ||
| Kdkerr2 |
Oil in the shock breaks down causing the shock to go bad prematurely. KK | ||
| Kdkerr2 |
I wouldn't worry too much about that. I just checked my M2 and the SuperTrapp Can hangs lower then the shock. Any road hazard sharp enough to hit the elbow would probably puncture your front tire before it sheared off the elbow! KK (Message edited by kdkerr2 on July 16, 2007) | ||
| Djkaplan |
"Oil in the shock breaks down causing the shock to go bad prematurely." The temperature most oils have to reach to start breaking down in viscosity are pretty high. You're saying the oil is breaking down and causing the shock (damping?) to go bad? Has anyone ever had a shock go bad because of oil breakdown (viscosity loss?). Usually it's a seal failure that causes a shock to go bad. Where exactly did you read (or hear) that tuber shocks were going bad because they were too close to exhaust cans? | ||
| Djkaplan |
"I wouldn't worry too much about that. I just checked my M2 and the SuperTrapp Can hangs lower then the shock. Any road hazard sharp enough to hit the elbow would probably puncture your front tire before it sheared off the elbow!" You are wrong. Either come back prepared or stop now.  | ||
| Jon |
Djkaplan, I like your set-up. I think I'll try to mimic what you have done. Also, I checked and my Supertrapp is indeed lower than the Penske, so my concern is lessened a bit. And yes...I did get the blue spring (applause) no, really it was nothing...thank you, thank you... | ||
| Djkaplan |
"You are wrong." "...my Supertrapp is indeed lower than the Penske, so my concern is lessened a bit." Then I stand corrected, but the elbow is in a precarious position anyway. I could easily see many situations I've been in that could have potentially knocked the elbow off. I will address this when I have the shock refurbed by Penske. | ||
| Kdkerr2 |
I was just going to write that. What brand of exhaust can are you running? I agree with Jon now that I saw the pic. It is indeed in a precarious position. Can the shock be rotated 180 degrees so that the elbow is on the top or is there a clearance problem? KK | ||
| Jon |
Tried to go "up", but it wouldn't fit. Would it hurt to install the shock backwards? | ||
| Djkaplan |
The shock kind of fits backwards, but the reservoir line will also move with the movement of the shock body and you'll have a hard time keeping the braided steel from sawing through stuff that's around it. You can easily rotate the front of the shock so the 90 degree fitting is on top, but it won't clear the front shock mount. I did see one board member who mounted his shock with the fitting on the top (I think he had the longer shock... not sure how he did it). No way it'll work on the shorter shock unless you rotate the fitting a little, but I was afraid to do that. I plan on having the 90 degree fitting replaced with a 45 degree fitting facing backwards, and shortening the braided steel line when I have the shock rebuilt by Penske. Not sure when that will be though because it's still working great. I thought about forming a little 'bash plate' to fit under the shock so it would protect the fitting and give me a jack point under the shock. I'd mount it through the front shock eye with a longer bolt. If I do, I'll post the pics in this thread. | ||
| Jon |
I wonder what Penske says? Maybe I should ask. Doesn't seem the best way to mount the shock with the elbow sticking down. | ||
| Djkaplan |
Call them up! They seem to be pretty responsive to customer queeries. I called them up and ordered a preload adjusting tool from them. It's just a little bent round rod that fits into holes in the adjusting collar... the shipping costs more than the tool itself. They spent more time than they should have talking to me... which made me feel pretty good considering I got my shock used and they never got a dime from me. | ||
| Jayvee |
Here's a ready-made reservoir mount I hadn't seen before: http://www.brgracing.com/bottle.html |
