Rear shock adjuster failure

[Philistine]

I backed off the preload on the rear shock the other day when I was riding on some very rocky tracks, I didn’t notice anything unusual while I was turning the adjuster, but yesterday I went to stiffen it up for the road and I noticed that no matter how much I turned the knob the spring tension didn't change, ??? its stuck on the very soft setting which is no good on the road, I didn’t notice any clunk, snap or grinding noises while turning the knob it just felt like it always did . I took the knob off the adjuster and found a couple of very small ball bearings that went rolling along the garage floor, :'( but managed to get it back together, so I thought I better go to the workshop manual but it doesn’t give any details on the rear shock. ::010:: Has anyone had this problem? Am I looking at a shock rebuild or is this something I can fix myself?
Cheers Phil

 

[HHH]

I think chances are the knob is damaged on the internal square part.

I never liked the spongy feel of mine so I replaced it with the aluminum machined on from "Eagle Mike". The unit is larger and it comes with extra spheres and springs.

 

[firstgendsm]

Here you go....

http://www.eaglemike.com/Preload-adjustment-knob-pak-s10.htm

 

[HHH]

Here you go....

http://www.eaglemike.com/Preload-adjustment-knob-pak-s10.htm

Thank you firstgen, It was my mistake, I was trying to use the attachment option.

All good now. ^-^

 

[Philistine]

Pull it off again and had a look inside and that's exactly what's happened, will see if I can find an Australian supplier for an after market replacement knob
Thanks

 

[Philistine]

Just ordered one from Eagle Mike cost me $67.00 ::007:: wish there was a way to get cheap shipping from the USA, we get so ripped off in Australia

 

[HHH]

I already thought about lending a helping hand to folks abroad, I'd buy and ship to them, however, I am not in town everyday.

With the aluminum knob you should not have a problem like the plastic OEM, but a word of advice is to only change the preload with the bike on center stand, this being a must to the OEM one.

 

[Mzee]

I already thought about lending a helping hand to folks abroad, I'd buy and ship to them, however, I am not in town everyday.

With the aluminum knob you should not have a problem like the plastic OEM, but a word of advice is to only change the preload with the bike on center stand, this being a must to the OEM one.

YOu are a kind man HHH. I will look you up when I need help.

 

[Philistine]

I already thought about lending a helping hand to folks abroad, I'd buy and ship to them, however, I am not in town everyday.

With the aluminum knob you should not have a problem like the plastic OEM, but a word of advice is to only change the preload with the bike on center stand, this being a must to the OEM one.

I don't think there is much you can do about it HHH, it just costs what it costs, but having said that some company's seem to be able to do it a lot cheaper than the public can, the knob cost me about $27.00 for shipping but I am watching some Rox Pivoting 2" Risers 1 1/8" on ebay and they are shipping them from the US for $18,00 when I got a 65cc Husqvarna chainsaw from the US it only cost me $138,00 shipping, go figure :question:

 

[Ridon29]

I also had the plastic OE knob fail. I drilled a 2mm hole through knob and aluminium spigot and then tapped a rivet shank through... so far it works fine. The retaining screw had to be shortened as well. I do take on board that the adjustment should only be carried out on centre stand.

 

[Tamathumper]

A bit of an old thread, but very applicable to my current situation.

I've just noticed that my preload knob will turn clockwise, but it gives a slight "crunchy click" every few revolutions, and detents only every few revolutions as well.

It will not turn at all in the counter-clockwise direction.

Failure of the knob, or ?

 

[Tamathumper]

Fixed it. I removed the screw holding on the knob, then placed a Zip-Loc bag over the knob while I removed it, and both balls dropped into the bag.

I had to fish out the springs with a dental pick. The bottom ball and spring were rusty, as water probably pools up inside the knob. A shot of PB-Blaster into the Zip-Loc took care of that.

I put them back together and it's spinning freely and adjusting the shock just fine in both directions. From looking at how it works I'm not clear on why it would not turn in the CCW direction.