Changing to Ohlins. I finally got round to fitting the "new" shocks I acquired from this parish. Separately. Long story.
Don't you just love a Haynes manual.
"Work can be made easier by raising the machine to a suitable working height . . . " That'll be right. I'm on my knees as always.
Front
"Undo the bolt securing the lower end of the shock absorber and remove it"
"Counter-hold the stud on the top of the shock using an Allen key and loosen the nut"
Now search through the countless tools to find a hollow spanner and an 8 inch Allen key. No feckin' chance. No 15mm socket for the impact wrench. No 1/2 to 3/8 socket adaptor. Was about to head for Halfrauds for more tools when I tripped over an L shaped hex key that was long enough to pass through the super dooper hollow socket wrench and hey presto, we're cooking with gas. But hey ho, Haynes forgot to tell me to remove the alternator belt cover, slacken off the crash bars. After removing all the panels and heaving the tank back.
Rear
"Undo the bolt securing the lower end of the shock absorber . . . "
"Undo the nut on the upper mounting bolt then support the shock and withdraw the bolt"
Piece of piss. After removing wheel and silencer. Was actually much easier than front end.
After hearing horror stories from others I was relieved that my 4 shock bolts came out without resorting to gas torches and whatever. Even dragged my good lady out to take some sag measurements. Which are all wrong. But hope to shake it down tomorrow.
I'm getting too old for this spanner business. Long time since I had black hands. Stiff as a board tonight. Where's the young gun when you need him?
ps - it's a 2006 GS12
Old vs. new front shock
Front in place
Rear in place
The eagle eyed will notice the silencer is missing. Hope handle isn't too close.
Don't you just love a Haynes manual.
"Work can be made easier by raising the machine to a suitable working height . . . " That'll be right. I'm on my knees as always.
Front
"Undo the bolt securing the lower end of the shock absorber and remove it"
"Counter-hold the stud on the top of the shock using an Allen key and loosen the nut"
Now search through the countless tools to find a hollow spanner and an 8 inch Allen key. No feckin' chance. No 15mm socket for the impact wrench. No 1/2 to 3/8 socket adaptor. Was about to head for Halfrauds for more tools when I tripped over an L shaped hex key that was long enough to pass through the super dooper hollow socket wrench and hey presto, we're cooking with gas. But hey ho, Haynes forgot to tell me to remove the alternator belt cover, slacken off the crash bars. After removing all the panels and heaving the tank back.
Rear
"Undo the bolt securing the lower end of the shock absorber . . . "
"Undo the nut on the upper mounting bolt then support the shock and withdraw the bolt"
Piece of piss. After removing wheel and silencer. Was actually much easier than front end.
After hearing horror stories from others I was relieved that my 4 shock bolts came out without resorting to gas torches and whatever. Even dragged my good lady out to take some sag measurements. Which are all wrong. But hope to shake it down tomorrow.
I'm getting too old for this spanner business. Long time since I had black hands. Stiff as a board tonight. Where's the young gun when you need him?
ps - it's a 2006 GS12
Old vs. new front shock
Front in place
Rear in place
The eagle eyed will notice the silencer is missing. Hope handle isn't too close.
