Shock!

[Whealie]

The shock is I managed to get the old shock off Project Zebra and the new one back on.
Following advice from Bob, I put some cardboard down (mainly to keep my bum warm when sitting on the ground) and laid the bike down and drowned her in ACF50 overnight.

This did indeed loosen up some nuts but the other side was then stuck in, just like the one at the bottom of the shock.
I turned the bike over and did the dame again, but I bent back the separated bottom of the shock and filled the hole with ACF50 to see if it could soak in. You can see that the bent back bit of the shock still contain the threaded part of the bolt.

here's what the clean one looks like. So the one stuck in mine is not even held in by any thread, it has simply been there since the bike was built in 1991 and never moved.

I banged and thumped and whacked it, all to no avail.
Then I spotted a blow torch in the corner (i rent the garage off a neighbour. So I went off in search of some Swan Vestas and had myself a little fire-raising session. I heated it until it was blistering hot then tried again. No Luck.
So I heated up the bolt head until it was glowing red and I was beginning to expect the whole bike and garage to blow up (I had moved the other one outside by then). And then when I hit it is just started to move. With a few Chad-like thwacks it pinged out.
Here's the little fella:

So then the Haines says unbolt the top and drop the shock out. Unbolt the top? What - just like that? Oh no.
The bolt undid fine but I could not extract it because the air filter box just got in the way. You can just see here that the edge, or lip, of the black box stops the bolt coming out.

So I had to removed the tank, undo the air filter box from all its mounts and jiggle it so I could pull the bolt out.
Thankfully the replacement went in with no surprises.
So I did it!
Next will be the brakes - I have some braided hoses coming so I'll replace those while cleaning the brakes, putting in new seals and bleading them. I have to replace the clutch cable too and I have some bar risers I want to fit so I might was well do the whole handlebar area and fit some heated grips while I'm at it. The lights also need adjusting.
I reckon it can then have everything fitted back on and go for an MOT. Unfortunately I have to work next weekend but may see if I can find some time during the week to get out there.
Nothing can be as hard as getting that bolt out of the bottom of the shock

[BobA]

Whealie

Is that the first posting of AT Porn?

Two RD04's Pre-Coitus?


Glad you got those bolts out, and I haven't forgotten the rear panel I promised you, just haven't been to my garage yet. Will post or pop it round to you as soon as I can.



Bob