Showa shock question - OK or rebuild?

[Zenarchy]

The shock on my RD04 AT is looking a bit sorry for itself, with a really rusty spring, and although it still seems to work OK, I'm guessing with it's age and the milage on the bike it'll probably be a bit tired by now (just don't know enough about shocks myself to say for sure and have only ridden this bike so nothing to compare it to).

My original plan was to buy a cheap second hand knackered old shock from ebay then send it to be reconditioned, then when it comes back, swap it over for the one that's currently on there.

I've just bought this shock (pictures attached) from french ebay, but looking at it, it seems to be in better cosmetic condition than my current shock, and i'm wondering about giving the spring a lick of paint to protect it, then swapping it over as is and keeping my old shock as a spare (or I can send the old one to be rebuilt instead).

I've cleaned it up a bit, and it's looking in pretty good condition cosmetically, but I notice a little scoring and rust on the tube that runs through the spring.

I'm not really sure if this is a slider and it's got seals that are running over it, and if this pitting and scoring are anything to worry about?

On my old shock, although the spring is in a state, this metal tube (I think) is in better condition with no rust, pitting or scores (from what I can see peeking though the gaps with it fitted to the bike anyway - may not be the case when I get it off and have a closer look).

I've attached some pictures of the shock, and one where I've adjusted the contrast a bit to try to show up the scoring a bit more (is hard to catch it with the camera very well - it's probably slightly worse for real than it appears in the photos).

Do you think this scoring is likely to be a problem?

I'm trying to decide whether to swap over this tidier looking shock for my old one, and send the old one to be reconditioned, or send this one off instead. Or perhaps even just swap this one over and leave it at that if it's in better condition as it is and this scoring isn't a problem until such a time that it starts to go (then I can send the old one off then).

Any ideas?

[jasonbc]

The shock on my RD04 AT is looking a bit sorry for itself, with a really rusty spring, and although it still seems to work OK, I'm guessing with it's age and the milage on the bike it'll probably be a bit tired by now (just don't know enough about shocks myself to say for sure and have only ridden this bike so nothing to compare it to).

My original plan was to buy a cheap second hand knackered old shock from ebay then send it to be reconditioned, then when it comes back, swap it over for the one that's currently on there.

I've just bought this shock (pictures attached) from french ebay, but looking at it, it seems to be in better cosmetic condition than my current shock, and i'm wondering about giving the spring a lick of paint to protect it, then swapping it over as is and keeping my old shock as a spare (or I can send the old one to be rebuilt instead).

I've cleaned it up a bit, and it's looking in pretty good condition cosmetically, but I notice a little scoring and rust on the tube that runs through the spring.

I'm not really sure if this is a slider and it's got seals that are running over it, and if this pitting and scoring are anything to worry about?

On my old shock, although the spring is in a state, this metal tube (I think) is in better condition with no rust, pitting or scores (from what I can see peeking though the gaps with it fitted to the bike anyway - may not be the case when I get it off and have a closer look).

I've attached some pictures of the shock, and one where I've adjusted the contrast a bit to try to show up the scoring a bit more (is hard to catch it with the camera very well - it's probably slightly worse for real than it appears in the photos).

Do you think this scoring is likely to be a problem?

I'm trying to decide whether to swap over this tidier looking shock for my old one, and send the old one to be reconditioned, or send this one off instead. Or perhaps even just swap this one over and leave it at that if it's in better condition as it is and this scoring isn't a problem until such a time that it starts to go (then I can send the old one off then).

Any ideas?

These people are showa offroad and on road specialist they have done my xr and it came back fantastic, i sent them the shock from the GAsgas this week which is ohlins fully servied gassed and oiled seals repaced and postage £106. Service is £80+vat new springs are are £70 ish depending on what rate you have fro weight etc


K-Tech Suspension, road race and offroad motorcyle suspension

[Zenarchy]

Thanks for the pointer Jason

I've just added that to my bookmarks of service places for when I sent one away.

I'm still not quite sure which one to send at this stage. Spring looks OK on this one, but then there's this scoring. Other one currently on the bike looks much rougher generally but then there's no scoring on that barrel thing (that I know of anyway).

I'll drop them a line with some photos and see what they suggest I think. Thanks for the recommendation.

[jasonbc]

Thanks for the pointer Jason

I've just added that to my bookmarks of service places for when I sent one away.

I'm still not quite sure which one to send at this stage. Spring looks OK on this one, but then there's this scoring. Other one currently on the bike looks much rougher generally but then there's no scoring on that barrel thing (that I know of anyway).

I'll drop them a line with some photos and see what they suggest I think. Thanks for the recommendation.

Seems a bit pointless buying a second one and you won't know until you put it on the bike if it's any good or no, probably better off just getting your unit serviced and setup for you.
My view on alot of things on ebay is that "if it was any good it wouldn't be on there" and if it was anygood they would be asking reasonable money for it not a pitance

[Zenarchy]

Seems a bit pointless buying a second one and you won't know until you put it on the bike if it's any good or no, probably better off just getting your unit serviced and setup for you.
My view on alot of things on ebay is that "if it was any good it wouldn't be on there" and if it was anygood they would be asking reasonable money for it not a pitance

The idea behind having two shocks was that I'd be able to get one serviced while still being able to get the bike sorted and ride it in the mean time with the other one fitted (plus my shed isn't that big and dealing with the bike minus the shock in there would be a nightmare as there's no room to work, and I don't fancy leaving it outside for any length of time). Then if I ever need it doing in the future again, I'll have a spare to do the same thing.

For what I paid for the shock it seemed worth the risk and if it does turn out to be completely rubbish it's not a big loss. Even if the spring is OK it'll have paid for itself (twice over) by the sounds of things.

You're right though - I'm not going to know what it's like until I put it on the bike - so I think I'll send this one away to be looked at, because at least I know the current one isn't leaking and should get me through the MOT (then I can swap them over when I get this one back sorted). That was my original plan, it was just when this one arrived and seemed in better condition cosmetically it set me wondering (apart from those score marks anyway - and I suppose there's no telling what's going on inside).

[jasonbc]

The idea behind having two shocks was that I'd be able to get one serviced while still being able to get the bike sorted and ride it in the mean time with the other one fitted (plus my shed isn't that big and dealing with the bike minus the shock in there would be a nightmare as there's no room to work, and I don't fancy leaving it outside for any length of time). Then if I ever need it doing in the future again, I'll have a spare to do the same thing.

For what I paid for the shock it seemed worth the risk and if it does turn out to be completely rubbish it's not a big loss. Even if the spring is OK it'll have paid for itself (twice over) by the sounds of things.

You're right though - I'm not going to know what it's like until I put it on the bike - so I think I'll send this one away to be looked at, because at least I know the current one isn't leaking and should get me through the MOT (then I can swap them over when I get this one back sorted). That was my original plan, it was just when this one arrived and seemed in better condition cosmetically it set me wondering (apart from those score marks anyway - and I suppose there's no telling what's going on inside).

I do understand that its a pain having the bike out of action and 1 out 1 in keeps it on the road though and i wouldn't like to leave my bikes outside either but k-tech are very quick for service. I phoned them booked it in for monday morning removed it from the bike and got it too them for the thursday before. Got home from work 2pm monday msg on answer phone it's done phoned them payed and it was back with me late tuesday afternoon.

[Zenarchy]

That's handy to know thanks It'll be a few days at least before I can get time to do it, but I'll have a think about it in the mean time.