I’ve repaired original rear shock, with new seal and ATF, that seems to be in good contion now.
Unfortunately bike rear continues around 3 cm lower than it should, (Can’t hardly raise the bike to central stand) and I’m unable to find what is wrong, as told in old posts.
I though the possiblity to extend the shock efective lenght by adding a new hole to the lower support.
In the photos is shown the new hole position, it’s 7mm away, that will raise back around 18 mm. Enough to raise back and ease lifting to the stand, as tested adding some heigh to the rear floor.
My concern is if it will be resistant enough, simply filling the old hole with a 10 mm. molded (half moon) bolt section.
But the lower section of the support, will be roughly 2 mm,
May it be enough to withstand normal routing and bumps ???
In theory yes, but I’m not a mechanic, so don’t know every secret of nuts and bolts.
Any comment or experience will be most appreciated.
Unfortunately I can’t find your referencces related to Showa reference (SHOWA MB6-831).
The two shock I have, are the same Showa reference, and the “old” one was the original installed on the bike (That lost it’s oil) and now repaired.
Both had the same hole distance (upper-lower) 40,5 cm.
All shocks I found, even the adjustable show the same maximun length, 40.5, and I think I need 6-7 mm more to raise rear around 18-20 mm. to ease lifting on the stand.
Not a tragedy, but quite uncomfortable to park anywhere, impossible for me in most occasions.
If you still haven’t found a solution, maybe just get the bottom mounted modified so it suits your needs? If it was me in your place I’d just cut off existing, make a new bottom u shaped mount to suit and weld it on.
You’d have to extend the shock fully, and try not to get too much heat back into the shock.
At the end of the day the standard shocks are a pretty ordinary shock, so if you blow it it’s on to plan B.
My standard shock has the Showa part number…and the Honda part number on a separate decal. Although, I haven’t used one of the genuine shocks in a VF for a long time…they were rubbish even when new…I now use a YSS or Hagon shock…much better than the original shock…on the R’s you can hardly see it anyway.
I started modifying bottom support, adding steel fillers to existing holes and making new holes 6 mm lower.
As I was doing it I noticed lower part of support, will keep only 3mm steel on the bottom part to support all bumps and returns while riding.
Although any engineer could maybe confirm it is enough to stand those, I though at last, I was being a bit stupid trying to improve a 40 years old shock that was far from perfection in first place.
So I will try to find a “budget” YSS that can be adjusted to 41 cm length and accept that some things are better than original.
Hi trex,
That was my first idea, but unfortunately I have not the required tools nor machines, and almost all shops and mechanics that some day had those, closed forever.
Thanks anyway and best regards
