Hi everyone. Warning: a long story to come. Will try to cut it short...
OK. After 9 years and >70,000km my TTR shock finally got to the stage where something needed to be done. Rebound clicks gone, graunchy feeling and general crapness even worse than stock. So I searched the world for a replacement shock, and found one - I thought. I ordered a custom-built Wilbers, but it didn't fit! It was returned without a problem. A beautiful shock, fantastic workmanship, I almost howled!
I then committed a bad error and agreed to have the old one rebuilt. This was a mistake, as the shock body was, as I finally discovered, worn out. No real surprise, but... Ultimately, as I use this bike for working sheep in the bush, my lower back was damaged and this I can ill afford. The reason for this is that the shock body was way too badly worn, and the new Gold Valve piston was allowing damping oil past it as well as through it, then jamming on a ridge worn in the body about halfway through the stroke. In other words, little or no compression damping allowing the shock to blow through the stroke, then suddenly jamming. With predictable results re my back. **** it was awful.
So no aftermarket shocks available. I then organised a new genuine Yamaha shock from America, which was a bit more than half of what it would've cost me here in Australia. I bought a Hyperpro spring from the UK, in the hope that I would end up with reasonable suspension.
The shock will be fitted soon, and the bike pressed back into service next month. I notice the new shock has an upgraded part number (ie ends in -01 instead of 00). This may or may not mean improvement.
Bottom line is, imo, that a new shock was the most cost-effective way of restoring my TTR's suspension. It cost me almost as much to have the old one 'rebuilt'. Admittedly that included another (used) spring), revalving, seal holder machining and reservoir mods to accept a Schrader valve. But - sucked in again!!
-- Edited by 66T on Tuesday 18th of February 2014 09:59:09 AM
I've replaced the starter motor and starter clutch assembly, the bike's on its third front disc and second rear, numerous clutch cables and valve cover gaskets, throttle cables, regulator, three pickup coils (the one attached to the stator), on its second cam chain and finally the shock. So far the top end and clutch haven't been touched.
