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The TTR250 FAQ web pages -> TTR250 -> Repairs and maintenance -> Fixing Ride Height/rear Shock
Post Info TOPIC: Fixing Ride Height/rear Shock
kitkat


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Fixing Ride Height/rear Shock
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So,  I have already caused much head scratching with Brian and mate Steve (also has TTR) as I try to fix a very low ride height issue on my TTR (which I believe is a US spec machine)

At first I thought I had a lowering link fitted but this is not the case - 2 photos show the difference between my TTR and a "normal" one.

IMG_20150430_190336114_HDR.jpg

 

IMG_20150430_190538144.jpg

Now I confess that suspension setup is a dark art I haven't mastered so please excuse poor terminology/logic but I will describe what I have seen in the hope that someone has a good explanation blankstare

my shock in the pic above has the spring retainers loosened off as when dialed down to the usual setting as per mates bike then even with rebound & compression at softest settings the suspension is rock hard.  However when at the normal setting my shock is 4 cm shorter than mates bike.  The length from bottom of spring collar to centre of bottom bolt hole is 12.5cm on both but from collar to top of shock is 31.5cm on mine and 35.5cm on mates.  PS all jokes about his being longer have been endured!no

I bought the bike last autumn (love it) and the spring retainers were near the top of teh shock but only gave about 2 inches of travel!  Clearly all is not well!

The plot thickens a bit as my shock appears to have a separate spacer below the spring collar (see photo) 

IMG_20150430_193452418.jpg

I am going to remove the spring and spacer and test the piston but any suggestions on what might be going on?

Many thanks

Dave

 

 



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locky


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Has the spring been shortened ?

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TTRfan


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The standard spring is the yellow one with 8 coils. It looks like yours has 8 Dave going by your photo.

/download.spark?ID=1395339&aBID=139305



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colo


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Yo sacaria el espaciador y bajaria la tuerca y contratuerca que apreta el espiral, en la segunda foto se ve que esta muy arriba.

tt.JPG



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kitkat


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Thanks for the replies,

Locky, as Brian suggest I think the spring is standard length with 8 coils.  probably a red-herring but in the box of bits that came with the bike is a black spring also with 8 coils but shorter in length.

Hola Colo, muchas gracias por tu sugerencia

I have ordered the spring compression tool from Brian so will see if taking it to bits helps get to teh bottom of this.

Dave



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pug


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I think what he's saying is all the pre load is off the shock in that pic. looks like its close to the max the spring could come off it's collars. take a look at the posts on hear at setting the the pre load/sag mine is set for champion pie Eater

Pug

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kitkat


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Thanks Pug,

No, I get that but my OP wasn't clear as when I set the spring pre-load to the normal setting (and have the rebound & compression dialed right off) the suspension is rock hard.confuse 

Dave



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petenz


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The wheel in both pics is off the ground.... the spring has nothing to do with it..
it's either the shock has frozzen up or the linkage..
By the pics the shock looks more than stuffed any way... full rebuild time or another shock...



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pug


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Yep you be right fact the wheel is off the ground did not click in my brain. think like you say the shocks stuck on it's stroke and not fully out

Pug

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kitkat


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Thanks guys, yup rebuild time me -thinks.

-Excuse the dumb question, but out of curiosity, does the total length of the shock increase/decrease as the pre-load is adjusted? 

Dave



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pug


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It will always be the same ie total shock length what the pre-load take's up is the sag which is weight of bike plus rider that shock's looking like it's not getting out to it's full length.

Pug

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petenz


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kitkat wrote:

Thanks guys, yup rebuild time me -thinks.

-Excuse the dumb question, but out of curiosity, does the total length of the shock increase/decrease as the pre-load is adjusted? 

Dave

 the pre-load just makes the spring harder... the free eye to eye length

of the shock will always be the same ...



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kitkat


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So the head-scratching continues

It seems my old shock has been shorthened in the body of the shock (see pics)or some creative engineering from a box of bits - but this seems a hard way to lower the bike, any ideas why this would have been done?

Good news though is that I managed by chance to find a brand new unit on German Ebay at a good price so I can be mobile again and with all the bearings replaced on the link assembly all the parts now move as they should

Dave

side by side.jpg

old & new.jpg



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peteBLUEttr


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That does seem a curfuffle! Im guessing the previous owner just didn't know that you could buy lowering links for ttr's. Nice shiny new shock! How much?!...

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kitkat


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Well that took a bit longer than I thought but I am chuffed not only with the result but it was also the biggest job I have ever done on a bike:

  • all bearings & seals replaced 
  • new shock
  • new numberplate holder, plate and LED light

Endless cups of tea, trips to halfords for tools/parts and the wonderful TTR forum, shop and Brian's patience got me through it - now for some riding

Before and after photos attached

Dave

PS Having replaced all of the above the final laugh was that the side stand had also been shortened, but Brian has come to the rescue

before.jpgafter.jpg



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TTRfan


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Excellent work Dave!

A great way to start getting your hands dirty - working on a TTR.

Hope you can get out and have some dirty fun with her now wink

Brian



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kitkat


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Thanks Brian 

Salisbury Plain beckons this weekend smile  Cant wait to see what difference there will be now that the rear suspension has proper travel  and clearly it explains all those previous offs, ahem disbelief

Dave



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