Rear shocks

[Peg]

Using Gadget's instructions, I thought I'd change out the fluid in my Nomad's shocks. I got a bit leery about the part where you compress the springs to take off the circlip, so took my shocks to a local bike shop and asked them to do that bit for me. I showed the tech exactly what I needed him to do, & stood back out of his way. He obviously didn't want me around while he did it, & told me to come back later.

I changed my mind under an hour later, & hurried back to the shop to stop him.

As I arrived at the door, I saw one of my shocks set up tight in his vice with the tech standing over it. As I stepped towards him, it all exploded all over his bench... bits & pieces rolling across the floor, oil dripping down.

He turned to me & said something like "I just can't figure this out". Through tightly clenched teeth I replied to him "You've got it upside down. That's the wrong end".

So we collected up all the bits, put them in a bag, and I took them home to work on them myself. I set the complete one up as my template, and slowly disassembled it, figuring out how to put the other one back together as I went. There was a tiny roll pin missing from the one in pieces, but I found a replacement.

There's nothing special about the internals. No air bags or anything. Just tightly sealed and close fitting components. I don't now exactly recall how it all fitted together, and didn't spend much time examining it in detail. I just wanted to get it all back together as fast as I could, get the shocks back on the bike, and make sure they both operated the same.

I ended up making my own spring compressor out of a couple of adjusters from a shade-sail - here's a picture of that with one of my Voyager shocks in it... And I never went back to that shop.

[andyvh1959]

Cool. Some forged eyelets, two turnbuckles and a heavy shaft through the upper eye. Turn the body of the turnbuckles and compress the spring enough to release the retainer. I can figure that out.

One thing that would help; if we knew what was the rider/passenger weight range that Kawasaki chose for the springs. On springs for Progressive shocks the weight range is printed on the spring. My riding weight in gear is about 210 lbs, which I'd guess is right in the range chosen for the "average" rider. Aside from the springs, knowing the weight range also determines the weight of oil used in the shocks and possible valving (orifice sizes) in the shock body.

In the 70's and 80's, a typical mod for the forks was to increase the oil volume in the forks, increase the size of the holes in the damper rod assembly, use lighter weight oil, and install preload spacers above the fork springs to determine the proper sag. I wonder how much of that applies as well to a rebuild of the stock shocks.

[mick56]

As predicted.No rocket science involved then.. Just a vice/compression device, and a bit of common sense.:. the size, and source of any new seals might be handy though.

[Peg]

Originally Posted by mick56

As predicted.No rocket science involved then.. Just a vice/compression device, and a bit of common sense.:. the size, and source of any new seals might be handy though.

Eventually I just gave up all attempts to make the OEM suspension do even a halfway reasonable job on our extremely uneven kiwi roads, & went aftermarket.

I should have done that years earlier, on the Nomad. It'd likely be still in my garage if I had.

[mick56]

Originally Posted by Peg

Eventually I just gave up all attempts to make the OEM suspension do even a halfway reasonable job on our extremely uneven kiwi roads, & went aftermarket.

I should have done that years earlier, on the Nomad. It'd likely be still in my garage if I had.

I know what you mean about the roads mate. We have some pretty bad ones where i live too.I discovered a pothole, halfway around a country bend, recently. It was about 2ft across, and deep enough to swallow my front wheel up to the spindle. Luckily, i managed to swerve around it on my Triumph. If i had been on the Nomad, i would have had no chance. You got rid of yours too then. What are you riding now?

[Peg]

The Nomad went about 7 years ago now Mick, replaced with a Voyager. We'll keep that a while yet, I think... It fits now like an old glove.

[mick56]

Originally Posted by Peg

The Nomad went about 7 years ago now Mick, replaced with a Voyager. We'll keep that a while yet, I think... It fits now like an old glove.

I do miss my Nomad. When my old man finally keels over, and leaves me a shit load of money, I am going to get another one, exactly the same as the last one.

[redjay]

Originally Posted by mick56

I do miss my Nomad. When my old man finally keels over, and leaves me a shit load of money, I am going to get another one, exactly the same as the last one.

Get a 1700 Nomad and you should be good for parts for a while

[mick56]

Originally Posted by redjay

Get a 1700 Nomad and you should be good for parts for a while

Still in love with the 1999 green bikes mate.Nothing else will do for me. I was gutted when i had to sell mine.

[redjay]

Get any colour then get it wrapped green.

[mick56]

Originally Posted by redjay

Get any colour then get it wrapped green.

Good thinking I like your style sir.

[GeorgeHouston]

Originally Posted by LaclaMoe

I found a Slime compressor 0-50 lbs. at Walmart. Smallest lightest works well

I have this from the store

https://www.kawasaki.com/en-us/shop/...060A/air-pump/