tecman Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 I got the 6mm shim from John's Bike Bits (great price, great service) but I am having an issue installing it. I found the instructions here in the garage (thanks Techno and Redbird!) and was able to get to the top nut of my shock and loosen it. The rear wheel never got any lower, though. I don't have a center stand because I have a 4-into-1 exhaust so I am using a PitBull rear wheel stand, so I was not really expecting the wheel to drop all the way to the ground but I was hoping for some movement. I did upgrade my rear shock with the group buy a few years ago and got a Penske 8983. Could that be why I did not get any action when I loosened the nut? I don't believe the shock changed the ride height of my Bird at all so I am at a loss as to why I am having such a hard time with this fairly simple procedure. If anyone has any ideas or suggestions as to what I am doing wrong or why it is not working I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cbrbear Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 Ok with the nut backed off you have to grab your subframe and lift the rear of the bike up. I suggest having a friend help. Once you lift the bike up the shock will drop down and you should be able to insert the shim then simply relax and tighten the bolt! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tecman Posted May 31, 2011 Author Share Posted May 31, 2011 Ok with the nut backed off you have to grab your subframe and lift the rear of the bike up. I suggest having a friend help. Once you lift the bike up the shock will drop down and you should be able to insert the shim then simply relax and tighten the bolt! The rear wheel is already off the ground. I would think the weight would simply pull the shock down but it did not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiwimack Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 Ok with the nut backed off you have to grab your subframe and lift the rear of the bike up. I suggest having a friend help. Once you lift the bike up the shock will drop down and you should be able to insert the shim then simply relax and tighten the bolt! The rear wheel is already off the ground. I would think the weight would simply pull the shock down but it did not. doesn't the Pit Bull stand lift the rear wheel off the ground? By lifting the swing arm..............which is connected to the shock............. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redbird Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 Ok with the nut backed off you have to grab your subframe and lift the rear of the bike up. I suggest having a friend help. Once you lift the bike up the shock will drop down and you should be able to insert the shim then simply relax and tighten the bolt! The rear wheel is already off the ground. I would think the weight would simply pull the shock down but it did not. doesn't the Pit Bull stand lift the rear wheel off the ground? By lifting the swing arm..............which is connected to the shock............. Um, yeah, that. Swingarm stand is the same as leaving the rear wheel on the ground, the rear suspension is weighted. Get the weight off the rear suspension- you have to lift the bike by something other than the rear wheel or swingarm. The first reply is on the right track.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cbrbear Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 OK you need to read my post... with the bike on the rear stand LIFT THE SUBFRAME, this will UNLOAD the shock keeping the rear wheel right where it is. If the SHOCK mount is loosened then you will be lifting the SUBFRAME away from the SHOCK causing a GAP in the shock mount allowing you to slide the shim in. You can do this regardless of where the rear wheel is... key is to remove weight from the shock by lifting the weight of the bike off of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tecman Posted May 31, 2011 Author Share Posted May 31, 2011 Thanks. I was lost on the fact that the shock is connected to the swingarm-DUH!! I will have my buddy give me a hand. Thanks for the advice, and for not pointing out too much how stupid I was. That is why I love the .org!!! And just one more question: the open end of the shim should face forward?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BearXX Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 Thanks. I was lost on the fact that the shock is connected to the swingarm-DUH!! I will have my buddy give me a hand. Thanks for the advice, and for not pointing out too much how stupid I was. That is why I love the .org!!! And just one more question: the open end of the shim should face forward?? Post up some porn, and we'll forget the rest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoWhee Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 Just don't post and SHIM porn. I have my spacer with the open end facing backwards no issues here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HANKSXXX Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 Why not just adjust the shock length? The bottom eyelet unscrews to add length. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blkbrdrydr Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 I got the 6mm shim from John's Bike Bits (great price, great service) but I am having an issue installing it. I found the instructions here in the garage (thanks Techno and Redbird!) and was able to get to the top nut of my shock and loosen it. The rear wheel never got any lower, though. I don't have a center stand because I have a 4-into-1 exhaust so I am using a PitBull rear wheel stand, so I was not really expecting the wheel to drop all the way to the ground but I was hoping for some movement. I'm guessing that the rear wheel never got any lower because your PitBull rear wheel stand supports the swing arm and raises the rear axle. OOPS.... I should have read what was already written before I answered. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RodeRash Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 I did upgrade my rear shock with the group buy a few years ago and got a Penske 8983. The Penske is adjustable for length, so you would not need to add the shim. However, it may be easier to add the shim than it is to pull the shock out and adjust it. When I bought my Penske, along with providing them my weight and riding style, I requested they set it up to be 6 mm. longer than stock. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XXTi Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 Why not just adjust the shock length? The bottom eyelet unscrews to add length. I just hate it when someone beats me with the correct answer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Para045 Posted June 2, 2011 Share Posted June 2, 2011 When I put in my shim I had an aluminium shim with a hole in it and actually just undid the bolt on the bottom into the triangle plates to give me enough room to get the shim on Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dragonslayer Posted June 3, 2011 Share Posted June 3, 2011 I got the 6mm shim from John's Bike Bits (great price, great service) but I am having an issue installing it. I found the instructions here in the garage (thanks Techno and Redbird!) and was able to get to the top nut of my shock and loosen it. The rear wheel never got any lower, though. I don't have a center stand because I have a 4-into-1 exhaust so I am using a PitBull rear wheel stand, so I was not really expecting the wheel to drop all the way to the ground but I was hoping for some movement. I did upgrade my rear shock with the group buy a few years ago and got a Penske 8983. Could that be why I did not get any action when I loosened the nut? I don't believe the shock changed the ride height of my Bird at all so I am at a loss as to why I am having such a hard time with this fairly simple procedure. If anyone has any ideas or suggestions as to what I am doing wrong or why it is not working I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks. First I must say you did not need the shim since that Penske has the ride height adjustment built in. The only way you will get the gap you need to install the shim is with a lift that does not require you to support the bike from the swingarm or rear wheel for that matter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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