Adjusting rear shock ?Written by docta96 on 2/24/2011 at 02:26 amHi, Tom.......welcome aboard,
Put the bike on the center stand, lie on your back with feet toward the front
wheel and your head under the left (drive shaft side)saddle bag. Shine the
light on the bottom of the left side shock and you will see the adjusting collar
with ramps on the bottom. Rotate it to add or remove preload from the
spring....pretty intuitive. The other shock is non-adjustable. That's it. Honda
loves asymmetry.
While you are there, check the rear drive lube level if you have not done so
recently, and generally look at the underbelly of the bike to check for evidence
of oil or coolant leaks. Since you are now dirty anyway, crawl around to the
other side and check your rear tire pressure and inspect the tread and
sidewalls. You may also want to check the "born on" date on the tire
sidewall(s) to be sure that it is less than five-years old. If/when you change
the tire, be sure to grease your splines. I always like to change fronts and
rears at the same time with matching tires that are no more than a year out of
the mold...but that's just me. If you have lots of miles, tire time is also a
good time to change the rubber cush drive....a cheap and easy fix that reduces
drive train lash.
If you are feeling ambitious, use a Scotchbrite pad and your favorite polish and
shine up the back wheel while you are lying there. Musical accompaniment may
lighten the work load while providing a rhythmic backdrop for the repetitive
effort involved. (I have gotten a good shine while listening to Pink Floyd, but
have also achieved comparable results with Santana, particularly the Abaxas
album and, in some instances, BB King).
Should you crave adjustable shocks on both sides, the cheapest way is to acquire
a used one like the shiny one you just adjusted and use it to replace the
nonadjustable shock on the other side so that you can achieve a new level of
non-Hondaesque symmetry and harmony in your riding.....sort of an existential
thing.....and you get rid of that unchromed,unsightly and often flacid
right-side shock....no one else will see it, but you will know it is
there.....in the unlikely event that you have extra money or,even less likely,
an understanding wife, you can spring for aftermarket shocks/springs that are
not only symmetrical, but actually provide reasonable compression and rebound
damping, and you can order them with springs that actually match your
weight/load characteristics and preferences with greater preload
adjustibility....you usually get what you pay for....Hagons are about the best
value and the options get pricier from from there.
If you are hearing squeaking sounds when you compress/release the rear
suspension, you may need new mounting bushings.....cheap from Honda.....though
with the work necessary to replace these, you might as well replace the shocks
since you have done just as much work to get at the bushings and have to remove
the old shocks anyway......see how these things get out of hand in a hurry?
(Refer to the movie: Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House for guidance)....and
you haven't even asked about the front suspension and fork bearings yet!
This is more than you probably wanted to hear, but then this is half the fun of
owning one of these things and associating with the PC cult. You may also want
to employ the search function on this site since many of the still-extant 14,000
or so of these machines are on their second or third go round on suspension
service. Quite a few of us put serious miles on them despite our and their
advancing ages.....welcome to the land of the non-lemmings.\
Always ride safely and keep your airspeed under control.
TW
--- In
ipcrc@yahoogroups.com, "Thomas Steil" <tsteil@...> wrote:
>
> I'm a new pc owner and I'm seeking a little help. Can someone explain or
illustrate a little better than the owners manual, how to adjust the rear shock.
The illustration in the manual is a bit cryptic to say the least. Thanks for
any help.
>
> Tom
>