Think I broke my shock

Cal25 · 01-06-2011, 09:41 AM

Hibird 250 enduro, GY-2 variant.
Dropped my truck at the transmission shop for some repairs and took my bike in the back for the ride home. After a block or so, something did not fell right so I stopped and looked things over but did not see anything unusuall. Rode a few more blocks and new something was wrong. I found a place to pull over and give it a closer look. When i tried to stand the bike with the kick stand, it would not stand, like the kick stand was too long. Further investigating showed that the rear suspention was completely compressed. I tried placing a foot on the rear rim and pulling up on the rear rack but it would not budge.
Took over 2 hours on the smoothest backroads i could find to get home.

Has anyone heard of a shock doing this?
Could it be something other than the shock? Hard to believe easy riding on city streets could even get the rear suspention completely compressed. The shock mounts are intact.
I will try to do some dis assembly tonight as I was too sore to work on it last night LOL.

Weldangrind · 01-06-2011, 10:30 AM

Even if all the gas leaks out of a conventional shock, the spring should still support the weight. In any automotive suspension, the shock is there only to dampen the spring action.

My guess is that either the shock body is bent or the spring is broken.

Weldangrind · 01-06-2011, 10:32 AM

Another thought: does your swingarm have a link? Maybe the link came apart at the fulcrum.

Cal25 · 01-06-2011, 11:22 AM

The bottom of the shock is on a linkage system. Looks ok at first glance.

The bottom 4 coils or so are completely compressed. Cant see any sign of breakage.

Weldangrind · 01-06-2011, 12:03 PM

I bet that you'll find the shock body to be jammed. It seems likely that the coils are compressed because the shock body won't retract.

It sounds like it's time for a new shock.

Cal25 · 01-06-2011, 12:52 PM

Would have been easier if the shock would jammed in the fully extended position. Hard to tell what the extended length is. But "if it was easy, everyone would do it" I always say.

Wild_Alaskan · 01-06-2011, 01:02 PM

if the shock is the same as the gy-5 there are tons of aftermarket options for about $100. if its the same ill dig up some threads and links.
edit:
gy-5 had an 11.5 inch shock

Jim · 01-06-2011, 01:05 PM

My gy6 had a longer shock then the gy5, but I don't recall the lengths.

Wild_Alaskan · 01-06-2011, 01:21 PM

crap meant gy-5 :oops:

katoranger · 01-06-2011, 02:22 PM

Cal, I have a GY5 one.

Will send it to you if you think it will fit.

Allen

Cal25 · 01-06-2011, 03:14 PM

I will see if the 11.5 measurement is close. That makes it easier to measure I think.
Katoranger, i might take you up on the offer as well as look at the options Wild_Alaskan comes up with.

katoranger · 01-06-2011, 03:33 PM

Let me know and I will get it off to TX.

Allen

Cal25 · 01-06-2011, 07:47 PM

Got home this evening and the shock had relaxed a bit while the rear tire has been off the ground for 24 hours. Popped off the shock and swingarm move full motion quite easily. Measured the eye to eye and the measurement is a little over 11 inches. 11.5 would be about right if it would rebound all the way.

here is a pic. it is upside down in the pic.

FastDoc · 01-06-2011, 07:53 PM

Interesting. I've not seen one jam up like that but I'd never put anything past a Chinabike.... :roll:

It's nice that Kato can help you out. He's helped me, and many of us in the past.

Good group here.

Wild_Alaskan · 01-07-2011, 12:18 AM

heres another option, if you want ajustability and such but you will have to space it out and adapt it to a 10mm bolt vs the 12 mm stock on the frame.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/RACIN...Q5fAccessories

01-06-2011, 09:41 AM	#1
Cal25 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Terrell and Grapevine Tx. Posts: 1,585	Think I broke my shock Hibird 250 enduro, GY-2 variant. Dropped my truck at the transmission shop for some repairs and took my bike in the back for the ride home. After a block or so, something did not fell right so I stopped and looked things over but did not see anything unusuall. Rode a few more blocks and new something was wrong. I found a place to pull over and give it a closer look. When i tried to stand the bike with the kick stand, it would not stand, like the kick stand was too long. Further investigating showed that the rear suspention was completely compressed. I tried placing a foot on the rear rim and pulling up on the rear rack but it would not budge. Took over 2 hours on the smoothest backroads i could find to get home. Has anyone heard of a shock doing this? Could it be something other than the shock? Hard to believe easy riding on city streets could even get the rear suspention completely compressed. The shock mounts are intact. I will try to do some dis assembly tonight as I was too sore to work on it last night LOL.
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01-06-2011, 10:30 AM	#2
Weldangrind Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Sardis, BC, Canada Posts: 25,977	Even if all the gas leaks out of a conventional shock, the spring should still support the weight. In any automotive suspension, the shock is there only to dampen the spring action. My guess is that either the shock body is bent or the spring is broken. __________________ Weldangrind "I figure I'm well-prepared for coping with a bike that comes from the factory with unresolved issues and that rewards the self-reliant owner." - Buccaneer
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01-06-2011, 10:32 AM	#3
Weldangrind Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Sardis, BC, Canada Posts: 25,977	Another thought: does your swingarm have a link? Maybe the link came apart at the fulcrum. __________________ Weldangrind "I figure I'm well-prepared for coping with a bike that comes from the factory with unresolved issues and that rewards the self-reliant owner." - Buccaneer
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01-06-2011, 12:03 PM	#5
Weldangrind Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Sardis, BC, Canada Posts: 25,977	I bet that you'll find the shock body to be jammed. It seems likely that the coils are compressed because the shock body won't retract. It sounds like it's time for a new shock. __________________ Weldangrind "I figure I'm well-prepared for coping with a bike that comes from the factory with unresolved issues and that rewards the self-reliant owner." - Buccaneer
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01-06-2011, 01:02 PM	#7
Wild_Alaskan Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Alaska Posts: 914	if the shock is the same as the gy-5 there are tons of aftermarket options for about $100. if its the same ill dig up some threads and links. edit: gy-5 had an 11.5 inch shock __________________ Dune buggy build http://chinariders.net/modules.php?n...wtopic&t=14470 400cc lifan build vid: http://youtu.be/20HoU8OK_Y0 other fun: http://tinyurl.com/wildalaskan
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01-06-2011, 11:22 AM	#4
Cal25 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Terrell and Grapevine Tx. Posts: 1,585	The bottom of the shock is on a linkage system. Looks ok at first glance. The bottom 4 coils or so are completely compressed. Cant see any sign of breakage.
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01-06-2011, 12:52 PM	#6
Cal25 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Terrell and Grapevine Tx. Posts: 1,585	Would have been easier if the shock would jammed in the fully extended position. Hard to tell what the extended length is. But "if it was easy, everyone would do it" I always say.
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01-06-2011, 01:05 PM	#8
Jim Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Abbotsford, BC, Canada Posts: 4,880	My gy6 had a longer shock then the gy5, but I don't recall the lengths. __________________ "Be excellent to each other" "We are all human. Let's start to prove it!"
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01-06-2011, 01:21 PM	#9
Wild_Alaskan Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Alaska Posts: 914	crap meant gy-5 :oops: __________________ Dune buggy build http://chinariders.net/modules.php?n...wtopic&t=14470 400cc lifan build vid: http://youtu.be/20HoU8OK_Y0 other fun: http://tinyurl.com/wildalaskan
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01-06-2011, 02:22 PM	#10
katoranger Join Date: May 2007 Location: Altamont, Kansas Posts: 15,103	Cal, I have a GY5 one. Will send it to you if you think it will fit. Allen __________________ You meet the nicest people on a Honda Clone.
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01-06-2011, 03:14 PM	#11
Cal25 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Terrell and Grapevine Tx. Posts: 1,585	I will see if the 11.5 measurement is close. That makes it easier to measure I think. Katoranger, i might take you up on the offer as well as look at the options Wild_Alaskan comes up with.
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01-06-2011, 03:33 PM	#12
katoranger Join Date: May 2007 Location: Altamont, Kansas Posts: 15,103	Let me know and I will get it off to TX. Allen __________________ You meet the nicest people on a Honda Clone.
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01-06-2011, 07:47 PM	#13
Cal25 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Terrell and Grapevine Tx. Posts: 1,585	Got home this evening and the shock had relaxed a bit while the rear tire has been off the ground for 24 hours. Popped off the shock and swingarm move full motion quite easily. Measured the eye to eye and the measurement is a little over 11 inches. 11.5 would be about right if it would rebound all the way. here is a pic. it is upside down in the pic.
	0

01-06-2011, 07:53 PM	#14
FastDoc Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Southeastern Washington desert Posts: 14,761	Interesting. I've not seen one jam up like that but I'd never put anything past a Chinabike.... :roll: It's nice that Kato can help you out. He's helped me, and many of us in the past. Good group here. __________________ Happy to serve.
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01-07-2011, 12:18 AM	#15
Wild_Alaskan Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Alaska Posts: 914	heres another option, if you want ajustability and such but you will have to space it out and adapt it to a 10mm bolt vs the 12 mm stock on the frame. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/RACIN...Q5fAccessories __________________ Dune buggy build http://chinariders.net/modules.php?n...wtopic&t=14470 400cc lifan build vid: http://youtu.be/20HoU8OK_Y0 other fun: http://tinyurl.com/wildalaskan
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