Removing rear shock, how to support rear of bike?

[urbanfireblade]

I want to remove the rear shock to replace the spring, but a paddock stand won't work as the suspension is still loaded up. I've looked online and someone says to use a bottle jack between the hugger and bottom of the seat? I guess it locks the rear suspension out so you can remove the shock. Sounds dodgy, is there any other way? I don't have a garage to support it from above with ties.

[dunlop0_1]

I made some stands and various steel bars. However it would be easy enough to improvise something.
Bike on the rear stand, place suitable bar/tube through the frame with rags or tape wrapped round it to protect the paintwork, find something for either side of the bike strong enough to take it's weight and place them under the bar then remove the rear stand.

:idea:

[Qba]

On YouTube search "how to replace rear spring on Ducati monster".
I used similar method except I attached straps to the garage ceiling.
Sorry, I can't give you direct link as I'm posting it from my iPhone.

[rollo22]

Try turning the foot foot pegs up side down and prop on axle stands.

[Twentytoo]

or buy an ABBA stand

[Qba]

Sorry, haven't read your last sentence...

[Reaperman]

I'm looking at getting a ratchet strap to thread through the frame. Loop it over the beams in my garage and use the ratchet to lift it. Or as already stated invest in an abba stand.

[Darkness]

Once you've got the back wheel off the floor by hanging the bike off the roof, you can use a trolley jack or similar to take the weight of the swing arm and hub/wheel so's the suspension is unloaded and doesn't drop when you take the bolts out!!!

That's easier to adjust than trying to raise or Lowe the whole bike for fine adjustment whe fitting things back together.

;)

[urbanfireblade]

Try turning the foot foot pegs up side down and prop on axle stands.

i'll look into that, not sure if u were joking but it could be a great idea if it works!:thumbsup:

[Qba]

Make sure though axle stands will be high enough. I got myself too short. I put some bits of wood under, but bike was too wobly - no good as at times I had to use some brute force to undo the screws.

[Nickj]

Many helium filled party ballons tied to the frame rails, you then also get the squeaky voice fun afterwards ;)
As long as you can adjust the height of the swinging arm when refitting it'll be easier than you think

[steeevvvooo]

Garage roof as mentioned

http://i690.photobucket.com/albums/vv265/steeevvvooo/IMG-20120624-00036.jpg

Took some jacking, adjusting, tightening straps, jacking again etc but once the wheel as off the floor I managed it. I was aiming to get the swingarm off rather than just the shock so you might find it easier

[utopia]

Breather tank casually slung to one side....I thought that was a nice touch.

I managed to raise my bike on ratchet straps.......but then you realise that lowering it down again isn't quite so simple, and needs jacks to take the strain off the straps before you can loosen them.
My next ploy will possibly be a £45 chain hoist from machine mart.
Though, Dukedesmo recommended a paddock stand set with headstock piece thats currently on ebay at 20% off....£48 +£8 pp. from ricambi-weiss. looks like a deal if anyone's looking.

[Nottsbiker]

This is how I've raised the front end on my little bandit whilst I'm replacing the fork seals and front tyre.

[Funkatronic]

A frame step ladder over centre of bike (its easeir if you take the tank off) and ratchet straps. i use 2 so one can support the other lower, alternately

[Blah blah]

This is how I did mine on my old 750, there's a thread on here somewhere...

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f142/AKJRAY/P5070004.jpg

I used a rear paddock stand to get the wheel off the floor, and then used the ratchets to lift the bike until it was just about to come off the stand. The orange ones took the weight, the blue were there just in case...

You'll probably need a cut down allen key to get the bottom allen bolt out (I did) as it's a bugger to get to.

The blocks of wood on the back tyre were a temporary measure just in case the rachets / ladders decided to fail and I replaced the shock with another bit of wood while the shock was being rebuilt, so I could remove the ladder.

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f142/AKJRAY/P5080007.jpg

[Dukedesmo]

This is how I've raised the front end on my little bandit whilst I'm replacing the fork seals and front tyre.

And the rear end of a 916;

http://www.ducati.ms/gallery/files/9/3/7/0/p1000804a.jpg

Everyone should have a pair of axle stands...

[gary tompkins]

i'll look into that, not sure if u were joking but it could be a great idea if it works!:thumbsup:

The reversed (upside down) pillion pegs and axel stand method Duncan suggests does work

Make sure you soak all the bolts in penetrating oil the day before - the job can be a real pain if anything's seized

[urbanfireblade]

Wow, there's some good ideas! Liking the ladder one, we should make a thread for 'Top Tips!'
Anyway, i went for the footrest option, made some mild steel blocks up at work yesterday to replace the footpegs, just tried it and works a treat :)
Bolts were there for my original idea of making legs that bolted on but didn't bother as axle stands do the same job.
I only have a car port so any option of suspending the bike from rafters is no good for me, i used to do that for my Fireblade at my parents garage.

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b151/urbanfireblade/resized302.jpg

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b151/urbanfireblade/resized301.jpg

[gary tompkins]

The main downside of using footrests and leaving the hangers in place, is poor access to the lower shock bolt via hole in swingarm - see photo. I normally use an ABBA stand which supports bike off swingarm pivot. This allows footrest hangers to be removed completely, and improves access to lower shock mount. You can achieve same effect DIY by passing a 600mm length of 12mm steel bar through hollow swing arm spindle, and then lift the bike on to the axle stands. This is how I completed much of the monster trike build.

[utopia]

You can achieve same effect DIY by passing a 600mm length of 12mm steel bar through hollow swing arm spindle, and then lift the bike on to the axle stands.

This is basically how I lift mine....except I use two lengths of 22mm bar, turned down to 12mm at one end, instead of the single piece of 12mm. I also use two ancient screw jacks, much like axle stands but adjustable. This combo makes it simple to do single-handed.
At least, thats how I used to do it, but now my rearsets get in the way. :hissy:

[urbanfireblade]

Thanks Gary, i'll look at it tomorrow before i start and decide what to do. I made my own 'Abba' stand at work, here's a pic(its hammerite painted now). Used it for my Suzuki Sv, i can make the adaptors easily at work to fit the Ducati.

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b151/urbanfireblade/Abbastand30.jpg

[urbanfireblade]

Well it was all a waste of time unfortunately. My plan was to fit a stiffer spring-a mate with a 900SS gave me his rear shock(purple spring) to replace my original Monster one(yellow spring). But upon stripping them down and testing(crudely) which was the harder to compress by applying weight to each and measuring the amount they compress its clear that the purple one from his 900SS is softer and more progressive(extra coil).
Apart from the more progressive(softer) nature of the 900SS spring, the internal diameter was about 6mm larger so i'd have had to make up a spacer too. Spring length was the same and so was coil material diameter(about 9.5mm thick). I know the SS and Monster have different working suspension designs, i was just curious/crossing my fingers/hoping it might work. But it didn't. DOH!

So that was my day off from work today :)

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b151/urbanfireblade/120.jpg

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b151/urbanfireblade/220.jpg

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b151/urbanfireblade/320.jpg

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b151/urbanfireblade/420.jpg

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b151/urbanfireblade/520.jpg

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[urbanfireblade]

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b151/urbanfireblade/720.jpg

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b151/urbanfireblade/830.jpg

Deflection measured 5 divisions
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b151/urbanfireblade/930.jpg

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b151/urbanfireblade/1030.jpg

Deflection measured 8 divisions(softer spring)
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b151/urbanfireblade/1130.jpg

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b151/urbanfireblade/1220.jpg

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b151/urbanfireblade/1350.jpg

[Capo]

Ingenious, "where there is a will there is a way"

Problem is most springs are not identified, I do however have a spare Ohlins spring (stencilled on spring) - 01092-31/95 L385

Spring Length 170mm – 6.7”
Spring Rate 9.5N/mm – 9.68kg/mm – 542lbs/in

[urbanfireblade]

True, there was only a CF027(i think) code etched on the 900SS purple spring, nothing on the standard one and i could find no info on spring rates either so i just gave it a go. Both springs were 185mm length. Its all back together now so i doubt i'll try again. Its just i had this 900SS rear shock in the boot of my car for over a month and a day off work so i thought why not!