Rear shock stiff - lacks full range of motion

[HPP8140]

Hi,

My rear shock is very stiff and doesn't compress through the full range of motion when moving. It feels fine when I'm sitting still, bouncing on the seat, but once I'm moving the shock is stiff and won't compress through full range of motion. It feels like I have the preload at full stiffness, but I have it on level 1. I've gone through a couple stock shocks and R6 shock with the same results. Am I missing some bearings somewhere when I replaced the shock?

[Zwerski]

Could be:

1. that your weight is not enough to compress the shock while riding
2. lateral movement in the bike's swingarm is causing the shock to bind
3. your shock is hosed - bent rod or dented piston guide inside
4. that, yes, the needle bearings and friction collars are not correct or not greased and are binding

I have an R6 shock on my GS and I had to get some Yamaha parts - bolt, nut and collar - to make it work on my bike, since the shock was purchased without the attachment hardware from the donor bike and the GS hardware is not the correct size.

[HPP8140]

1. I've had a couple GS500s and this was not the case before. The rear was soft and moved freely. I even set the preload to 1.
2. maybe not sure what to check here.
3. I've tried a couple shocks with the same result.
4. Are there bearings that will come out when the shock is removed from the 3 bolts above with red arrows? I didn't notice any.


I'm so sick of this issue, makes the bike difficult to ride.  Could it be because of an x-ring chain vs stock o-ring?

[Mechmech]

3 things you could try come to mind.

• Adjust the collar to 3-4 to make sure you didn't somehow leave it at 7 (it happens).
• Take the shock linkage off and check that the 3 bearings can spin and aren't broken, regrease 'em anyway.
• Re-torque everything to spec.

Yes, 3 bearings should come off from the black gadget (shock linkage) that holds the bottom of the shock to the dogbones and the frame, one from each bolt.

Edit:
No bearing at the top of the shock tho, that's just the shock, a bolt, a nut, and the two tabs from the frame.
Is your chain slack set to what the manual says? If it's too tight (say, nearly no slack or something like that) it could be binding and stopping the shock from moving, if memory serves right.

[HPP8140]

the bottom shock bolts have bearings? Like little ball bearings? Hmm...didn't notice any fall off when I removed the bolt.

[adidasguy]

Roller bearings. No little balls to fall out. None of the bearings will fall apart unless the bearing housing is damaged. You can slide out the bearing sleeve to clean and re-lube the rollers.

Nothing there would limit shock motion - those bearings move so little even if they were crap things would still move.

#1 is the lightest shock setting. Maybe it is nearly bottomed out when you just sit on the bike? Normal setting is 4.
7 is stiffest for the people with the largest gravitational attraction (i.e. fattest, biggest) or when carrying a passenger.

I can't think of anything where little balls will fall out except balls in  cheap rotating casters or a lazy susan.

[Mechmech]

the bottom shock bolts have bearings? Like little ball bearings? Hmm...didn't notice any fall off when I removed the bolt.

No no, not a ball bearing. A sleeve bearing. It's a hollow metal cylinder.

It's these parts from your picture, circled in blue.

[HPP8140]

Ok I put those back in. They were just grooved on the inside.

This is a strange problem.

[adidasguy]

The groves are really the bearings. If you stick your finger in, you can turn them. Not critical as they really never move much.
When apart, I do clean them out with WD40 or kerosene then put in new waterproof grease (green color I think, or is it red? Not the black stuff)

Set your shock on 4 or higher. Possibly the shock is worn out. Check the sag when you just sit on the bike. Though it is the spring that provides the bounce. The shock part just dampens it. If shock is gone you'll get bouncy-bouncy-bouncy

Spring set to too low a number for your weight and you'll bottom out.

[HPP8140]

Maybe the linkage bearings have failed. Replaced shock with another stock unit & the problem went away for a few miles. Now the rear is stiff again...sigh...might try replacing linkage.

Tempted to buy CB500f

[HPP8140]

Is the linkage for F models same as E models?

[adidasguy]

Is the linkage for F models same as E models?

Yes it is.
1989 had an aluminum knuckle. Bearings are the same. It can be put on in place of the steel knuckle.

[HPP8140]

Thanks. Hope replacing the linkage fixes the problem.

I noticed when I spin the collar inside the center linkage bearing, I hear crunching & I'm unable to keep twisting it.

[HPP8140]

Replaced linkage and still having issues...sigh

Guess I'll replace the chain next.

[Big Rich]

Unless your chain is WAY too tight, it's not the problem.

[HPP8140]

Any other ideas?

The chain has kinks & doesn't feel flexible like my GSX-R chain. It's an x-ring chain with 22k miles. Maybe should stick with o-ring for this bike.

As soon as I let clutch out, the rear end of bike sits higher & the rear shock will not compress.  Grrrr....

Only addition I've made from stock is a 140 rear and x-ring chain.

[Big Rich]

If it has kinks, then it should be replaced (along with both sprockets). But the only way a chain will effect suspension travel is if it's way too tight.

[HPP8140]

Guess I'll try extra chain slack just to test.

[gsJack]

Did you check the swing arm pivot for free play/bad brgs?  Are the links stock 7 1/16" between centers?  PO might have lowered/raised it.  While you have wheel off and links loose to check swing arm brgs take a good look for any interference between shock/links and the swing arm crossmember they pass close to, there have been reports of hitting large weld lumps there a couple times but I think they were cases of altered suspensions.

[HPP8140]

Yes, links are stock. Bought the bike in June 2009 with 5k miles. Didn't have the problem when I bought it.

I've removed the shock and was able to move the swingarm freely up/down. Also, moved the links on bearing (E) freely.