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Tiger Time => Girly Talk (1999 - 2006 Tigers) => Chassis & Suspension => Topic started by: Ossian on November 13, 2018, 10:41:15 PM

Title: Rear suspension lower shock mount greasing.
Post by: Ossian on November 13, 2018, 10:41:15 PM
I thought it was time to discover the world of pain that is involved in removing the rear shock to check the lubrication of the lower mount. So I have managed to take it apart without removing the exhaust system which the manual states needs to be done as part of the procedure. Well the pin and needle rollers are in decent condition, and there was some grease in there.
I'm thinking that with everything apart - I took the swing arm off to remove the pin on the bench, it might be a sensible idea to put a grease nipple in the end of the shock. Has anybody on here done this, and are there any particular dos and donts to consider ?
Title: Re: Rear suspension lower shock mount greasing.
Post by: Timbox2 on November 13, 2018, 10:53:59 PM
How is the grease going to get into the bearing? Think about it.
Title: Re: Rear suspension lower shock mount greasing.
Post by: Ossian on November 14, 2018, 12:24:07 AM
Remove needles. Drill right through shock eye and bearing sleeve. Tap thread for nipple. Remove swarf. Screw in nipple. Replace needles and reassemble. Apply grease gun. Should cover it.
Title: Re: Rear suspension lower shock mount greasing.
Post by: Ossian on November 15, 2018, 06:06:59 PM
Well. I've just discovered the first 'don't'
Drilling the eye of the shock is easy through the outer alloy part. Just needs the whole thing to be mounted securely in the drill press. However don't attempt to drill using ordinary HSS bits. They won't even dent the needle roller sleeve.
Now to find a suitable bit...........
Title: Re: Rear suspension lower shock mount greasing.
Post by: Ossian on December 08, 2018, 10:50:19 PM
Well, got it done, but not the straightforward job I was expecting. (https://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/18/65/04/26/sam_2912.jpg)
I had to take it to a friend who has a very good precision engineering business. He drilled it using a very fine ~1mm diamond tipped (I believe) drill and then tapped the thread in the alloy with a blind end tap. For a belt and braces seal the nipple is also bonded in place with some kind of exotic epoxy.
Title: Re: Rear suspension lower shock mount greasing.
Post by: Ossian on December 09, 2018, 08:23:56 PM
Refitting the shock unit is a helluva faff. The top mounting is almost totally inaccessable and it really isn't a one man job.
However I used my garage crane to lift it into place which made it possible - just.
(https://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/18/65/04/26/sam_2914.jpg)
(https://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/18/65/04/26/sam_2915.jpg)
Title: Re: Rear suspension lower shock mount greasing.
Post by: Ossian on December 10, 2018, 11:52:56 PM
The way I approached the re-assembly - shock in first, and then insert the swing arm, makes all the bolts etc accessable around the in-situ exhaust, but making sure the swing arm shims were in place was very difficult. Took a lot of trial and error to work out a way of avoiding those "Oh F**K" moments as the shim washer hit the deck yet again.
Title: Re: Rear suspension lower shock mount greasing.
Post by: Chris Canning on December 11, 2018, 08:44:58 AM
I'm a little lost here because when I first saw this thread thought it was a mag wheeled Tiger and maybe that was the hassle but on closer inspection I see it's a wire wheel version like mine i've Had the shock in and out of mine must 5/6 times at least and never needed to remove the swing arm just a straight out and in job.

Re your mod with the grease nipple nice job but the actual stock shock was an absolute heap of junk when new never mind after all these years.
Title: Re: Rear suspension lower shock mount greasing.
Post by: Ossian on December 11, 2018, 12:33:50 PM
The exhaust system obscures the lower shock bolt, thats why I tried this method. I'd also heard that the hollow pin that located the shock can be siezed in the arm (it turned out that mine wasn't)
I'd certainly consider a different shock, but the prices seem to start at around £400 and that is just not going to happen for me.
Title: Re: Rear suspension lower shock mount greasing.
Post by: Timbox2 on December 11, 2018, 04:47:20 PM
Also had to remove the swingarm on my last 955 to get the lower pin out, mine was seized solid and needed heat and my biggest Manchester Spanner (Club Hammer). Afterwards though with a newly greased pin was a doddle. Yep I rememeber having fun with the swingarm shims :BangHead
Title: Re: Rear suspension lower shock mount greasing.
Post by: Chris Canning on December 11, 2018, 05:11:49 PM
Rubber bung out the swing arm and use a 3/8 extension with a knuckle joint and socket,go in the other side with a torque undo the bolt and tap the pin out.
Title: Re: Rear suspension lower shock mount greasing.
Post by: Timbox2 on December 11, 2018, 07:11:03 PM
Quote from: Chris Canning on December 11, 2018, 05:11:49 PM
Rubber bung out the swing arm and use a 3/8 extension with a knuckle joint and socket,go in the other side with a torque undo the bolt and tap the pin out.

Yours has been loved from day 1 though Chris.
Title: Re: Rear suspension lower shock mount greasing.
Post by: Ossian on December 11, 2018, 07:44:58 PM
Yep. I wondered whether a universal on a 3/8" would work around the exhaust. Of course I didn't have one !
Title: Re: Rear suspension lower shock mount greasing.
Post by: Ossian on December 11, 2018, 07:51:41 PM
I'm nevertheless amazed how awkward the Triumph designers have made access to the upper bolt. Probably on the new build the rear guard is not in place, which would make access from below a lot easier. Trying to hold a spanner on one side, while operating a ratchet on the other from above or the side is a painful and frustrating experience. They've also put the diagonal frame braces in lwhere they very effectively block any use of socket extensions.
At one point I seriously considered cutting an access hole in the frame cross bridge just to make access possible.
Title: Re: Rear suspension lower shock mount greasing.
Post by: Chris Canning on December 11, 2018, 07:53:05 PM
Quote from: Timbox2 on December 11, 2018, 07:11:03 PM
Yours has been loved from day 1 though Chris.

That's true enough although the dust and black tape look otherwise  :icon_biggrin:

(https://i.ibb.co/vcSQ1hv/2018-12-11-19-54-20.jpg)

(https://i.ibb.co/nBZ38TN/2018-12-11-19-54-36.jpg)

Need a bit of tape on the knuckle to stop it flopping about  :icon_rolleyes: 14mm socket

There must be some old photos on here from years back but no doubt photo bucket did for those.

Forgot!!! turn the 3/8 bar around and use the other end to drift the pin out.
Title: Re: Rear suspension lower shock mount greasing.
Post by: Bostedsprocket on January 25, 2019, 08:18:06 PM
Quote from: Chris Canning on December 11, 2018, 05:11:49 PM
Rubber bung out the swing arm and use a 3/8 extension with a knuckle joint and socket,go in the other side with a torque undo the bolt and tap the pin out.
Easy as that? i know where to come when i want mine doing!!!lol.
Title: Re: Rear suspension lower shock mount greasing.
Post by: Chris Canning on January 25, 2019, 09:27:23 PM
Oh shit better change address  :icon_lol:

On a serious note do it on a regular basis it's money for old rope if it hasn't been out for 10 years another ball game,but after the bolt is taken out drifting the pin out is just down to using the right size if I remember used along 1/2" extension bar and turned round it it fitted perfect oh and big F off hammer.

Man of you talents easy peezy  :icon_biggrin:
Title: Re: Rear suspension lower shock mount greasing.
Post by: Timbox2 on January 26, 2019, 11:12:31 AM
Mine was an absolute C"!""£, not helped by having a knackered Hagon shock on it with the brass bush!!!!! that had seized solid to the pin.
Title: Re: Rear suspension lower shock mount greasing.
Post by: VABird on December 17, 2019, 01:16:48 PM
So, Ossian.... this has been done a year now. Any reason not to do it?
Does the grease get to all of the needles effectively?

BTW, mine is an '06 model. Although not easily accessible, I had no real problem getting the shock out & in without removing swing arm. I did remove the mudguard & wheel and lift the bike though. I used a 12" long custom made drift punch, knocking it out from left to right.
I have a Stayintune exhaust if that makes any difference??

EDIT: I just reinstalled the shock (with Ossian's grease fitting mod) and found out you can do it without even removing the tire.
Title: Re: Rear suspension lower shock mount greasing.
Post by: Ossian on December 17, 2019, 07:30:20 PM
It's been fine with one downside. I have been a bit too clever by half with the angling of the nipple forward to avoid tyre muck, but now I find that with my grease gun having a straight nozzle, I have to shift the hugger for access.
Title: Re: Rear suspension lower shock mount greasing.
Post by: VABird on December 19, 2019, 02:55:26 AM
Ossian's ingenuity done and documented here:
http://www.tigertriple.com/forum/index.php/topic,16901.0.html
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