Questions about shock/rear spring 2000 M900

Started by WTSDS, July 22, 2012, 02:35:15 AM

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WTSDS

Ever since I got this 'bike some 6 years ago the yellow rear spring has been upsetting me, I mean it's a Dark dammit and that spring is so glaringly outa place in there. And I've been slowly painting other things black, like the cambelt covers, and the clutch cover.

So today off came the stock silver rearsets and the shocker and they're all cleaned up ready for a coat of black.

Because I was frightened everything would go SPROING when I removed the shock I loosened off the locking rings to get the compression off the spring.

First question is  - can I get the shock back in if I tighten up the locking rings on the bench first, i.e. re-assemble with the spring compressed to the right amount, or do I have to scratch up the newly painted spring when the locking rings are tightened with the shock mounted in-situ ?

Second question is about the shock itself. It's the original Sachs and is 12 years old. When I hold the body and push down slowly with the lower eye on the ground the rod is able to be completely pushed right up to the rubber bumper without a lot of force so long as I do it slowly, then it rebounds fairly slowly. There's no wear on the chromed rod. I'm thinking because it's so old it must be FUBAR but it seems OK. Should I replace it as a matter of course.

Third quessie - I'm not looking for super performance or pinpoint handling as I mainly do long highway runs but what are my options for a replacement these days ? Don't wanna spend a grand on a new shock, do they still make ones the same as what I got ? 
2000 Monster Dark 900 ie   Stock except for low Staintunes and a centrestand. 15:39 sprockets make for excellent highway gearing

Howie

It would be a good idea to have someone with the tools put in fresh oil and a new nitrogen charge while it is out.  Or, if your wallet is big enough...

motoxmann

you can tighten the lockrings with the correct preload with the shock on the bench. you can also remove the shock with it fully preloaded. nothing will go "SPROIINGGG!" lol.

IMO, there is absolutely no sense in replacing the entire shock. if you're not very picky, it sounds like it's fine and doesnt need anything and you can just toss it back in. but it is old, and the oil is old and probably contaminated and probably has a different viscosity than it did when new. so if you do want to freshen it up, just have any motorcycle shop (preferably a ducati dealer so they use the right oil) rebuild the shock with new seals, oil, and nitrogen charge.

WTSDS

Thanks Motoxmann, that's the info I needed. The shock seems OK and I'll get a new one later on down the track if ness. Now I know it can be reinserted assembled and compressed I'll be able to paint everything except the chrome rod black. Whoo hoo.

My worries about springy things stems from pulling apart an air rifle in my teens - I reckon there are some parts of that gun still  in orbit !

2000 Monster Dark 900 ie   Stock except for low Staintunes and a centrestand. 15:39 sprockets make for excellent highway gearing

brad black

send it to krooztune and have them redo it.  then fit the spring to the same fitted length it was before and away you go.
Brad The Bike Boy

http://www.bikeboy.org

WTSDS

Thanks Brad, I will do that - I wuz gonna ring you today and ask who you recommend for a shock job. I reckon I need a stronger spring too, the lock rings are almost fully down to the bottom of the threads yet I only weigh 70 kgs.

Cheers mate, Jeff
2000 Monster Dark 900 ie   Stock except for low Staintunes and a centrestand. 15:39 sprockets make for excellent highway gearing

motoxmann

Quote from: WTSDS on July 22, 2012, 05:55:10 PM
I reckon I need a stronger spring too, the lock rings are almost fully down to the bottom of the threads yet I only weigh 70 kgs.

I thought that too when I rebuilt my bike a few months ago. as it turns out though, thats the stock spring location/preload. I'm only 62kgs. I actually ended up loosening the preload by about 6mm, then raised the fork to the swingarm by 7mm, worked perfect for me

koko64

 Call Dave at Krooztune on 9801 2122.
Just go the service. Spring should be close enough and dont even bother with a revalve considering our crap roads and you're not racing it.
If you want to spend money get a Penske.
I pmed you about riding with us blokes if you like.
2015 Scrambler 800

WTSDS

Decided against having the shock done up , mainly because I had time to do some painting that day, and it is actually working OK.

Did the shock, rearsets and brake pedal too. Happy camper !

Next will be the swingarm and when the time comes for a rear brake bleed the gold master cylinder will be blackened, down the track I'd like to do the whole motor...............






2000 Monster Dark 900 ie   Stock except for low Staintunes and a centrestand. 15:39 sprockets make for excellent highway gearing

WTSDS

...and here's the pics I meant to send........doh







2000 Monster Dark 900 ie   Stock except for low Staintunes and a centrestand. 15:39 sprockets make for excellent highway gearing

koko64

Very sharp lookin' paint job.

Whats with your exhaust pipes? Are they glowing red, or is that rust?
2015 Scrambler 800

motoxmann

exhaust pipes look like rust, not glowing haha.

get the exhaust ceramic coated, I had mine ceramic coated black, came out amazing, and only cost $65. mine used to look like yours. pic below

as for painting the engine; painting the cases is fine, but I strongly suggest AGAINST painting the cylinders and heads, and definitely dont paint the oil cooler. paint will reduce the effectiveness of cooling

I also spray-painted my timing belt covers and rear tire hugger gloss black...








WTSDS

Yep, rust, altho I'd love it if motorbike headers glowed with heat :)

Great work with the glossed hugger ! With previous 'bikes always I've gone for super-hygeinic and immaculate but with this one I'm going the other way and my brief when I was buying was for pre-dropped and already banged up, which I got - take a close peep at the first pic and you'll see a significant ding in the muffler and the never-washed hugger, the grotty wiring under the tank was tidied up by a wrap around with a piece of inner tube held on by zip ties.

The dents in the tanks and all the other scrapes and scratches are still there, as are the small seat tears. I'm aiming to make this thing look like a piece of road resurfacing equipment but ultra-reliable, no bling, only functional additions like the centrestand, and a pair of old, bent bar end mirrors. Basically something to just ride without agonising over, which I can lend to friends and not fret if it comes back with an extra bruise or two.

I've used a semi-gloss enamel, a fair match for the original Monster Dark black, similar to an undercoat, and it's been applied by brush, single coat. As DucPainter would say -Not the sort of job I could charge for :-)

Each to his own, one of the beauties of owning a Monster.

BTW the oil cooler was my first blackening job. I doubt an aircooled Monster would ever overheat unless the paint was applied an inch thick.
2000 Monster Dark 900 ie   Stock except for low Staintunes and a centrestand. 15:39 sprockets make for excellent highway gearing

motoxmann

#13
I bought my bike all banged up too. I've fixed/painted/replaced everything except the dents on both sides of the tank and the scratches on the right side engine cover

my hugger used to look just like yours. wetsanded it with 300grit, cleaned it with brake cleaner, and sprayed 3 coats of gloss black. came out better than even I expected haha.

I've done a lot to bring the looks of my bike out. soon as I come up with enough spare money I'll be getting the dents in my tank popped and painting it myself with actual auto paint and the proper equipment. gonna go with gloss black with red stripes, front fender will end up gloss black, and trying to get a rear seat cowl too, which will be painted to match the tank. if you know anyone with a seat cowl for sale, please pm me. color and condition of paint obviously doesnt matter, so long as the cowl itsself isnt damaged

I've also had the dull black frame blasted and powder coated red, and added red pinstripes to the rims. the bike actually looks like something now.
another little thing I did too was anything that was raised on the cases I wetsanded the paint off so the alum finish stood out. ie where it says ducati on the right case.
I totally understand your blackout thoughts though lol. here's mine before/after:



motoxmann

oh, I have billet clipons I'll sell for cheap if you're interested