What tool to adjust old-school shocks?

JustRon · 01-31-2013, 07:52 PM

I've got those crappy kinda shocks where you can adjust the ride height, where "higher" means more preload/stiffer. I haven't had a bike with these things in probably 30 years, and I'm not sure how to adjust them. There's no lockring (like on modern shocks)... just needs to be twisted, but I can't figure out what I need to buy. I'd rather not mangle them with pliers, since the bike actually looks pretty good for it's age.

From junk

pdxjim · 01-31-2013, 09:56 PM

Just use your hand to turn the adjuster.

Works for me.

buls4evr · 02-01-2013, 06:20 AM

The correct one looks like a "C" with a handle on it and a protruding notch in the end to the inside. Sure there is not one in your toolkit?

JustRon · 02-01-2013, 07:01 AM

It didn't come with a toolkit, but I looked at the parts fiche and the toolkit didn't come with a spanner.
I've seen a few on the web- eBay and whatnot, but don't know what would fit. Many of them look similar, but often it's that subtle difference which causes something to not work.

It never even occurred to me to try my hands- I think that's what we did as kids. I guess I'll give that a shot this weekend.

buls4evr · 02-02-2013, 06:29 AM

The heck with all of this. Just put a piece of old inner tube around it and use your big channel locks

. Won't mark them at all that way.

Idle · 02-02-2013, 06:44 AM

Yeah, hands.. Prolly easier if it's on the stand with the weight off of it. Maybe smack it with a mallet if it's stubborn.

I have an old bicycle ring spanner for adjusting my modern shock preload and the steering head nut.

Oh, cool bike indeed!

JustRon · 02-03-2013, 02:52 PM

There was nothing to grab with my hands- these don't have a lockring. Anyway, I used a pair of cobra pliers- it was embarrassingly easy. I can't believe I didn't try that before starting a thread, haha. Oh well, thanks for the replies.

buls4evr · 02-04-2013, 07:24 AM

May all your problems be that easy to fix.

PSchrauber · 02-04-2013, 08:54 AM

We call them "Hakenschlüssel": Here one with a pin ...

There are some different sizes, ... available.

In English hook-wrench C-spanner, C-wrench, ...

02-01-2013, 07:01 AM	#4
JustRon ^OP ex-broadwayron Joined: May 2011 Location: Brooklyn Oddometer: 561	It didn't come with a toolkit, but I looked at the parts fiche and the toolkit didn't come with a spanner. I've seen a few on the web- eBay and whatnot, but don't know what would fit. Many of them look similar, but often it's that subtle difference which causes something to not work. It never even occurred to me to try my hands- I think that's what we did as kids. I guess I'll give that a shot this weekend. __________________ 2010 520RR 1982 KE100

02-02-2013, 06:29 AM	#5
buls4evr No Marks.... Joined: Sep 2009 Location: Michissippi & Nuevo Mexico Oddometer: 1,646	The heck with all of this. Just put a piece of old inner tube around it and use your big channel locks. Won't mark them at all that way.

02-03-2013, 02:52 PM	#7
JustRon ^OP ex-broadwayron Joined: May 2011 Location: Brooklyn Oddometer: 561	There was nothing to grab with my hands- these don't have a lockring. Anyway, I used a pair of cobra pliers- it was embarrassingly easy. I can't believe I didn't try that before starting a thread, haha. Oh well, thanks for the replies. __________________ 2010 520RR 1982 KE100

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01-31-2013, 09:56 PM	#2
pdxjim Two Stroke Terror Joined: Sep 2009 Location: Portland, OR Oddometer: 65	Just use your hand to turn the adjuster. Works for me.

02-01-2013, 06:20 AM	#3
buls4evr No Marks.... Joined: Sep 2009 Location: Michissippi & Nuevo Mexico Oddometer: 1,646	The correct one looks like a "C" with a handle on it and a protruding notch in the end to the inside. Sure there is not one in your toolkit?

02-02-2013, 06:44 AM	#6
Idle Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Jun 2011 Location: Northern California Oddometer: 426	Yeah, hands.. Prolly easier if it's on the stand with the weight off of it. Maybe smack it with a mallet if it's stubborn. I have an old bicycle ring spanner for adjusting my modern shock preload and the steering head nut. Oh, cool bike indeed!

02-04-2013, 07:24 AM	#8
buls4evr No Marks.... Joined: Sep 2009 Location: Michissippi & Nuevo Mexico Oddometer: 1,646	May all your problems be that easy to fix.

02-04-2013, 08:54 AM	#9
PSchrauber Studly Adventurer Joined: Jan 2011 Location: Summer: Kemiö, Finland; Winter: North Germany Oddometer: 643	We call them "Hakenschlüssel": Here one with a pin ... There are some different sizes, ... available. In English hook-wrench C-spanner, C-wrench, ...