How to strip-down adjustable suspension?

dhumphrys

OK, so here's my stupid question of the day.

I'm close to stripping my bike down again for paint and powdercoat. One thing I couldn't work out when I stripped it the last time was the proper method of removing the adjustable suspension linkage from the frame and separating it from the suspension 'arch'.

The non-adjustable (Monster style) version comes apart easily as there are just nuts and bolts holding it all together, whereas in the adjustable version each bolt seems to run through a 'sleeve' that somehow holds it all together even when the bolts aren't there.

I managed before to get the linkage out of the frame by prizing it out; not ideal and I certainly don't want to do that when I re-assemble and risk scratching the new paint. I couldn't work out how to split the arch from the cantilever at all.

Any ideas or tips?

Thanks
Darren

Mr.R

I can't see a problem here Darren?
There's only 3 bolts holding the rockerarm, one goes through the top eye of the shock, one through the frame and the other goes through the top of the arch/bow.
Once these are removed the rockerarm should all but fall out, the sleaves that the needle roller bearings run on don't go through the frame.

Steve R

Francesco

I had that problem too......this sleeve is, if I remember correctly, 10mm inside and 12mm outside diameter, so verry thin. By tightening the bolt going through it, it is going to damage the frame and itself. This sleeve is slightly longer than the linkanges width. So what I did is: grind the sleeve to the minimum lenght and put a washer in between the frame and the sleeve. And of course: Do not overtight the bolt!
Same thing at the top af the arch.........
I had even bigger problems, because these sleeves where gone and I had to replace needle bearings and make some new sleeves, yes they are hardned and grinded!

Francesco

dhumphrys

Thanks for the answers.

Steve, as Francesco says the sleeves are slightly wider than the linkage where it fits into the frame and also where the arch fits into the linkage. This means that even after removing the bolt the linkage stays in place. I had to lever open the mounting point in the frame with a couple of big screwdrivers to get it out and to get it back in again. Obviously I don't want to do that again when the frame is painted!

I didn't have the guts to lever open the linkage so i could remove the arch but I'll have to get it out somehow as I want to get the arch painted white along with the frame.

The shock just falls out as you would expect when the bolt is removed.

Francesco, thanks for the tip, it looks like I'll be making some new, slighly shorter sleeves! Thankfully the bearings look OK.

Thanks again for the answers, keep them coming!

Darren

griff851

Your best bet is to lever it back in, then touch up the paint afterwards it up afterwards. That's what I did. I wouldn't shorten the bearing tube myself, on the logic that its that way for a reason. Still, its a pain in the butt that's for sure.

Griff

DeltaT

Can I just confirm that the only way to get this out is to "prize it out" / bash it with a rubber hammer? How did they get it in!?

griff851

You have to "lever" it out by pushing the mounting tang outboard. You can get all butcherous and use a screwdriver or machine up a wedge with a slot in it. In the aircraft world I saw a term once that helps you. " using the natural elactisity of the airframe" 😄
Putting it back in without scratching the paint is a trick.

seven4nineR

griff851 wroteIn the aircraft world I saw a term once that helps you. " using the natural elactisity of the airframe"

Haha, love it! I'll definitely be using that in the future.

And yes, I well remember asking myself "Why the f#%l have they made the pivot sleeve captive?". I'm actually kinda relieved to know it wasn't just me. With a freshly painted frame teeth were well and truly gritted when it came time for reassembly!

DeltaT

haha, I like that "natural elasticity" phrase too 😄

Thanks for clearing it up, this is gonna be fun...!

MarkT

After " using the natural elactisity of the airframe" many many times over the years -my last few bike builds I simply ground down a slight bit off of the hardened sleeve-- just enough to slip it in.

could be considered sacrilege- but I have not found it caused any ill affects and I save my fresh paint.

brad black

once it's tightened will the frame move and be the same at the next removal?