Can't reinstall shock--Solved

[rugguy]

Took shock off to replace bushing.Now I can't compress shock enough to get back on. I have it on my lift so the rear end is extended as far as it will go. Manual said do one shock at a time....

Any help greatly appreciated.

[Bone]

If your bike is strapped down securely can you lower the lift until the rear tire touches. Baby the lift pedal to lower the bike and raise the over extended swingarm.

or

Put a floor jack under the rear and try and raise the rear.

Make sure that bike is strapped down accidents are a possibility with either method.

[R J]

Back when I was younger and stupid I had the same problem.

Ended up, I got a ratchet strap, oh I was all by myself or I wouldn't have done it this way.

Put the strap around the shock and started slowly ratcheting it down.    When it would slide over the shock stud, I took my plastic mallet and gave it a couple of smacks to get it started on the stud.

Looked at it, and decided which way I needed to go to get it on and proceeded.   Ended up it just slide right on and I quickly put a nut on it.   Presto, I went in & had a nice cold Iced Tea.

[hubcapsc]

This is sort of what Bone said...

When you are about to remove your shocks, put your bike on the
jack and adjust the jack until the shocks are neither in tension nor in
compression. The wheel will be just barely touching the ground...

Not only does this make it easy to get the shocks on and off, it
makes it so there's not a ton of pressure on the lower shock bolts
when you are trying to loosen/tighten them... with pressure on
them you can't tell whether or not you've got them cross threaded,
they're hard to turn either way.

Maybe you can just lower the lift some until it is at the "right place",
then the shock will go on, and the lower bolt will thread in easy.

-Mike

[rugguy]

Thanks for the tips. Here is what worked for me. I put it on the lift and adjusted the shock to the #1 load position. It was almost perfect so one more turn and I was able to tap it on with a rubber mallet. Opposite on the other side. Had to crank it out to #4 to adjust it and get it to fit.

The real news is how it rides. The old bushings were shot and the new ones make it go where I point it again.

Thanks again to all....