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General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: kfz on May 24, 2016, 01:58:47 AM

Title: Easy way to open Koni's?
Post by: kfz on May 24, 2016, 01:58:47 AM

Is there an easy way to open the koni shocks?  Doubt care size spring compressors would work.  Shocks are tired but working ok, but the springs could do with a repaint....

Kev

Title: Re: Easy way to open Koni's?
Post by: Thirtyaughtsix on May 24, 2016, 04:34:00 AM

Grab a friend! That's what I had to do, would have been impossible for me myself to muscle the spring down as well as manipulate a wrench otherwise

Title: Re: Easy way to open Koni's?
Post by: Stevex on May 24, 2016, 12:27:02 PM

I recently took the springs out of my Konis to powder coat them and clean up the body...then repeated it all over again when I decided that black springs looked better than yellow ones!
I used 2 large tyre levers (flat, about an inch across, quarter inch thick and a foot long), either side of the piston rod, not too far down from the spring top. Then put my weight on the spring and pushed down. I can create enough spacer for the wife to pull out the retaining collar with a pair of long nosed pliers, not too difficult really. When putting your freshly painted springs back on, wrap the levers in an old t shirt and use the pliers / wife as before!
Don't forget to adjust the shocks onto the lowest pre load setting beforehand   :wink:

Title: Re: Easy way to open Koni's?
Post by: Wayne Orwig on May 24, 2016, 12:48:17 PM

When it comes to compressing springs, all of those hose clamps do come in handy.
Just saying. Not that I would ever do that. Nope, never would I do that. :boozing:

Title: Re: Easy way to open Koni's?
Post by: PeteS on May 24, 2016, 01:36:17 PM

I basically did what Steve did except I use my drill press to apply pressure to the shock, inverted. I used steel bars as thick as would fit between the spring coils and extend at least two inches on either side of the spring. These would act as a bridge over a pair of 2 x 4s. Press down and remove the keeper which is between the 2 x 4s.
Now I have a 30 ton press that replaces the drill press.

Pete

Title: Re: Easy way to open Koni's?
Post by: rodekyll on May 24, 2016, 01:50:28 PM

Quote from: OMG on May 24, 2016, 12:48:17 PM

When it comes to compressing springs, all of those hose clamps do come in handy.
Just saying. Not that I would ever do that. Nope, never would I do that. :boozing:

+1 on the hose clamps.  I've also seen folks use those really big zip ties.

I have a McPherson strut compressor with modified collars I can get into the springs.  It's very cumbersome to use, but the spring can't get away from you.

Title: Re: Easy way to open Koni's?
Post by: Antietam Classic Cycle on May 24, 2016, 04:22:29 PM

http://powersportsnetwork.com/enthusiasts/catalog_item_detail.asp?catalog=7210&levelcode=65025&product=1114069&cattype=&ProductCategoryCode=

(http://www.psndealer.com/powersportsdlr/images/ec0459/15-0542.jpg)

Or make a similar one.

Title: Re: Easy way to open Koni's?
Post by: bigbikerrick on May 24, 2016, 04:56:02 PM

Thanks for posting that Charlie,  I think I will make one of those...looks simple enough!
Rick.