I have just spent the last 8 hours trying to tighten up the rear shock!!! Argggghhhhh!!! I had to take the wheel off to get more pull on it and went through one of those MASSIVE cans of wd40. Its an xt600e 3tb 1990, and i dont think anyone has ever adjusted the rear shock! The bastard of it is is that I have tightened it as far as (i think) it will go, and it still feels like a bloody sponge! What Im asking you lot is, have any of you tightened up your rear shock as far as you can, and how much space is there between the locking nut and the bottom of the threads? Pics would be helpfull please!


Sorry...need to rant!... I really like this bike, Iv had it for about 7 months now, but...I dont know...would I trust it to drive through africa???...At the moment I wouldnt tust it to drive from where I am in Scotland to the south of England to see my mum!!!

lol look for one in a classifieds and pretend you want to buy it, get the info you need and tell them you'll phone them back.

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hey there.. I also got a 1990 XT600E but haven't touched the rear shock YET...at least until some parts I bought arrive...

Maybe the shock is just wasted?

sorry I can't help out on this one..

Take care!

Vando

Get this table, I made it with the values of some XT shocks..
so the 3TB shock spring is: 248,5mm minimum, 243,5mm average, 237,5mm maximum (hardest)

said that, if your shock spring moves like your mattress ones, I think that you have to replace it, specially if you plan a long trip. You find plenty of original shocks on ebay, the problem is that there is no warranty that you get one older than yours :-). And they are hardly serviced. Best thing is get a serviceable shock, like the ohlins originally mounted on yamaha TTS.

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Thats great cheers cyberzer! So will an original ohlins shock from the ttr fit, or what year of ttr? I figure then rather replacing the shock with another 3tb shock I should get one with a bit more hight and travel, thats is what I want anyway, as the bike is a little on the short side! Thanks alot!

TTS not TTR, TTR is similar but with a shorter gas tube and most important with a fork link bottom, that must be replaced, and it's a 250 euro work minimum (parts included).

So TTS ohlins is the choice.

Cheers again cyberzar. Iv tried searching for the tts ohlins with no joy, do you know of any links? (think maby Im just tired! half past 12+long day=crap search!). Thanks!

well.. Since I'm also considering on getting a new rear shock for my 90' XT600E could anyone tell what factors should be considered for buying a new shock?

I was thinking of getting a shock from a YZ or WR or anyother MX or SX bike that has a good heavy spring rate...

Anyone?

Vando

Yosha: they are rare, seldom see one on ebay coz all ppl want them for same reason like you. Only way is wait on ebay, or search bike parts shops.
Consider that price list for a new ohlins is 7\800 euros, and when an old one is serviced for a 100\150 fee it's like new.
Having so many ppl looking for it, if you get one for 200 u'r lucky, 250 is a fair price, 300\350 can be also fair if the shock is in very good condition, or just serviced.

Vando: for our bikes we r forced to get ohlins (or other brands) with separate reservoir, unless you have someone that builds a new air filter with space for a different shock. Anyway, talking about mx springs, mx bikes are 110\120 kg but ours are 170... so we need an harder spring. Ohlins from TTS600 have already a setup for a similar bike so the spring is usually ok... I made small travels with load (with passenger) with the standard "63" spring with no problem.

Send your shocker to a good shock rebuilder they will transform your standard nonrebuildable shocker to a rebuildable unit. will replace the oil seals and gas.

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Let me disagree with you Brian, standard shocks can be modified (adding a valve to reload nitrogen)

BUT:

- usually you pay more than an average service fee for that
- you get back your shock, if all is OK, as good as original, or maybe due to the fact that these modifications are "home made" it could fail in a short time
-next time you service it, you will pay more than what you pay for ohlins or similar, coz the service center spends always more time to service it.

The fact is that with a serviceable shock, all maintenance procedures (opening, refilling oil, remove air from oil etc) are easy to be done, all standards quantities like oil and gas pressure are factory determined and the results are guaranteed. Otherwise is a matter of personal knowledge of the service center ppl, that can know (or guess) the setup and test a method to service the shock.

So if you r lost somewhere and you don't have a choice, or find someone that fix your standard shock for under 100 euro, it's acceptable but otherwise is better to plan a better shock buy.

Hi there...

Cyberzar: I've bought a 2002 YZ250 front end and will fill them heavier fork oil filled almost to the maximum recommended and the low/high speed thingy set to the best fit... If it doesn't work like I want I'll be getting new .52 springs for it..

I was just thinking about getting a rear shock for an MX bike and get a heavier spring (probably the heaviest made lol) and that would save me way more than buying an used olhins or whatever and get them rebuilt...

As for the air filter housing, I'm on my 2nd year of my major on mechanical engeneering and I've learned how to use fiber glass for shaping or I can just use the machines (yes we can use them there) and make one with the CAD3D software (SolidWorks program)

and I have a Fluids class



But first I have to find out what will work and what won't


Vando

If you can do the modified airbox is surely good, but this will also change your carburator air flow and setup, meaning (hopefully not but who knows) a lot of time spent testing a new carb setup.

Said this, I don't think you will spare money getting a MX bike shock, unless you get a very old one... spare parts are always more expensive if you take ones from newer models. So a shock from a modern MX bike can cost more than an ohlins from a 1996 yamaha... And every time you take separately a part it costs more.. getting an harder spring may cost 80 euros alone...

Better still why not just explain the problem to them and ask politely for the information. I can't speak for anyone else but if I had something for sale and someone phoned me up for data I'd happily help out a brother biker....

Am I in the minority?

I imagine BMW Riders will feel different cos they all notmally refuse to even acknowledge other riders on the road who ride anything other than a BMW....

Honesty Pays..... in the long run.

__________________
Neil
My Website: http://www.kentfallen.com

Mint Red Yamaha XT600E (1999) 5,000 miles
Blue Yamaha XT600E (2001) 11,000 miles
Mint Black Honda XBR500(1986) 8,000 miles
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