I have just taken one of my shocks off of my snowmobile in hopes to free up the spring adjuster. It seems to be seized to the shock body. The body of the shock is made out of aluminum and the actual adjuster is made out of metal. It seems like the aluminum has oxidized and does not want to let the adjuster free. This is the adjuster that tightens the actual spring itself. I have tried to soak it in PB Blaster and still I have nothing. The shocks are nitrogen filled so I dont know how smart it is to heat them up. Does anybody have any suggestions. Oh BTW the sled is a 1994 Ski-Doo MXZ 470 Thanks, P.S. I will be away until next monday so I probally wont be able to read it until then. Erik
If the aluminum and steel have bonded, you'll probably need heat to break them free. If you're worried about the shock becoming a bomb when you heat it, you can first drill a small hole in it to release the pressure. It will spray oil all over, so be warned. Otherwise, if the stuck part is just a fitting on the end of the tube, you can probably keep from transferring too much heat to the tube by wrapping it with a cold, wet towel and working quickly with the torch. If it doesn't free up quickly, you'll have to let it cool down before starting all over again.
If you have removed the retainer at the live end of the shock and removed the spring, (I assume you have a coil over shock assembly) you have to tap (or pound) the adjuster off the body towards the live end. Maybe a piece of pipe larger than the body but small enough to catch the retainer to pound on and break it loose:idea2: ? I guess you tried to turn the adjuster to break it loose if not did you try use a bigger hammer.:grin: If the shock is not a rebuildable one ie, FOX etc... you may want to consider an aftermarket replacement (non Gas) which should be fairly cheap to purchase from aftermarket, but not from oem. If you owned an arctic cat you wouldn't have this problem:laugh:
Thanks for all the advice I have been away at Bowling Green all week. I do not believe that the shock is a rebuildable one and the shock itself is in great condition. I just need to stiffen up the spring a little bit. I weigh more than the previous owner. I have tried a bigger hammer and that didnt end up working. I bought a "bullet proof" spanner wrench the other day and hopefully this one will not bend like the other one did. Unfortunetly the aluminum and steel have bonded with each other and I am hoping that pure broot force would break the bond. Unfortunetly it has not been working. Hey Hey watch it with those Car comments. Wierd that I bought a ski-doo from a Car dealer :grin: Thanks for the help guys I will keep on trying
Ahhh I know ou: I figured that I should start now not wait like I usually do until the day it snows :error:
You bent a spanner wrench!!?? That's on there good. it sure sounds like a take-apart style shock. Either way, your going to have to take the spring off so you have room to get the bit of a air hammer on there.... Guy
Well it snowed here on the weekend so you better get cracking... "what was that about global warming"
Thats a good Idea Guy I will try to use the air hammer lightly on there this weekend. I have the spring off of the shock allready and it is soaking in PB blaster all week right now. Hopefully this works. I will take some pictures of the shock for you guys this weekend, it might be easier that way. Thanks a bunch. Erik
