550 YSS rear shocks

[Oddjob]

Bushes new Dom? If so genuine Honda?

Yes the gap looks excessive but with you saying you might struggle to find a really thin washer I presumed it was an illusion. There should be a small amount of movement allowed Dom, as the arm lifts the shock has to change it's angle accordingly, so both upper and lower mounts must be able to rotate a little.

[DomP]

Thanks Ken, yeah new and genuine honda, I'll try a few washers tomorrow, today it just annoyed me so I left it to do something else.   

[Murf]

That just looks wrong, the fork should be a close fit on the steel centre of the SA bushing, I will measure my original Honda shocks and the SA bush tomorrow and post the dimensions for you, just so you can check the SA bushes you have are correct before you take it up with Hagon again!

Then if you can’t get any joy with Hagon I can make you some stainless spacers to fill the gap if you give me the size required. I would suggest 2 equal spacers for each shock to keep it central.

[DomP]

Thanks Murf that would be great, it gets quite annoying having to go back and forth with a supplier, they tried to get me to pay for return postage too!

[Murf]

Hi
I have measured my shock and SA bush.
The SA bush is 19 mm front to back
The fork has a 19.15 or there abouts  spacing
So the fork is a close fit to the bush, when the fork bolt is tightened the fork is a tight fit on the bush. Which it has to be or the bolt would not tighten securely.

I took the shock off the top mount and just tightened the lower fork bolt, shock is held securely in place but has about 20mm of movement both forwards and backward with the flexing of the rubber in the bush when light pressure is applied. So adequate movement in the bush to take up any normal shock movement when riding.

So as I expected clearance between the fork and bush should be minimal and when the fork bolt is tightened the fork should be clamped to the SA bush.
I can make you some spacers but I think the favoured option is to get Hagon to supply shocks with the correct fitting.
I have attached a photo of the shock just clamped to the SA bush on my bike, you can see that it is just held in place, the bolt is not even tightened that much and the sides of the fork are not touching the swinging arm.

[DomP]

That was my thinking Murf, been out and measured mine which is the same 19mm bush but clevis has a 21mm gap so being stainless is too much to clamp up squarely.  I've been in conversation with Hagon today so will see what they decide, for moderately expensive shocks built to my spec I think its a bit poor that even after being returned they've come back wrong.

[Murf]

Yes it definitely looks like they are making it up as they go along.
Definitely too big a gap to just clamp it up, also if you are using original bolts they are only just the right length for the original shock with its 19 mm fork opening.

[DomP]

I've had a reply from Hagon,  I'm not sure what to make of it.

Hi Dominic.

 

I have had the production team get back to me and the outcome is not what I wanted to hear.

They have been checking the stock of the components used in the assembly and the lower fork is a prefabricated part which we order and are manufactured in the UK.

We have more than a thousand pieces all measuring the same dimension of the lower fork we have supplied on your unit.

 

These are ordered long in advance and take over six months before we take delivery, so a quick replacement is not an option for us.

I fully understand your frustration, but all I can offer as an immediate option is the manufacture of a suitable spacer/spacers, or a full refund of the units.

 

I know this is obviously a disappointment but the only immediate solutions I can offer.

[Bryanj]

Sounds to me like they have bad qc on parts in, but at least they have offered a solution for you.
Personaly i would put a shim either side of the bush, might be a bugger to fit but would keep everything central

[DomP]

I'm quite surprised at their response.  I will do Bryan, I thought they may offer a partial refund to keep me happy but shims it is😀

[Bryanj]

At least it sounds like they will make them for you!

[Murf]

Well what a thing but just the sort of thing we get ‘not quite right’ after market parts I guess.
So if you want to get on quickly then it looks like the bushes are the option.

I have been looking for shocks for my 550, DS has the cheap copies which are cheap but from reports don’t last long.  CMSNL also have original copies which are around £300+ , they look good but I can’t decide whether they are just the  same as the DS ones at a higher price or actual better quality ones.  So if someone has bought some and can report on them that would be good. The YSS ones are probably ok shocks but of course don’t look correct if you are trying to keep originality.

The shocks you chose from Hagon looked like a good option so such a shame they haven’t got them quite right. If they have got a 1000 plus wrong bodies in stock I can’t see them changing any time soon either.

[Bryanj]

I see nothing wrong with fitting Hagons with shims, ok it is not as originaly designed but it is a sound engineering solution

[DomP]

I'll just take them up on the shims offer I think, I can't be bothered with sending the back now.  They look good and should be a vast improvement on the leaking originals

[Bryanj]

Definately, as they took over Girling i remember selling those and never had a problem with a set we sold