Honda-SOHC
SOHC.co.uk Forums => CB500/550 => Topic started by: DomP on January 30, 2025, 08:46:44 PM
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Roo has got me thinking about new rear shocks since showing us all his shiny new TEC shocks! Before I take him up on the offer of his YSS shocks I want to see if I can get the YSS Ecoline shocks to fit my bike, I like the look of them as much as anything. They don't offer much choice of shocks with fork lower mounts so I'd have to use some intended for another model, they do cb750 shocks at 335mm long but wonder if they may be sprung a bit stiff for my 10 ½st, other than that they do a set for cb400s, will these work?
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OK, slightly simpler question, cb400 or cb750 shocks on a cb550, has anyone tried it?
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OK, slightly simpler question, cb400 or cb750 shocks on a cb550, has anyone tried it?
I had to put 750 shocks on my 550 mongrel as with the 550 ones, the inner mudguard was hitting the tyre if that answers your question, the 400 shocks are the same length as 500/550🤔🤔
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Thanks Julie, at least I know I should be fine if I went for 750 shocks then, except I've dropped the front end about an inch and have clip ons
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Received my new Hagon shocks today, the lower mounts are the wrong bolt hole size, do they intend me to mess around with bushes or are they wrong? They were made to my requirements and sprung for my weight so I presumed they'd come with the correct clearance hole and thread size to use the standard bolts especially as ive replaced them with nice stainless ones from Middletons
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Pic for clarity
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Well that is a bit rubbish isn’t it, I would definitely expect the shocks to come with the correct bolt hole and thread size. If not then at least supplied with new bolt and bush kit.
We have to put up with so much of this, incorrect size, not quite right, have to spent hours getting supposed correct stuff to fit cr**.
Hope you get a good conclusion from them and a shock with the correct fitting.
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It is really considering the cost of the stainless adjustable shocks, hopefully they resolve it in the new year. I did give them every detail possible, the chap I spoke to called Tony was very helpful so I think it will all be good, im sure they dont expect me to get bushes to insert through the oe honda bushes.
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Hagon have had my shocks back to alter them, got them back in the post yesterday so excitedly went to fit them only to find the lower fork mount is still too wide for the bushings by around 2.5mm. Surely this isnt right that ill need to shim 'bespoke shocks?
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You shouldnt, but i will say that hagon do list different shocks for 400,500 and 750 whilst Girling, whose business Hagon took over, listed the same shock with different springs
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The lower mount must be able to move slightly, so don’t lock them in place if you do use washers.
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OK Ken, that makes it more awkward trying to find washers with a close enough tolerance. I even gave them the bushing width when I returned them because the first set were very much too wide and with 8mm thread not 10mm.
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If the gap is that small that finding a washer could be a problem then it's not vital a washer is fitted.
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Should it not clamp up to the inner metal collar of the bushing as then any flex is taken by the rubber? Have you seen the gap in my photo Ken?
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Is the bush on the swing arm central and fully home?
How does the top fitting alignment look, is the damper unit nice and perpendicular in the frame axis if you get my drift?
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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!
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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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😀
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At least it sounds like they will make them for you!
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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.
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I see nothing wrong with fitting Hagons with shims, ok it is not as originaly designed but it is a sound engineering solution
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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
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Definately, as they took over Girling i remember selling those and never had a problem with a set we sold
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New shims on their way from Hagon, thanks for the offer Murf!