ASK THE MXPERTS: BLOWN OUT IN THREADSVILLE

 

MXPERTSSHOCKTHREADS
Dear MXA,
    Please find the attached photo of the shock body from my 2011 Yamaha YZ450F. As you can see, the preload ring threads have been ruined. I’m at a loss to know exactly what happened. My local shop couldn’t give me an answer, and it cost me $1000 to buy a new shock. Obviously, I don’t want this to happen again. Would I be able to install a machined spacer over the damaged threads on the shock body, get a new preload and locking ring and salvage the old unit?

It is obvious to us that the preload ring’s threads seized on the aluminum shock body because you hit the aluminum preload ring adjuster too hard with a hammer and a punch. When you try to spin a seized preload ring by hitting it harder and harder, you run the risk of deforming the ring‚ which makes it seize even more. In the future, if the preload ring doesn’t want to spin, clean it, lube it and be gentle with it. Move it back and forth in small increments in the same way you get a truck out of mud.

Yes, you could use a spacer over the damaged threads and install a new preload ring, but there must be enough threads left to have 10mm of preload on the spring for the desired sag setting.

 

SUBSCRIBEINTERNAL

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