Replacement shock absorber for Velorex

[GSBS]

I have an old 562 Velorex sidecar and the original shock is about gone. The way my bike is set up it needs a stiffer spring than stock anyway. Since this is a pretty common sidecar, I figure that somebody's fitted a shock off another bike that will fit and work.

Up through the mid-70s most bikes had rear suspenders that look much like this one. I figure if I can find a bike with shocks that were the same length with similar load rating, mounting bushing sizes, etc. it wouldn't be too hard to find one at an online bike salvage place. (I'm a cheap bastard)

Any ideas guys?

Thanks in advance!

[Motoblag]

My Velorex accepted a shock from a VTX 1300/1800:

http://advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=599391

It was oversprung for my use. Almost right when it was fully loaded with a monkey and a week of camping gear though.

[GSBS]

Thanks for the info Motoblag!

My Velorex is already more than slightly modified and is attached to a big-ass Victory tug (you can see photo by clicking on my signature line).

First I swapped out the stock body for a used Harley fiberglass one I bought from a buddy, then when I found a wheel that matched the Victory front I had a machinist make an offset axle to compensate for the higher circumference of the new wheel and simultaneously added about 20 pounds of steel block for additional ballast. This also required cutting the fender in two and fiberglassing in three inches more fender in the center to the stock fender. Now the whole rig has about a 3" wider stance, more weight at the wheel and is generally more stable, but the stock shock was just too puny for any time my dogs or a passenger was in the car.

If this Progressive shock was a little too stiff for your rig I'm thinking it may be about right for my purposes.

One more question if you don't mind... When mounting the Progressive shock, did you have to modify or change out the rubber grommets and/or bushings at the mounts on each end or were they the same as the stock Velorex?

I've already spotted a VTX 1300 Progressive shock with 2,600 miles on eBay for $40!

Thanks again!
David

[ADW]

I put a shock from a Harley Sportster on my Velorex 562 that worked pretty well. I don't have the dimensions handy but some of the sportsters used a shorter shock, that's the one you want. Measure your velorex shock and go online and you can find the sporty shock length that's close to that.

[GSBS]

Originally Posted by ADW

I put a shock from a Harley Sportster on my Velorex 562 that worked pretty well. I don't have the dimensions handy but some of the sportsters used a shorter shock, that's the one you want. Measure your velorex shock and go online and you can find the sporty shock length that's close to that.

I'll check into that... Thanks!

[ricmachado]

I used the shock form my sportster low, I had to grind the "eyes" to fit and cut off the shock adjustment.

Still did some pre-load as the total length of the shock was a little longer than the space for it.

It works just fine, I can send you pictures of the shock (before adjustments) and after.

I also still have one that I can sell for a very good price as I have no use for it.

Let me know if you want the pictures and the shock.

thanks

[GSBS]

Originally Posted by ricmachado

I used the shock form my sportster low, I had to grind the "eyes" to fit and cut off the shock adjustment.

Still did some pre-load as the total length of the shock was a little longer than the space for it.

It works just fine, I can send you pictures of the shock (before adjustments) and after.

I also still have one that I can sell for a very good price as I have no use for it.

Let me know if you want the pictures and the shock.

thanks

I'll let you know.

This afternoon I found a motorcycle salvage place that's within an easy ride of my house. When I called, the guy suggested I bring the old shock to have in hand to measure everything, which makes sense to me. He told me they have hundreds if not thousands of shocks pulled off various bikes and thought it likely we'd find something that'll work.

I just pulled the old shock off the Velorex and it's puked out almost all its oil. I'll likely go over to the salvage place tomorrow and do some shopping. I'm also waiting for a drive belt to arrive for the Victory and planning to strip out the carpet in the Harley sidecar that's become infused with golden retriever hair from my two pups. There is no removing that hair from the carpet... it's like it's woven into it now. I'm embarrassed to have anybody ride in the chair it's so bad!

The sidecar body will also get a fresh coat of paint outside and I'm planning to roll on some of that textured stuff for decks inside the sidecar body after getting all the hair/carpet out. Should be much better.

So, several hack-related projects now under way.

I'll post up what I end up with on the shock.

Thanks everyone for the help and suggestions.

[DJ1]

It depends if your swingarm has been modified for a different shock than the factory Velorex shock.

I lengthened my factory Velorex swingarm to accept a 13" Progressive shock that I had off of a Sportster. The spring was a little soft so I changed the spring to one with a higher rate, it made a world of difference.

If it's been modified then I would look for Progressive Part number 412-4055B/C or for a 13" Progressive shock and respring it with Progressive PN 03-1318B/C. They can be had online for a reasonable price and are well worth the time it takes to make it work. These won't fit where the factory shock went.

Here's a link to Progressives list of shocks with measurements, spring rates and other info --> http://www.progressivesuspension.com/pdfs/7100-105.pdf

[Motoblag]

Originally Posted by GSBS

Thanks for the info Motoblag!

My Velorex is already more than slightly modified and is attached to a big-ass Victory tug (you can see photo by clicking on my signature line).

First I swapped out the stock body for a used Harley fiberglass one I bought from a buddy, then when I found a wheel that matched the Victory front I had a machinist make an offset axle to compensate for the higher circumference of the new wheel and simultaneously added about 20 pounds of steel block for additional ballast. This also required cutting the fender in two and fiberglassing in three inches more fender in the center to the stock fender. Now the whole rig has about a 3" wider stance, more weight at the wheel and is generally more stable, but the stock shock was just too puny for any time my dogs or a passenger was in the car.

If this Progressive shock was a little too stiff for your rig I'm thinking it may be about right for my purposes.

One more question if you don't mind... When mounting the Progressive shock, did you have to modify or change out the rubber grommets and/or bushings at the mounts on each end or were they the same as the stock Velorex?

I've already spotted a VTX 1300 Progressive shock with 2,600 miles on eBay for $40!

Thanks again!
David

Yes, I mixed and matched the grommets that came with the Progressive spring kit I ordered from... Dennis Kirk, I think.

[GSBS]

...Like these (Progressive 412 Series):


Paid $20 for a single shock at an aftermarket Harley place that had been on a wrecked bike. It was the same 11.5" length as the Velorex, but the gromets/bushings were wider and the bolt hole was slightly smaller, which I didn't see as that big of a deal.

Unfortunately, once I cut off the bottom skirt I could see two issues that will make it necessary to modify the swing arm to fit.

The first is that the Progressive shock's diameter above the mounting point is 1/4" larger than the Velorex shock, preventing it going into the available space at the swing arm mount point. The second, which I should've noticed before buying, is that the Progressive shock's lower mount is made with an offset, so it's not centered.

I'll be taking the swing arm to my buddy who machined the axle for the larger Victory front wheel that's now on the sidecar. For that he mounted the new axle into a 5x5" hunk of steel, then welded the hunk of steel to the top of the swing arm, just behind the shock.

The original lower shock mount on the swing arm will need to be cut off and the space ground out wider by 1/4" on each side, then a new mount welded on that includes compensation for the offset at the bottom of the shock. My buddy seems to think it's a pretty simple job.

If anyone's interested I can post up some images.

BTW, after removing the swing arm yesterday and noting how heavy it is with that big chunk of steel I'm thinking that this plus the heavier wheel and tire I installed probably killed the puny stock shock absorber. I'd guess that the swing arm weighs around 20 pounds more and the larger Victory wheel and tire added another 15-20 pounds compared to stock. I don't imagine the stock shock was ever meant to deal with that kind of mass.

[ADW]

Originally Posted by ricmachado

Let me know if you want the pictures and the shock.

thanks

Though I've since sold it, as a previous Velorex owner I'd say post the pictures so the next guy that has this problem can benefit from the work you've already done.

[GSBS]

...And waiting for the drive belt I've ordered to arrive...

Originally Posted by ADW

Though I've since sold it, as a previous Velorex owner I'd say post the pictures so the next guy that has this problem can benefit from the work you've already done.

[ricmachado]

Someone requested me for pictures of my shock, here they are:

-- note the parts painted with marker are the parts I had to remove to fit the velorex mount space, the "eye" was grind a little in each side, and the metal for the suspension pre-load adjustment was also removed to fit the space velorex has.

[GSBS]

Here is a photo of the Progressive Shock mounted as I began reassembly of the rig yesterday:


You can see the modified swing arm with weight added around the axle that was done when I replaced the spindly little stock Velorex wheel with a wheel that's a twin of the Victory front last year. That steel block the offset axle goes into weighs almost 20 pounds and the Victory wheel and larger tire probably add another 20 more than the stock arrangement. I'm sure the extra weight is what killed the stock shock, that plus it being a piece of shit to begin with.

Here's another shot with the Velorex frame bolted up and the wheel mounted:


Today I'll be mounting the harley body back on the frame and finally the enlarged (by three inches wide to accommodate the Vic wheel) Velorex fender. I gave the outside of the body a fresh coat of rattlecan bed liner and stripped out all the interior carpet that had become infused with dog hair from two years of my golden retrievers riding in it. Man-o-man what a nasty job! It took nearly a gallon of lacquer thinner and almost three hours to get that carpet out.

For the interior I used a light gray color of "Restore" made by Rustoleum for refinishing cracked wooden decks or masonry. I think this stuff will be ideal for my purposes. It goes on with a texture roller and is the consistency of wet concrete and builds to a thickness of nearly a quarter inch. I went back with a second coat using a brush to smooth it out a bit. I plan to leave drain holes in the bottom that I can put rubber stoppers into and when it gets dirty from the dogs, just hose the thing out.

Here's the body with no trim installed yet:


And a better look at the interior (they make the Restore in 60 colors - $24 a gallon at Lowes - and I used exactly one gallon):

[GSBS]

I buttoned up the hack today with a couple of improvements to the fender mount and other minor mods...

Ready to roll:


Top view showing new gray interior:


New shock peeping from within fender: