Finally got around today to install my beautiful new Elka shocks on my '07 GSA, and ran into an issue with the rear. Tried calling Elka but I suspect that they're closed today (Saturday). Hoping an inmate here can steer me in the right direction. The rear shock directions show the braided hoses for the remote preload adjuster and the hi/low speed compression remote reservoir/adjuster coming out the right side of the bike under the seat and mounting by the rear brake reservoir. Problem is, when I route the lines that way and insert the shock while trying to line up the top and bottom bolt holes, the rebound adjuster on the shock lower body is facing the driveshaft housing (turned around 180 degrees from where it needs to be facing) and won't allow the lower bolt hole to line up. Turning the whole shock 180 degrees, so the lines come out the left side of the bike, won't work either as the top mount interferes with the frame. Can I safely just rotate the lower and upper shock bodies 180 degrees so they are oriented properly, or is this a 'return to the factory' thing? Thanks for any help.
Pass the preload and reservoir thru the frame first, then align the bottom with the swingarm, then the top.. you should be able to turn those two mounting points with your hand so they line up with the holes. It's the easiest part of the installation: Note that my Micatech mounts prevented me from installing them where they should be, which is flush against the frame.
Thanks GB. After reading your response that it could be done, I did manage to twist the upper & lower shock bodies to their correct orientation, but I had to do it on my workbench using a long socket extension through each bolt hole for leverage. The hydraulic spring preload was backed all the way off, but there still must have been a tremendous amount of spring pressure as it was far from easy to twist them around. No way I could have done it with just my hands on the shock body ends as you did. I'll send off a note to Elka, can't understand why they don't just orient them correctly during build. The rear does look great installed though, on to the front shock tomorrow!
fantom - As soon as I'm able to try out the shocks I'll provide some feedback. About 4 ft of snow outside now from last week and roads are still icy, so it'll be a while until I can try out the Elkas. Mounting the front today presented a new challenge. In order to torque the top nut on the front shock I had to go out and buy a cheap 1 & 1/8" open end wrench, cut it off about 8" long and then grind the end narrow enough to fit the wrench flats on the very top of the upper shock body once it was in place on the bike. There is not much room to work up there - no way my Mac or Snap-On wrenchs would fit without modification and I wasn't going to grind on them. Including a special tool like that with the shock purchase would have been a very nice touch by Elka.
I dont know if it's a stupid question but how i can adjust my preload since the remote reservoir is turning with the preload adjustment knob. is there a way to turn the preload adjustment without the reservoir turning together??
With hydraluic preload or not??? Pix? I had ELKA's..but the preload knob and reservoir were remote...so not sure what you got going..
I had that problem once a couple of months ago with my Elka rear shock, where the whole preload body turned when I tried to rotate the hydraulic preload knob. First time it ever happened in 80k + miles with the shock, and it was like the preload knob shaft was seized within the body. I assume your Elka set-up is like mine in the pic below, with the preload body piggy-backed on the rear shock reservoir (sorry, best pic I have available of the rear shock reservoir and preload body). I normally only change preload when my wife rides with me or when I load up solo for a trip, which probably averages once every few weeks. I just worked the knob in each direction a few times; it broke free and has been fine ever since. If that didn't work I would have removed the knob (I think it's held on with a small set screw) and tried a few drops of WD40 where the shaft goes into the body to see if that would allow it to break free. I imagine there's a detent ball which allows you to feel the clicks as the knob rotates, and that might have locked up and been the culprit so maybe the WD40 would have worked into it along the shaft also. If all else fails, I think you'll have to remove the shock for service. On Elka's website I found a shop in California that was Elka's approved U.S. service facility, and they serviced my shocks.
I tried what you suggested and with no luck, the whole preload body turns and nothing seems to happen, tighten or loose. I've included pics for any advise Appreciate your help https://www.dropbox.com/s/grpkts4w9xk557p/2014-01-19 14.09.40.jpg https://www.dropbox.com/s/odb8ol9oixewm7i/2014-01-19 14.10.08.jpg
Yeah...you can't increase the manual preload on that with out some disassembly...you can only use the hydraulic... Notice they are pinned together..(and there is a set screw) To increase the base preload, you have to remove the shock minimum..and may have to pull spring from it..can't remember...
