Rear shocker freeplay ?

[Furryfred]

Hi everyone its my first post but I have been reading on here for yonks.

Today I took my FJ for its MOT but it failed for the parking light not working,no big deal and the front brake light switch not working even the MOT guy had the switch apart and could not get it to work,again no problem a new switch is about £5 - £7 pounds its not going to break the bank...

But we came to the rear shock movement .....the bike was on its centre stand and the tester lifted the wheel up and down and the free play was he said about 2 inches ...I don't understand as its a brand new shock fitted by the FJowners club Mech so should be correct . anyway I tried to get hold of the man but no answer.
I have 10 days to get it sorted so can anyone tell me what the freeplay movement should be Its a brand new so could it be settling in (I done about 300 miles since the shock was fitted).

Cheers Fred 

[mz_rider]

Fred,

By coincidence I took my FJ for its MOT (UK annual vehicle check) today (passed).

I think it unlikely that the shock is the cause of your problem. There are a lot of needle roller bearings in the suspension linkages and if these wear movement will occur. I'd remove the swing arm etc and check the bearings. Strange: if the bike was recently in the FJOC garage it's unlikely they would have missed this and 2" is a hell of a lot of movement.

Suspension bearings: http://www.fjcatalogue.com/bearing.html

Stuart

Hi everyone its my first post but I have been reading on here for yonks.

Today I took my FJ for its MOT but it failed for the parking light not working,no big deal and the front brake light switch not working even the MOT guy had the switch apart and could not get it to work,again no problem a new switch is about £5 - £7 pounds its not going to break the bank...

But we came to the rear shock movement .....the bike was on its centre stand and the tester lifted the wheel up and down and the free play was he said about 2 inches ...I don't understand as its a brand new shock fitted by the FJowners club Mech so should be correct . anyway I tried to get hold of the man but no answer.
I have 10 days to get it sorted so can anyone tell me what the freeplay movement should be Its a brand new so could it be settling in (I done about 300 miles since the shock was fitted).

Cheers Fred 

[fj11.5]

i agree , most likely not your shock, what year fj do you have, the early ones were bad for play in the relay arms,, 5mm of play up front would look like a lot at the wheel

[Furryfred]

All sorted now the nut holding the shock on was loose ? you can see in the picture most of the nuts thread, amazing that it came undone in just 300 miles tightened up and locktited now. Anyway all good will be back on the road end of the week .

[Antonn3]

Hello, is what Im looking at in that pic you posted of the nut, only engaging a few of the threads on the bolt?

Tony

[Arnie]

FurryFred said, "All sorted now the nut holding the shock on was loose ? you can see in the picture most of the nuts thread, amazing that it came undone in just 300 miles tightened up and locktited now. Anyway all good will be back on the road end of the week ."


Yeah, that's fine....BUT just having that bolt loose would not give you two INCHES of play.  Either one of the holes is elongated severely or a bearing has collapsed and tightening bolt that has just snugged it up so that doesn't move by hand.
Take it all apart and check carefully!  This "fault" could be very serious.

Arnie

[Furryfred]

Yes i took it apart and greased the pin or bolt with a teflon grease and there was play in it, so I think I will need to buy some new bushes or bearings.
To be fair to the mechanic he did say there was some wear in the rear suspension link arm, but that nut should have not come undone if fitted correctly..
We all have bad days but when I pay out over £600 to have a top end service and a new shock fitted I would have not expected that nut to have come loose.

Anyway all done now