Fella's....I'm changing the factory spring to a Baron's "yellow Eibach". I'm 6'3" and 290 pounds, the bike does fine we just me on it but when the wife and I ride it has bottomed out several times and seems to be a handful to drive in corners. She is about 140 pounds shhhhhhh don't tell her I posted that info. She would raise heck at me.

I was just gonna have one of my local stealers do the spring for me. 1st told me they had never done this spring on a Roadie and had recently turned down the job on an 1100 V-Star. 2nd told me it was dangerous for his shop to change this spring because if it got loose it would kill someone and he wasn't going to endanger his shop help. The 3rd shop said since I didn't buy the spring from them they would not install it !!!

So I'm gonna do it myself. I have serched all the info on the web and it seems you need a hydraulic press to do the job. I have also searched out coil spring compressors which I can buy at Harbor Freight.

Have any of you guys done this job ? Anyone used the clamp threaded type coil spring compressors ?

Thanks in advance.





Post edited by: Frankie_G, at: 2007/07/09 14:16

Post edited by: Frankie_G, at: 2007/07/09 14:18<br><br>Post edited by: Frankie_G, at: 2007/07/09 16:41

I did it the dangeorus way.

You can buy a spring compression tool from Barons. I believe it's around $50.

Doc

I did it the REALLY dangerous way.

I don't have a hydraulic press. I tried using a spring compression tool made for car springs, but the coils are wound too tightly and it would not fit on the spring right.......So, I created my own version of a hydraulic press. I put the spring on a floor jack and jacked it up to the hitch receiver on my truck, and compressed it. I then took several strands of bailing twine and laced it through the springs and twisted them tight. Let down the jack and the spring stays compressed. You just gotta be real careful as you cut the pieces of twine free.

I got the old one off the same way.....just compressed the shock/spring together with the floor jack and my truck.

If that ain't redneck, I don't know what is. <br><br>Post edited by: BlkCherryBomb, at: 2007/07/09 15:19

J&amp;Ps sells them for $60.00 I am guessing the first 2 didnt want to do it because you didnt buy it from them as well .....been hering alot of folks talking aboutshops not wanting to put tires on that were not bought from them as well...Coug ....some of the best wrenching I have witnessed has been due to Red neck engineering BC <br><br>Post edited by: Cougar, at: 2007/07/09 15:27

Amen on the redneck engineering Frankie-g you just did a big no no
Shame on you for posting your wifes weight
I hope she don't see it you might end up weighting less
Let us know how that spring works,I've thought about doing that myself. <br><br>Post edited by: greysnake, at: 2007/07/09 15:36

Cougar...your probably right about the first 2 shops not wanting to do it because I didn't buy if from them. I have heard the same thing about folks buying tires off the internet and not being able to get them put on.

Greysnake...doubt she would go to that extreme but I'm sure she would knock a knot on my head so my helmet would'nt fit for a few days.

Well I do have a red neck from my sunburn over the weekend.

I put the assembly in my vise, compressed it and used about 5 adjustable pipe clamps to keep the coils together. I am certainly not recommending this procedure for anyone.

Doc

Frankie_G wrote:
She is about 140 pounds


Momma's gonna whoop you if she see that one!!!

Have you considered the Looney progressive spring?

They even offer a free tool to use. A deposit is required but is refunded on the tools return.

I did the whole job quickly and love the progressive spring feel.

Here is the site:

http://www.looneyseats.com/html/suspension.html