SO i took all the weight off the rear shock and tried to tighten up the preload and couldn't do it.

I was using the shock tool from my streetbike, which isn't quite the same, do I need to get a different tool? Any easy way to stiffen it up?

thanks
Scott

 

There are two adjusting nuts at the top of the spring. The top adjusting nut needs to be losened first and then the one aginst the spring can be tightened or loosened. I used a large flat tip screw driver and and hamer to break the top adjusting nut lose and then used it to tighten the one aginst the sping. Maybe this will work for you as well.

 

Okay a little pounding then =) sounds good...

My superbike wrench was awkward screwdriver sounds better!

 

Yep, that's the way I do it as well. I usually put a jack under the axle housing and get it up of the floor first.

 

After you get the lock nut loose just grab ont the shock with your hands and turn the shock in the direction that you want. I bought a spanner wrench at home depot for $8, it wasn't easy but it did loosen the lock nut.
Good Luck

 

BlueRap is correct,

After you back-off the top nut, put the DS on a center stand(or a upside down 5 gallon bucket). This will let the swing arm "danggle" relieving the pressure off of the spring. Then just grab the spring with BOTH hands and turn it the way you would like to go with the pre-load.


Biggerisbetter.

 

Another thing that helps a ton is spraying some WD-40 on the shock. I had a pry bar and sledge hammer hitting my lock nut and it practically shear off a tooth and still wouldn't come loose. I ended up completly compressing the shocks spring and lifting the quad so there was zero pressure on the nuts and with WD-40 I finally got the nuts to loosen up. Let me tell you I was not in a good mood when I was working on this "simple lil thing to do".

 

haha demon... Happened to me too..

had to get my brother to help me get them apart, but then it was easy...

Also, increased by rebound and comp too.... hopefully get a lil mroe traction..

Thanks all