I need a bit of help. I'm trying to adjust the preload on the shocks on a 06 bruin 350 4x4. The spanner wrench available at dealer doesnt fit atv shocks. It had two sizes one way to big the other almost fits but cant get into a notch to adjust. Has anybody tried to adjust preload on their atvs? If so what type of spanner wrench fits?? Where can I get one?? I 've been trying to locate one with no sucsess. I really dont want to do the screwdriver - hammer thing. This would be fine for adjusting once, but I want to be able to adjust more than once. Thanks in advance, Bill

 

just use a hammer and screwdriver.. spanner wrenches are only good for wasting money.. along with about 50 other specialty tools you can buy from yamaha

 

what kind of adjustment is on your bruin's shocks? Is it threaded, or is it the kind that has a peg, and like 5 notches on the collar to select the preload?

 

it is the peg, with 5 notched positions, the quad didnt come with any kind of wrench to adjust, and when we looked for a "geniune" yamaha part none exsisted. So the riddle is do you just come up with your own idea on adjusting, hammer / big pair slip pliers...etc. or a tool that actually fits!!

 

That's what the stock front shocks on my warrior were like. Here's the best way I found to adjust them, and it worked very well for as simple as it is. First I jacked the front end of the quad up so the front tires were off the ground (i always used an old computer that was sitting in my garage). Then I just used a pair of channel lock pliers, but not on the knurled part where the spanner wrench is suppoed to go. I used them on the smooth part of the preload collar, and they turned surprisingly easy that way. Lifting the front end seems to help a lot by removing the weight from the springs.

 

You can use a pair of vise grips to do your adjustments. I wrap a cloth around the adjustment part and lock down the vise grips and turn it where you want it. The cloth protect it from being mared.[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

 

thanks for the help, i'll give it a try with the big pair of channel locks and see if they adjust easy that way. thanks again

 

Found my "spanner" wrench in my tool box. More widely known as a pipe wrench. Works great and ya don't chance slippin and strippin the collar like you would with channel locks or vice grips. In fact I carry it along with my other tools when I ride just in case riding conditions change enough I can stiffen or soften my suspension right there on the trail in a few minutes... Piece of cake.

 

hey bruin basher , thanks, that sounds like a good idea, and ive got plenty of pipe wrenches, even the special spanner edition left handed model...lol thanks again gonna give it a try.