GT550 air shocks - possible to rebuild?

Tarmacsurfer · World Chat Champion Joined: 29 Jun 2004 Karma :

Been looking around for further info and can't find any mention, anyone here tried it?

Working on a GT for a mate and the rear shocks (patterns) are exceptionally corroded, hence looking to replace them. Oddly enough I've stumbled across a set of the OEM air assisted units that need TLC, from the years I spent running these bikes into the ground on the circuit I know the OEM ones are actually OK if you play with the pressures and find what suits you.

Just wondering if anyone has attempted a strip/rebuild. Google has failed me.
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Mikey CB500 · Scooby Slapper Joined: 06 Aug 2011 Karma :

Would have thought that there rebuildable as at the end of the day there only rubber seals.

Your best bet would be to give www.weemoto.co.uk a try and failing that give you local Suzuki dealers a ring

sickpup · Old Timer Joined: 21 Apr 2004 Karma :

Mikey CB500 · Scooby Slapper Joined: 06 Aug 2011 Karma :

Are you implying that just because I am partialy dyslexic and find some words a struggle to spell that im not worthy of being on the forums?

sickpup · Old Timer Joined: 21 Apr 2004 Karma :

Mikey CB500 · Scooby Slapper Joined: 06 Aug 2011 Karma :

In fact I do have knowledge of rebuilding shock absorbers as im a traniee mechanic and the seals are just rubber and are replaceable servicable parts.

And for your information there are both Kawasaki and Suzuki models known as the GT550 Smile

sickpup · Old Timer Joined: 21 Apr 2004 Karma :

Mikey CB500 · Scooby Slapper Joined: 06 Aug 2011 Karma :

We are taught all aspects of the spectrum are taught. And I know that there are those parts in them, there still a replacable rubber part though. Rear shocks are fully stripable and serviceable if you get the right parts and tools. And obviously if you have the right knowledge and experiance.

And I wasnt sure but GT550 just rang a bell as being a Suzuki model at the time, wasnt even aware of a Kawasaki GT550 untill I looked it up. Who the hell cares the advise to contact the dealer is still the same.

sickpup · Old Timer Joined: 21 Apr 2004 Karma :

Sorry Surfer I'm going to completely derail this now.

Mikey CB500 · Scooby Slapper Joined: 06 Aug 2011 Karma :

Tarmacsurfer · World Chat Champion Joined: 29 Jun 2004 Karma :

Whilst I appreciate you were trying to help Mikey, it was obvious from your first response you didn't know what I was talking about and therefore I didn't reply earlier. Maybe I should have done.

As to ringing dealers, all that will ever net you - unless you know the mechanics well - is a "Ohhh, that part isn't cheap. No, it's not available separately".

@Pup - The TLC is currently unknown, they were stripped off a GT as the owner didn't like them. Having first hand experience this could mean anything from "they're fucked" to "I have no idea how to set up these things", hence the question before chancing it. If it was a possible rebuild then it's worth throwing £20+parts at, otherwise I'll just find some cheap pattern twin shocks to fit.
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sickpup · Old Timer Joined: 21 Apr 2004 Karma :

Mikey CB500

Now keep in mind this is absolutely nothing to do with your Dyslexia. You aren't particularly bright are you. Note the lack of question mark, it was a statement.

Tarmacsurfer

From memory there are two types of shock, ones with and ones without a link pipe but both are basically the same.

If they look ok I would try fitting them and then using a bicycle pump see if they can hold and maintain 8 psi or so which I think is about the usual setting with them on the bike without a rider. Most people seem to think they have failed when they try pumping them up to 30psi+ and they leak air, remember these always wallowed a bit on the original shocks, or at least the ones I tried did.

Doing a rebuild on them would be rather pricey, in the region of £80+ each I would guess so not really worth it when a set of Hagons is only a little more but if the person isn't on the large side the shocks are often fine even if they won't hold air pressure.

MickC · Spanner Monkey Joined: 27 May 2011 Karma :

Now back to the subject:

Cmsl:
https://www.cmsnl.com/kawasaki-1983-g1-z550_model12596/partslist/F2151.html

Lists numerose parts for the shocks

I typed in z550gt in the search box as you didn't mention the year
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Mikey CB500 · Scooby Slapper Joined: 06 Aug 2011 Karma :

Obviously brighter than you because I know what Im on about as youve just proved yourself wrong by saying that you can get the parts and can rebuild them.

When earlier you specifically stated that you wouldnt be able to get a hold of the parts and that I was only taught the theory.

And thanks to the other mike, when i looked up the Kawasaki GT550 I didnt find anything, turns out it was a Z550GT. Hence the reason it didnt ring a bell as a Kawaski and I couldnt find any info on it.

Anyway I rest my case the best place to find out if the seals are avalible is to phone up a good freindly Kawasaki parts dealer. If you can find out directly from them if Kawassaki still make the parts or if some other company make OEM parts then you can go about finding out the part codes from microfiches and source the parts from cheaper alternatives.

Tarmacsurfer · World Chat Champion Joined: 29 Jun 2004 Karma :

Cheers 'pup, pretty much as I thought. One of the main reasons people used to go through these shocks so quickly were the muppets who insisted on filling them (INCREDIBLY small air reservoir) with a tyre hose in a garage Brick Wall

They do wallow a bit but get them set up nicely and they're a smooth ride.
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I'm immortal. Well, so far.

sickpup · Old Timer Joined: 21 Apr 2004 Karma :

sickpup · Old Timer Joined: 21 Apr 2004 Karma :

Mikey CB500 · Scooby Slapper Joined: 06 Aug 2011 Karma :

sickpup · Old Timer Joined: 21 Apr 2004 Karma :

Mikey CB500 · Scooby Slapper Joined: 06 Aug 2011 Karma :

Are Honda and Kawasaki not both members of the big four japaness bike manufacturers you mention? Because they both sell seals for there shocks if you get in touch with them direct.

And im fully aware not any tom, dick or harry can do it but he just innitialy asked can he get the parts and can they be rebuilt, the answer in both cases is yes. Also he never stated about his mechnical knowledge or background.

Some parts may not be on the copys of microfiches that you may find but I know that there on the detailed bike layouts that they have on the dealership computers as they showed me to check they where the right parts before they where ordered.

I fail to see your point that im not very bright when time and time again I keep proving you completely wrong.

sickpup · Old Timer Joined: 21 Apr 2004 Karma :

Mikey CB500 · Scooby Slapper Joined: 06 Aug 2011 Karma :

No there parts that dealers can order to undertake the work that they need to on bikes, I and all of my family that are bikers are good customers and friends with the owners(TRM is a famliy run buisness and is the main honda motorcross dealership in europe) they know im on a mechanics course so they order the parts and let me have them to do the work myself at college as part of my corse.

sickpup · Old Timer Joined: 21 Apr 2004 Karma :

And there was me having only worked previously as a service manager or at a Ducati specialists and not knowing these things.

Maybe you should publicise this so all the other dealers who don't know about this, and it's a lot can use this service.

You really are special. Thumbs Up

Mikey CB500 · Scooby Slapper Joined: 06 Aug 2011 Karma :

javascript:emoticon(' Clapping

') congrats on your level of sarcasm

Tarmacsurfer · World Chat Champion Joined: 29 Jun 2004 Karma :