New shocks.. Wont fit.. Help me ride tomorrow!

[tl_tub]

New hagon shocks finally arrived through suzuki. Unfortunatly the spring/retainer does not clear the frame on one side (and took off the appropriate amount of new paint).

The question is, can I turn them upside down, so instead of the rod being on the top, the rod is on the bottom? Suzuki said they would have to check with the manufacturer on monday, but I want to go riding tomorrow damn it!
My old KYB shocks were oil filled (with piggyback res.) and they had the rod at the bottom.

Any expert advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

[FROSTY:Me]

The only issue I can see is the damping oil will be sitting the wrong end of the shock so may not work proppperly.
quick question though --is it BOTH sides the shocks dont clear??
with the XJ900 the shocks fit only on one side and only tthe right way round

[tl_tub]

Hmm.. They looked exactly the same measurements on both sides.. Not specifically for my bike, parts girl just ordered a shock 350mm eye to eye..
It is only one side that doesnt clear (corner reinforcement below the shock mount). I shall check and see if they are different though.

Would my previous oil filled shocks with piggyback res. have been constructed differently, to allow them to operate the other way up?

Cheers for the help Frosty

[Edit] Both of the new shocks are the same size, both of the old shocks are the same size, just more distance between the eye and the top of the spring on the old ones.

[FROSTY:Me]

depending on the shock desighn you may be able to pack the shocks outwards up to 6mm to get clearance

[tl_tub]

No, its official, I will just have to take them back and get different ones..
Im just annoyed that the parts person at suzuki "assumed the shocks would fit any bike". Old story, if you want a job done right, you have to do it yourself! Thanks for your help anyway Frosty.

[XTC]

If you'd ordered genuine suzuki shocks for your bike they would have fitted perfectly......

[tl_tub]

I ordered the shocks from the suzuki dealer. I took in my old ones, which were KYB, out of the factory. What else can one do?

[pyrocam]

I ordered the shocks from the suzuki dealer. I took in my old ones, which were KYB, out of the factory. What else can one do?

not shop there again I guess

[XTC]

You can get them to lok up the part numbers and order them from japan wait 3-6 weeks pay them $1500 then fit them and go riding..... Easy eh.

[tl_tub]

You can get them to lok up the part numbers and order them from japan wait 3-6 weeks pay them $1500 then fit them and go riding..... Easy eh.

Haha, I don't even know the bike is worth that much! Parts girl didnt bother looking up the part number, possibly the reason why! for that price you could convert the bike to a monoshock and fit an ohlins!

[Motu]

Hagons are just an aftermarket shock,they have a range to fit most bikes,going on length and spring rate,they often come with a selection of bushes.Like XTC says,if you want the shock to bolt straight on with no problems,then you have to get the genuine part.Were you given a choice?

I have just inverted my TLR shocks because they are leaking,now the rod is at the top.Often the rod is on the bottom because it's less unsprung weight....makes no difference to how it works.

[DEATH_INC.]

Yeh,it does,depending on the shock construction.
If it's a simple emulsion shock then the oil and gas are not seperated,so if you invert it you may have the piston sitting in the gas rather than the oil at full extension,no damping,not good.
If it's a remote res shock the oil and gas are seperated by a piston in the res.you can run it any way up.
I'm thinking the hagon should be run shaft down,as at full extension the piston is at the bottom of the body in the oil that way.....

[Bonez]

Haha, I don't even know the bike is worth that much! Parts girl didnt bother looking up the part number, possibly the reason why! for that price you could convert the bike to a monoshock and fit an ohlins!

My impression is Suzuki parts are quite reasonnable compared to some other major Jap brands. The parts person probably isn't conversent with evey make and model the big "S" has put out over the last few decades. Fit the old ones and go for a scoot.