Heat damaging shocks?

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cheetah5431 · #1 Post by **cheetah5431** » Fri Jul 30, 2004 1:28 am

Today my Elkas blew again for the 2nd time in 2 months. I hadn't been jumping or anything. I was doing trail cleanup today and mostly 1st and 2nd gear riding. Was cruising along in a field and just got lower and lower to the ground. I don't know what is up with busting shocks I'm just wondering if maybe the heat fromt the exhaust heats up anything that could bust or swell. I've never had problems out of Elka until recently and I'm just wondering if it's bad luck or has anyone else had a problem.

KYmxracer52 · #2 Post by **KYmxracer52** » Fri Jul 30, 2004 2:43 am

I had my rear go a couple of times this year, but this time its lasting good (knock on wood) :hammer: Not sure if its heat or not.

Psychosis · #3 Post by **Psychosis** » Fri Jul 30, 2004 3:00 am

My rear Ohlins went but it lasted quite awhile. Just got it fixed by Quadshop so lets see the length of it this time.

jfarrar · #4 Post by **jfarrar** » Fri Jul 30, 2004 3:07 am

my rear elka has crapped twice this year to but i think it is just bad luck for me.lower seal once and a hose blew at the fitting the second time.but it is so hot after a moto it will instantly burn you if you touch it

cheetah5431 · #5 Post by **cheetah5431** » Fri Jul 30, 2004 3:52 am

Well surely it's not a coincidence. There is three people whos shock has went twice in a year. Mine was in 2 months, but I've never had this problem with other bikes. It's not like I'm a MX racer either hitting huge jumps just aggressive XC riding.

Derno24 · #6 Post by **Derno24** » Fri Jul 30, 2004 4:01 am

I have never had a problem with mine. Had it for 2 years and just had it rebuilt before this season. I ride XC so maybe that is the difference. Or I just don't ride hard enough!

cdrookie · #7 Post by **cdrookie** » Fri Jul 30, 2004 9:54 am

if i remember correctly, jeff@quadshop posted on a thread that the exhaust doesn't affect the shocks performance. if it is affecting the elkas you'd think it'd affect all the rear shocks no matter what brang they are.

cannondale27 · #8 Post by **cannondale27** » Fri Jul 30, 2004 11:51 am

Most other quads use a linkage also.Being a no link such as ours causes the shock to be under way more stress and more movement.Could also be a factor.

TheJaspMan · #9 Post by **TheJaspMan** » Fri Jul 30, 2004 1:44 pm

Where are they breaking exactly?

I think a little research would show that shock oil actually gets hotter than you could ever imagine. So I would find it tough to think that an exhaust pipe could do any damage. In fact, if it was hot enough to ruin a shock a couple of inches away wouldn't it start to melt down the aluminum first? That sits much closer. Not to mention the plastic in the bottom of the seat!

Just wondering.

cheetah5431 · #10 Post by **cheetah5431** » Fri Jul 30, 2004 8:14 pm

Well I guess I overreacted. I tore it down this morning and when I loosened the gas tanked it jumped 3 inches. I took it off and my upper shock bolt is gone.

So therefore it would just bottom and push against my gas tank. So now I gotta get me a bolt which is no prob, but my bearing spacer things are gone from the shock and I have to wait on them. So it's all good.