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1200 DVT Water Lying At Bottom Rear Shock Linkage

Discussion in 'Multistrada' started by SteveE, Nov 29, 2017.

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  1. Noticed whenever I wash the bike a load of water lies at the bottom linkage of the rear shock. Do they all do this? Cant be good for it long term - anyone had any problems or know a cure?

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  2. Thanks - the following post is the most useful! ... from a guy called Dave K in the USA

    "Not sure what materials are used (though I'd guess spring steel and a high chrome steel)... but you don't want water sitting at the lower pivot of the shock, nothing good can come of that.

    I did some exploring and there is indeed a drain... it's can't be seen from the top but if you look along the upper chain from the front sprocket toward the back of the bike (into the casting) you can see it. I had to make a little tool from some thin welding rod by bending one end at 90 degrees and it let me get back there and knock the debris out of the hole - then blow it out from the top.

    It's REALLY hard to see, only way to really observe it is to use one of those little mirrors on an extendable antenna whip things... along with a flashlight. It's there however... just hard to see and reach.

    The problem is that since it's at the bottom of that bowl, little rocks tend to congregate there.

    I bent an ad-hoc tool out of a small diameter steel rod about 18" long, it needs to be pretty stiff or it'll just bend when you try to push the rocks out of the hole (somehow they get wedged in there). I have to check the hole pretty much every time I wash the bike, it gets reblocked quickly. Once you push the rocks out of the hole and the water is gone, use air to blow them out of the bowl or they'll just reblock the hole immediately.

    bit of a pita really." [A bent paper clip apparently works].

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  3. I get the compressor out and use that
     
    • Agree Agree x 1
  4. Know of any reasonably priced ones you can point me at?
     
  5. You could try one of those small ones they put in for car tyre repair kits that run off a battery? Put a ball adapter on to use as a pressure nozzle, that could work :)

    IIRC mine was about £100
     
  6. As a quick temporary fix could you not use a thick fuse wire to clear the hole or, get a mountain bike innertube, cut off the valve part at the base, go to the local petrol station, place the cut off valve over the hole then use the tyre air machine through the cut off valve and blow the hole clear of shite.

    Might work till you can get your own compressor?
     
  7. It does it from brand new, the hole only works when bike is moving as where its positioned is above the bottom of the recess, and on the centre stand does nothing. I used to get a rag or paper in there, til I realised blowing out was better (just messier) and quicker and with less buckle damage
     
  8. You can get a “pet/dog grooming dryer” for about £40 on eBay and I believe they are quite adequate for bikes. I keep meaning to get one myself but always find other things to spend my hard earned on.
     
  9. Everytime I wash my bike I get a small piece of tubing and syphon the water out, the tube is a small enough diameter to push it between the spring to get to the bottom on the recess.
    It's a pretty stupid design.

    Desperado
     
    • Agree Agree x 1
  10. I just lean my bike right over till pegs touch down holding the bars and tail, once I pick it back up, all the water is always gone :upyeah:
     
  11. When I had the shock out to replace the bush I could see the drain hole properly. It is only 3mm, no wonder it was always blocked. With the shock removed I drilled it out to 6mm. No problems with water lying in it after that.
     
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    • Useful Useful x 1
  12. I use wire from a wire coat hanger, had to grind down the end a bit and straighten it out. Needs to be at least 30cm long and then you can push the wire up behind the chain and with a torch you can see the area where the hole is (as in the picture above), a bit of trial and error and the wire will fit in the hole and out comes the water.
    Only happens after washing not on the road, the wind, vibration etc stops water building up plus the swing arm gets warm from the exhaust so that may help dry it out.
    Agree it is a PITA and needs to be a bigger hole!
     
  13. Consult your proctologist.
     
  14. I have and he agrees :)
     
    • Funny Funny x 1
  15. Really useful this thread! Noticed a pool on my 1260 after washing. With the help in this post I eventually found a hole in the swing arm and put copper wire up it, seemed to go into a bigger cavity and just wiggle around? How deep is the drilled hole? Maybe the wire was too soft, the water did not drain.
    I blew the water away and found lots of small stones left behind. Seem to be stuck in there so I will need to investigate further.
    How deep is the drilling?
     
  16. I read about this problem a year or so ago. Decided to remove lower shock bolt (another known issue) and coppaslip the thread and bolt.
    Whilst bolt was out, I swung shock out of way and drilled hole to 6mm, countersinking slightly at same time.
    A brush of ACF50 all round and no more issues with water pooling.
    Additionally, after every wash I blow dry the bike with compressed air to clear any collected water.
    Compressor was from Lidl and has been brilliant.
    Incidentally, they’re on sale from the 15th of Sept along with a myriad of other air tools etc.
     
    • Like Like x 2
  17. Best cure is: Do not wash your bike! Just ride it.
     
  18. Do you have to remove the rear wheel for this or can you remove the shock bolt in situ?

    Thanks.
     
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