Gregory Bender

Shock spring compressor tool

Moto Guzzi V700, V7 Special, Ambassador, 850 GT, 850 GT California, Eldorado, and 850 California Police models

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Thanks to Ralf Brinkmann for sending me this information via e-mail. In Ralf's own words:

Ralf Brinkmann's shock spring compressor

Unit is always millimeters. School calc paper grids are 5 mm.

The very special adapter is for the old standard pre millenium Ural shocks made by the Ural factory.

The starting material for the two adapters is 5 mm thick.

The special open base profile is 300 mm long, cross-sectional width 40 mm and ran at that time under the name Helm 300. (in the USA, look for strut channel at places like McMaster-Carr)

Ralf Brinkmann's shock spring compressor for Moto Guzzi V700, V7 Special, Ambassador, 850 GT, 850 GT California, Eldorado, and 850 California Police models
Ralf Brinkmann's shock spring compressor for Moto Guzzi V700, V7 Special, Ambassador, 850 GT, 850 GT California, Eldorado, and 850 California Police models

Photo courtesy of Ralf Brinkmann.

Ralf Brinkmann's shock spring compressor for Moto Guzzi V700, V7 Special, Ambassador, 850 GT, 850 GT California, Eldorado, and 850 California Police models
Ralf Brinkmann's shock spring compressor for Moto Guzzi V700, V7 Special, Ambassador, 850 GT, 850 GT California, Eldorado, and 850 California Police models

Photo courtesy of Ralf Brinkmann.

Ralf Brinkmann's shock spring compressor for Moto Guzzi V700, V7 Special, Ambassador, 850 GT, 850 GT California, Eldorado, and 850 California Police models
Ralf Brinkmann's shock spring compressor for Moto Guzzi V700, V7 Special, Ambassador, 850 GT, 850 GT California, Eldorado, and 850 California Police models

Photo courtesy of Ralf Brinkmann.

Ralf Brinkmann's shock spring compressor for Moto Guzzi V700, V7 Special, Ambassador, 850 GT, 850 GT California, Eldorado, and 850 California Police models
Ralf Brinkmann's shock spring compressor for Moto Guzzi V700, V7 Special, Ambassador, 850 GT, 850 GT California, Eldorado, and 850 California Police models

Photo courtesy of Ralf Brinkmann.

Ralf Brinkmann's shock spring compressor for Moto Guzzi V700, V7 Special, Ambassador, 850 GT, 850 GT California, Eldorado, and 850 California Police models
Ralf Brinkmann's shock spring compressor for Moto Guzzi V700, V7 Special, Ambassador, 850 GT, 850 GT California, Eldorado, and 850 California Police models

Photo courtesy of Ralf Brinkmann.

Ralf Brinkmann's shock spring compressor for Moto Guzzi V700, V7 Special, Ambassador, 850 GT, 850 GT California, Eldorado, and 850 California Police models
Ralf Brinkmann's shock spring compressor for Moto Guzzi V700, V7 Special, Ambassador, 850 GT, 850 GT California, Eldorado, and 850 California Police models

Photo courtesy of Ralf Brinkmann.

Ralf Brinkmann's shock spring compressor for Moto Guzzi V700, V7 Special, Ambassador, 850 GT, 850 GT California, Eldorado, and 850 California Police models
Ralf Brinkmann's shock spring compressor for Moto Guzzi V700, V7 Special, Ambassador, 850 GT, 850 GT California, Eldorado, and 850 California Police models

Photo courtesy of Ralf Brinkmann.

Ralf Brinkmann's shock spring compressor for Moto Guzzi V700, V7 Special, Ambassador, 850 GT, 850 GT California, Eldorado, and 850 California Police models
Ralf Brinkmann's shock spring compressor for Moto Guzzi V700, V7 Special, Ambassador, 850 GT, 850 GT California, Eldorado, and 850 California Police models

Photo courtesy of Ralf Brinkmann.

Ralf Brinkmann's shock spring compressor for Moto Guzzi V700, V7 Special, Ambassador, 850 GT, 850 GT California, Eldorado, and 850 California Police models
Ralf Brinkmann's shock spring compressor for Moto Guzzi V700, V7 Special, Ambassador, 850 GT, 850 GT California, Eldorado, and 850 California Police models

Photo courtesy of Ralf Brinkmann.

Ralf Brinkmann's shock spring compressor for Moto Guzzi V700, V7 Special, Ambassador, 850 GT, 850 GT California, Eldorado, and 850 California Police models
Ralf Brinkmann's shock spring compressor for Moto Guzzi V700, V7 Special, Ambassador, 850 GT, 850 GT California, Eldorado, and 850 California Police models

Photo courtesy of Ralf Brinkmann.

Ralf Brinkmann's shock spring compressor for Moto Guzzi V700, V7 Special, Ambassador, 850 GT, 850 GT California, Eldorado, and 850 California Police models
Ralf Brinkmann's shock spring compressor for Moto Guzzi V700, V7 Special, Ambassador, 850 GT, 850 GT California, Eldorado, and 850 California Police models

Photo courtesy of Ralf Brinkmann.

Joe Tokarz's shock spring compressor

Thanks to Joe Tokarz for sending me this information via e-mail. In Joe's own words:

This is a cheap alternative to a store bought spring compressor that will only be used a few times. It uses basic ideas from others that are applied to the loop-frame shocks.

Parts list:

  • Scrap 2 inch × 4 inch (oily patina makes it work better)
  • Two 38 inch threaded rods with nuts / bolts washers (from big box store)
  • 2 inch × 2 inch × 18 inch angle iron (from big box store)
  • Scrap metal and bolts for locking plate and holding pin

Build:

  1. Cut / chisel a rectangular hole in the 2 inch × 4 inch that just fits the upper shock eye. Drill a hole for a bolt that serves as a holding pin that goes through the eye to keep the shock in place.

    Cut a slot in the angle iron to accept the shock body. The slot should have just enough clearance for the shock body and make maximum spring contact.

    Cut a similar notch in the scrap piece to prevent the shock from jumping out of the angle iron when it's under compression. I don't know if it would but it seemed possible. Drill holes in it to match holes in the angle iron.

    Joe Tokarz's shock spring compressor for Moto Guzzi V700, V7 Special, Ambassador, 850 GT, 850 GT California, Eldorado, and 850 California Police models
    Joe Tokarz's shock spring compressor for Moto Guzzi V700, V7 Special, Ambassador, 850 GT, 850 GT California, Eldorado, and 850 California Police models

    Photo courtesy of Joe Tokarz.

  2. Test fit the angle iron / scrap piece with the shock in the wood. Line up the whole thing and eyeball where the rod holes should go.
    Joe Tokarz's shock spring compressor for Moto Guzzi V700, V7 Special, Ambassador, 850 GT, 850 GT California, Eldorado, and 850 California Police models
    Joe Tokarz's shock spring compressor for Moto Guzzi V700, V7 Special, Ambassador, 850 GT, 850 GT California, Eldorado, and 850 California Police models

    Photo courtesy of Joe Tokarz.

  3. Install the rods and add some lube to the treads and start tightening. Keep the iron parallel with the wood. Compress the spring (squirt some WD-40 between the collar and shock body) until the collar can rotate easily and remove it by lining up the notches in the collar with the small bosses on the shock body. Slowly relieve the compression and remove shock.
    Joe Tokarz's shock spring compressor for Moto Guzzi V700, V7 Special, Ambassador, 850 GT, 850 GT California, Eldorado, and 850 California Police models
    Joe Tokarz's shock spring compressor for Moto Guzzi V700, V7 Special, Ambassador, 850 GT, 850 GT California, Eldorado, and 850 California Police models

    Photo courtesy of Joe Tokarz.

  4. Shock disassembled ready for cleanup.
    Joe Tokarz's shock spring compressor for Moto Guzzi V700, V7 Special, Ambassador, 850 GT, 850 GT California, Eldorado, and 850 California Police models
    Joe Tokarz's shock spring compressor for Moto Guzzi V700, V7 Special, Ambassador, 850 GT, 850 GT California, Eldorado, and 850 California Police models

    Photo courtesy of Joe Tokarz.

  5. Assembly is the reverse of the above. After cleanup they're ready for mounting.
    Joe Tokarz's shock spring compressor for Moto Guzzi V700, V7 Special, Ambassador, 850 GT, 850 GT California, Eldorado, and 850 California Police models
    Joe Tokarz's shock spring compressor for Moto Guzzi V700, V7 Special, Ambassador, 850 GT, 850 GT California, Eldorado, and 850 California Police models

    Photo courtesy of Joe Tokarz.