I need your help- 1986-87 Kawasaki Tecate shock length eye to eye?

[onformula1]

I need your help- 1986-87 Kawasaki Tecate shock length eye to eye?

Looking for box stock, no aftermarket seal heads or aftermarket shocks, please.

Thank you in advance, Milner

[nd4speed]

it is around 14.25".

[tecaterob]

Im going to send you mine next week Milner. Email me your address and info.

[86T3]

I'm not sure if this info is needed, but since it's fresh in my mind I'll share. The stock spring with a +2 swingarm was a little too weak so with the new +3 I decided to address the issue. First I looked into a works shock, but $800 for a shock without compression or rebound adjustment seemed way too much. I called axis and ordered a 325lb spring to fit the stock shock, I believe stock was 200. They had the spring in stock, it's the same diameter but is 9/16s shorter than the stocker. I was going to get a 300lb shock but due to the shorter spring I figured I'd bump up a little so I have more wiggle room with the preload if it was too soft. So if you need a stronger spring, give axis a call

[christph]

If memory serves me right I don't think the stock spring is 200 lb/in. I replaced my stock spring years ago and measured the stock rate at 300 lb/in. I weigh 220 lbs. and replaced the stock spring with a 400 lb/in Hyperco. I installed it on my 87 with a +2 Calfab and it works great.

[86T3]

The manual says 199lbs initial spring preload. You've eased my mind though, I was worried that the 325lb spring would not work well with the stock shock. Has the shock held up well?
216681

[nd4speed]

I looked at my other shocks and I would say most of them are about 14" eye to eye and one is maybe 14.125" for some reason. Sorry for the previous dimension. As far as what seal heads are in there, I have no clue.

[onformula1]

Nd4speed
Thank you for your help

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[phantomtracer]

I just measured 14.125"
When I rebuilt the shock I forgot to measure, upon assembly you will find out that the rebound adjustment will not work smoothly if the measurement is any tighter or looser. Verify that the rebound knob is turning smooth and you know it's right.216788

In that photo you can see the teeth need to mesh just right.

[onformula1]

I just measured 14.125"
When I rebuilt the shock I forgot to measure, upon assembly you will find out that the rebound adjustment will not work smoothly if the measurement is any tighter or looser. Verify that the rebound knob is turning smooth and you know it's right.216788

In that photo you can see the teeth need to mesh just right.
Thank you, I have the set up tool for the rebound rod

I was just trying to get a good lenght of a stock 86-87 Tecate shock to see if there are any good alternatives that look similiar or off a different year or KX/KDX

Those shocks are rarer then hens teeth especially a good one

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[Billy Golightly]

www.hypercoils.com for all sorts of springs whatever size length and spring rate you could imagine.

[onformula1]

I have a 1985 Tecate shock thats 14.125 inches, can anyone check the width on the top and bottom mounting points and the bolt diameter? For a 86-87 Tecate

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[nd4speed]

some measurements for you.......... the first one is width of the bushing. Forgot the bolt diameters

[onformula1]

some measurements for you.......... the first one is width of the bushing. Forgot the bolt diameters

Thank you very much!

Nice caliper by the way, I have the same one, but it's much older about 1990, still going strong! Best money ever spent.

[tecaterob]

Shock is being tmw...

[christph]

The manual says 199lbs initial spring preload. You've eased my mind though, I was worried that the 325lb spring would not work well with the stock shock. Has the shock held up well?
216681

I think you are reading the manual wrong. Spring preload and spring rate are two different things. When the manual says 199 lbs. of preload, that means the adjusting rings are turned down (to compress the spring maybe 3/4 of an inch or so) to produce 199 lbs. of static pressure. The spring rate, in contrast, is the amount of pressure it takes to compress a spring a given unit of distance. For example, a 325 lb/in spring will compress 1 inch for every 325 lbs. If you adjust the rings to compress your new spring 1 inch you will have 325 lbs. of preload.

Yeah, my shock works great with the heavier spring.

[86T3]

I think you are reading the manual wrong. Spring preload and spring rate are two different things. When the manual says 199 lbs. of preload, that means the adjusting rings are turned down (to compress the spring maybe 3/4 of an inch or so) to produce 199 lbs. of static pressure. The spring rate, in contrast, is the amount of pressure it takes to compress a spring a given unit of distance. For example, a 325 lb/in spring will compress 1 inch for every 325 lbs. If you adjust the rings to compress your new spring 1 inch you will have 325 lbs. of preload.

Yeah, my shock works great with the heavier spring.

You were 100% right about the spring, the 325 I ordered was about the same strength as a stock one. I ordered a 450#, hopefully that will do the trick