84 and 85 tecate 3

[Ryno]

Are the rear shocks for an 84 and 85 kxt 250 the same or are they different?

[Yamaha_Rules69]

they are the same

[NICKG]

they are the same
no they are not, the correct answer is that they interchange. the 84 shock has a different resivoir with no rebound adjustment. also the body is different in that the cap on it screws on using 2 holes to allow a pin spanner to install it. the 85 has adjustable rebound knob located on the resivoir. the body has a cap that prys off like the later 86/87 units. you will find many 84's with the 85 shock as the original 84 shock was usually replaced with the 85(I think it was a factory supercession )...and we all know that most of these trikes have had shocks replaced over the years

[Ryno]

The shock i was sold looks like the 84 model but on the new one the resivior has cooling fins, and is about an inch longer. Do i just release the spring tension to install it? the guy i bought it from has it wound almost all the way tight.

[NICKG]

you cannot just unwind it, the length of the shock will not change, this is because of the internal stop. the shaft can only go out so far before the internal stop(in this case its a snap ring) stops the seal head from over extending. the spring has enough tension to extend the shock even if it has almost no preload(wind up) the shock you have is from either a 83 or 84 kx 250...not a tecate