Missing the ball and spring from the ST 1300 Preload Adjuster knob

CYYJ

CYYJ

Michael
Joined
Jun 10, 2013
Messages
2,150
Age
70
Location
Toronto & Zürich
Bike
None any more.
Hi All:

I took the knob off the rear shock preload adjuster on my ST 1300 today to find out why it was not 'clicking' when I turned it, and discovered that the tiny ball and spring were missing from where they should be on the round metal part under the knob. The parts catalog does not show these as parts being available - only the entire rear shock is available for purchase.

Has anyone else ever encountered this problem, and discovered where to get a replacement ball and spring?

Michael

Missing Ball & Spring
238401
 
CYYJ said:
Hi All:

I took the knob off the rear shock preload adjuster on my ST 1300 today to find out why it was not 'clicking' when I turned it, and discovered that the tiny ball and spring were missing from where they should be on the round metal part under the knob. The parts catalog does not show these as parts being available - only the entire rear shock is available for purchase.

Has anyone else ever encountered this problem, and discovered where to get a replacement ball and spring?

Michael

Missing Ball & Spring
Ball on Preload Adjuster.jpg
Click to expand...
Check this thread article on refilling the preloader I posted some years ago. I lost that BB and found one at Ace Hardware. The article gives the size. Can't help you with the spring. Ball point pen?

Article [13] - ST1300 - Pre-load Fluid Replacement | ST1300 Articles

Here are some pictures I took when I serviced the preload adjuster on a spare shock I have. I bought this off the forum with 9,000 miles on it. 10,000 miles later it took 12 clicks for the adjuster to start working. In the first pic the preload is completely screwed in or to the Hard setting and...
www.st-owners.com www.st-owners.com
 
Michael, as DD pointed out, you can find the correct size BB at most hardware stores.
As far as the spring goes, I finally found a suitable replacement, in the correct length, and size....
If you have any sporting good stores near you, or shop on line, locate an HKS brand SPEEDLOADER for revolvers. The one you want is an HKS 586,
these are for .38 / .357 magnum revolvers. When you look at the front of it (where you insert the bullets) you'll see a silver center piece, with 2 roll pins that limit the movement, and a roll pin coming out of the center pin, that rests over a detent ball.
Pull one of the roll pins out with pliers, and the ball will fall out, underneath it, is a small spring that is exactly the same size/length of your preload adjuster spring.
The speedloader may run you about $6-$10 dollars on line.
Hope this helps.
 
Hi Larry:

Thanks very much for that tip! I am going to the United States at the beginning of next week, I will stop in at the manufacturer's site (HKS, Florence, KY, just off I-75) and pick up a spring there. In fact, if they have a bunch, I'll buy a dozen and mail the other 11 to you for when other folks need them.

Michael
 
Last edited:
CYYJ said:
Hi Larry:

Thanks very much for that tip! I am going to the United States at the beginning of next week, I will look for the "speedloader" in a gun store while I am there.

Is it permitted to buy one of those things without a gun licence? I presume it comes without bullets.

Michael
Click to expand...
Yes, it is just a plastic cylinder, with a knob to retain spare ammo. Anyone can purchase them.
 
Igofar said:
Yes, it is just a plastic cylinder, with a knob to retain spare ammo. Anyone can purchase them.
Click to expand...


Unless you live in Kalifornia! :well1:

Well, I'm sure they find some way to ban them! :nuts:
 
Last edited:
I lost the spring from my preload while pulling it out of the bike with the rear shock. I was careful to capture the ball and when the spring didn't come out as well I just thought I'd remove it later after I pulled the shock. When I went to do that I found it had disappeared during the removal process. I will be replacing it with a modified spring from a ball point pen. The diameter is good, but I'll need to clip a few coils off to get the length right.

The HKS speedloader spring sounds great, but by the time I got one delivered up here I'd be paying a lot more for the spring than I did for the crown nut on the upper shock mount ($9) that disappeared under the tank. And I thought that was a bit steep. :)
 
I wouldn't lose a lot of sleep over it. I'd just back the preload adjuster all the way out, score a mark in the 12:00 position of the dial, and just count my preload by visual reference. I don't know that the little ball is really doing anything more than giving you tactile feedback.
 
Just an update - I didn't get around to ordering the springs before I left Canada for Europe at the beginning of June. I will order them when I get back to Canada in early July, and I'll send half of them to Larry (@Igofar) for use by US members, and keep the other half on hand at my place in case Canadian forum members need a spring.

Michael
 
CYYJ said:
Just an update - I didn't get around to ordering the springs before I left Canada for Europe at the beginning of June. I will order them when I get back to Canada in early July, and I'll send half of them to Larry (@Igofar) for use by US members, and keep the other half on hand at my place in case Canadian forum members need a spring.

Michael
Click to expand...
Thanks Michael, safe travels.
Larry
 
What will HKS think when they receive an avalanche of orders, each for a dozen of these springs? Will they boost the price like drug companies to $74.87/spring? Will they keep the price the same and send them in a first class envelope while not charging for postage?

Of all the places to find this item, who would have thought to pull apart a speed loader?
 
SMSW said:
What will HKS think when they receive an avalanche of orders, each for a dozen of these springs? Will they boost the price like drug companies to $74.87/spring? Will they keep the price the same and send them in a first class envelope while not charging for postage?

Of all the places to find this item, who would have thought to pull apart a speed loader?
Click to expand...
Me ;)
 
Shawn K said:
I wouldn't lose a lot of sleep over it. I'd just back the preload adjuster all the way out, score a mark in the 12:00 position of the dial, and just count my preload by visual reference. I don't know that the little ball is really doing anything more than giving you tactile feedback.
Click to expand...
^Pretty much that.^

I could be wrong, but it seems that when preload is dialed in, there is enough resistance to rotation due to pressure in the the hydraulic system that the preload knob is unlikely to rotate on its own.

slmjim
 
drtyrrel said:
Maybe if somebody explains to HKS what you are using them for...
Click to expand...
I did explain to HKS what I needed the springs for when I called them last month. They were quite amused, and said that they would be happy to sell me a small bag of springs.

I just have to get around to placing the order and looking after the logistics of shipping.

Michael
 
CYYJ said:
I did explain to HKS what I needed the springs for when I called them last month. They were quite amused, and said that they would be happy to sell me a small bag of springs.
Click to expand...
Did they quote a price? How big a bag? How many springs/bag?
 
No, they didn't quote a price, and I don't know how many springs will be supplied. The conversation I had with them was quite pleasant, the person I spoke to indicated that they would be happy to help us out, and I got the pretty clear impression that the parts would not be expensive.

Michael
 
CYYJ said:
No, they didn't quote a price, and I don't know how many springs will be supplied. The conversation I had with them was quite pleasant, the person I spoke to indicated that they would be happy to help us out, and I got the pretty clear impression that the parts would not be expensive.

Michael
Click to expand...
I need a spring too... did you ever receive them?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom