KZ650 Rear Shock Disassembly

I'm trying to take my '78 KZ650 rear shocks apart so that I can clean them up and paint them, but I'm having a real hard time getting them apart. I have the spring compressed and I'm trying to unscrew the top end from the rod, but it is proving to be real difficult to unscrew. I have maybe unscrewed it only one turn around so far.

Am I going about this the correct way? I've read some other posts here about shock disassembly that mention removing keepers but my pair don't appear to be built this way. Mine have the top rod end screwed on to the rod.

Any help would be appreciated.

Are you sure there isn't a pin going through the mount sideways locking it onto the shaft?

Guess I'll go look

The 1980 KZ750E has a pin locking the mount on the shaft, and I believe the 650 is the same way. I'm too tired to go look at the 79 KZ650SR to verify that though.

Post edited by: steell, at: 2007/12/26 21:35

I just checked and you're right, there is a pin. Do you know how to get that out? Thanks.

Use a small pin punch and drive it out.

If you can find a nail of the right diameter, use a file to take off the point (if you don't have a file just scratch it on concrete a few times), then use the nail as a punch.

Nails are fairly soft so be gentle

Thanks, I'll give that a try.