Shock Mounting Bushing???

#1
Where can I get the shock mounting bushing. I re-painted my shocks and put them in the oven on warm to cure the paint. Well warm was too hot and you know the rest of the story.
 
#3
I never sourced any hourglass types that were small enough for a minibike shock, so I got some rubber stoppers from ACE and made my own. Works good so far. You need kung fu grip on the drill press though, and I messed a couple up.
 

Mac

Well-Known Member
#5


Make a trip to your local Plumbing Store and sort through their
collection of water supply line rubbers like those pictured above.

They come in many different outside diameters and inside bores.
 
#6
Genuinenos had some a while back on ebay. Not cheap but looked like a complete set of 8. Maybe $18-$20??? They're not listed now but I bet he still has some. As already suggested, try the hardware store 1st unless you need the real deal. Remember, these had thin metal tubes lining the hole so the bolt didn't wear out the rubber. Might be why yours look like they do. I can post a pic and measurements if needed.
 
#7
Here you go....

Broncco Bronco Garelli TC4 TC 4 Mini Bike 50 Italian Shock Absorber Bushing | eBay

Only $44 for a set of 4. :freakout:

Good thing it's free shipping. No offense to the seller but that's kind of a ridiculous price at $22 per shock. For that, you can buy a junk set of shocks, keep the rubber, and throw away the shocks...and still save $10. :laugh:

As for the measurements though, you can refer to his pics. The rolled metal liner tube is 3/4" long with an ID of 3/8" and an OD of 1/2" (give or take). This keeps the rubbers from getting crushed and lets you torque the shock bolts.

Rubbers are 3/4" OD at the widest point and about 5/16" thick. Taper is about a 30 degree angle. They basically taper down to nothing. where they meet the 1/2" ID bore.
 
#8


Make a trip to your local Plumbing Store and sort through their
collection of water supply line rubbers like those pictured above.

They come in many different outside diameters and inside bores.
Excellent Mac. I didn't see these at ACE, but since I need another set, this is what I'll be looking at. Thanks. :thumbsup:
 
#9
Thanks for the info. I'll make a trip to a local plumbing supply not far from me. Looks like I wasn't the only one looking for these bushings.
 
#10
Great suggestion Mac!

I took a trip to 2 Ace hardware stores. Not all are created equal. In the future, I would go to a real plumbing supplier but it's worth a shot.

What you want is called a cone washer. You can see from the example that all they had were orange rubber. I would never put this on a bike but they cost all of $1.50 for the set so I thought I'd try it out. Makes for a nice contrast example I guess or cool on a custom bike. Cone washers have a straight bevel like the originals. "Packing" washers have more of a curve. If you want to make it just like the original with the steel spacer (I would), also look for one that is for 1/2" OD tubing. That fits perfectly on the steel spacer.

As for the steel tubing, they have rolled steel spacers for $0.60 each. You might have to cut it to the proper 3/4" length. You can also buy a long chunk of 1/2" OD steel tubing and cut multiples.

Turned out nearly perfect. The originals have a slightly rounded outer corner when molded but if you could just find some black ones, they would be nearly impossible to tell the difference.

In total a complete set with steel spacers would cost you about $9 at Ace, but you could probably get that lower. Just have to find BLACK cone washers.




 
#11
Before you go to the plumber's supply, better check the condition of your internal bumpers. If your eye bushings melted, you probably did some damage to them as well. Size on them is less critical.

 

markus

Well-Known Member
#12
Before you go to the plumber's supply, better check the condition of your internal bumpers. If your eye bushings melted, you probably did some damage to them as well. Size on them is less critical.

an the non repacable plastic bushing in the lower housing as well :doah:
 
#13
an the non repacable plastic bushing in the lower housing as well :doah:
Ugh. I'm running two sets of shocks without those. Even if they're not all cracked and busted up, they get weather checked, and over sprayed by years of 12 year olds with cans of rustoleum. :hammer:
 

markus

Well-Known Member
#14
Ugh. I'm running two sets of shocks without those. Even if they're not all cracked and busted up, they get weather checked, and over sprayed by years of 12 year olds with cans of rustoleum. :hammer:

not talking about he dustcovers, although if they survived the heat the shaft bushing probalby faired ok. there are hard plastic bushings that the shaft rides in internally:



they only way to replace them would be to un-crimp the upper part of the lower etc.. would be a tough job to do withought distorting and ruining the assy.

dont forget the grease that proably boiled out off the shaft too!!!

Paint is easy to remove off those dustcovers, its the dam rust stains that dont like to come off them :doah:
 
#15
there are hard plastic bushings that the shaft rides in internally: the only way to replace them would be to un-crimp the upper part of the lower etc.. would be a tough job to do withought distorting and ruining the assy.

dont forget the grease that proably boiled out off the shaft too!!!
Ah. Yep, I see what you mean. I haven't seen those on the absorbers I have, and maybe that's a good thing. Ain't no un-crimping that piece.
 
#16
Slightly off topic but I found that degreaser followed by SoftScrub with bleach, and a Mr. Clean Magic Sponge eventually gets all but the worst stains off the covers.
 
#17
As the old saying goes, we're laughing WITH you, not AT you...
We've all been in your shoes. Thank you for teaching us that shocks and ovens don't mix. :laugh:

 
#18
As the old saying goes, we're laughing WITH you, not AT you...
We've all been in your shoes. Thank you for teaching us that shocks and ovens don't mix. :laugh:
Yes indeed. I used to use the oven to cure smaller parts when I lived in high humidity places. I forgot what it was, but something that had plastic integral to it. I melted the shit out of it, and learned that 150 on the oven was really more like 220.
 
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