shock repair

[ryan68bug]

I'm working on a Toyoco Alpha 350 project and am interested in either repairing or replacing the shocks on the front forks. The only picture I have is the overall shot of the bike mocked up after I first got it last year. Not sure if there are any parts available out there or if I'll have to substitute other make/model parts for this one, but any help would be great. These are pretty rusty, to say the least.

 

[buckeye]

Kinda look like Manco Thunderbird?

 

[ryan68bug]

It's a Toyoco Alpha 350; I guess they were sold in the '70s by K Mart. The ID badge is still on the front fork, with a Levittown, Pa., address.

 

[buckeye]

I meant the shocks.

 

[Bill Ellerby]

If the springs are holding the two halves together and all you have to do is twist them to undo them, you can replace the springs with new ones. If the springs are 1.5" OD by approx. 5.5" long they are available on Ebay and I believe Yellowhand sells then also. Good Luck

 

[ryan68bug]

I meant the shocks.

My bad! I totally misread...lol. Too easy to do on the interweb.. I'll take a gander at a Manco parts list if I can find one...

 

[ryan68bug]

If the springs are holding the two halves together and all you have to do is twist them to undo them, you can replace the springs with new ones. If the springs are 1.5" OD by approx. 5.5" long they are available on Ebay and I believe Yellowhand sells then also. Good Luck

Thanks for the info! I'm pretty sure that's how mine are set up. I'm hoping to make it look as good as new when it's all said and done. The springs are rusted along with the inner damper part.. hoping to find a way to refurbish it all.

 

[Big Jim]

They just twist apart,you'll figure it out!
If the chrome is pitted really bad good luck! If it just a few speckles soak them in vinegar for a few days, keep an eye on them, it may take more time. Then Chrome polish.

 

[ryan68bug]

Yeah, they're pitted pretty bad. Probably the worst rust on the bike is in the front forks/springs area. The handlebars cleaned up halfway decent, though. I'm wondering if the Manco Thunderbird forks and springs set up could be retrofitted?

 

[buckeye]

If ya need some measurements let me know. I will walk out and take some. Just tell me what you want measured.

 

[ryan68bug]

When I have a chance, I'll go out to the shop and take a look at what I've got going on... my shocks are tweeked, as well, so it may be just as well if I start from scratch with new materials.

 

[Bill Ellerby]

ryan68bug, check out ebay item 250966056202. These are the springs I bought to replace the ones on my JC Penney Scat Tracker forks.

 

[ryan68bug]

Cool, saw those just a bit ago, look like they'd fit the bill great for my purposes! Just not sure what to do with my damper/forks as they appear tweeked and rusted.

 

[ryan68bug]

If ya need some measurements let me know. I will walk out and take some. Just tell me what you want measured.

Based on visuals of what the T-Bird has and what my Toyoco needs, I'm thinking the T-Bird shocks/fork extenders are too long. Mine are 12.5" in length and 5/8" in diameter on the shock/dampener part. I may have to just recondition what I have even though the dampener portion is bent on each side.