I had to test my SACHS shock (and do some work on my FOX as well) so there was an opportunity to share my way of removing the rear shock and which I prefer over tilting the subframe.
1) I remove the seat, rhs airbox cover and the silencer. then I remove the rear linkage bolt :
2) I place an object under the rear wheel (which will give me better leverage on moving the swing-arm upwards) and then I remove the shock bolts. At the same time I am cutting the tie-wraps securing the frame plastic protection and tilt the plastic rearwards. I don't have to remove the bolt.
3) As the shock clevis is free from the linkage, I move up (not much) the swing arm and the shock starts to come off the frame-sub frame triangle.
Then it is easy to remove it:
4) Yes, I know.... Even after a dusty ride, remains one of the (if not the...) prettiest bikes around:
Both shocks on the bench. Notice that SACHS piggy sits lower in the body and its slightly longer as well. This makes it a tiny bit more difficult to remove-install but nothing serious though.
5) Installation is just going the previous steps backwards.
Slide the shock from the opening (don't forget to still have the wooden block under the wheel so its not hanging down -this gives the space needed):
Attach the shock top mount (do not tighten the bolt yet) and align clevis to the linkage:
Place lower mount bolt (don't forget to clean and grease both) and then torque them:
6) Finally grease, replace and torque the linkage bolt. Replace frame's plastic cover with new tie-wraps, side cover and silencer.
So this works for me as I don't have to fiddle with connectors and remove air box boot (which I wouldn't with so much dust on the bike....).
Hope you find it usefull, any comments are welcome.
By the way, thanks Steve, Glen and all for the notes on servicing the SACHS . At the end, more useful than the AB manual.
Later I will find out if I did everything correct, statically shock seems to work ok.
