86/87 linkage vs. 88/89 linkage

[rigger]

Quick question about stock linkage for my project R.

First off, I have an 86' frame and I am running an 89' swing arm.

I have a shock that is about 16.5" c to c and I believe this is an 86/87 rear shock. And the 88/89 shock is about an inch or two shorter. If I am mistaken on the year of the shock, someone please correct me.

I have two dog bones, one is about 7" the other is about 8".
The longer one should go with the longer shock, right? Or am I wrong?

Also is there any advantage to the two linkage set ups? Should I be using one or the other?

[rigger]

Been outside tinkering with the R and this is what I have found so far.

I had originally thought that you could run either linkage set up with either rear shock but I am wrong.

I have both year dog bones and dog bone bolts. The 88/89 dog bone, bolt and link arm all use a larger diameter bolt that runs through all of them and the shock. So it appears that if you do not have all 86/87 or all 88/89 then it will not work.

So, back to my original question, is the 88/89 linkage and shock a better set up than the 86/89 set up? If it is, then I need a different shock.

Or........

Should I try picking up a 450R rear shock and linkage and trying that or one from a 400EX ?

[CorvetteZ06]

i think i am running into an issue also with this........ i have a 88 frame, 88 swinger, just got the shock back from derisi, complete XC revalve, with an eibach spring. i am not sure what year the shock is from..... and i am not sure what year my dog bone is from...... i think 87.. anyways, when i bolted everything up, it sits real low in the back......

[rigger]

I am no expert at building. This is my first R and I am learning a lot about what I can and can not use. From my playing around with it and reading, I have come to a conclusion that you need to run all matching parts. I guess you can use either generation frame but it seems that if you use a newer style swingarm, then you need to match the linkage and shock.

I have an 89 swing arm and all 89 linkage and also the 86 dog bone too. My rear shock is about 16-1/4" C to C and it is an older 86/87 rear shock.

I hope I just fixed my rear end issues because I just bought a Works rear shock that had a fresh rebuild, set up for my weight and ride style that is 15-1/2" C to C. It is shorter and is the 88/89 length.

So now I will have a complete 88/89 swing arm, linkage and shock. All matching parts and the shock is set up for me.

Hope this little bit of info helps.

[jcs003]

the 86/87 swingarm is an inch longer than the 88/89 and this is reflected in the linkage. as rigger said, " I guess you can use either generation frame but it seems that if you use a newer style swingarm, then you need to match the linkage and shock. "

i do believe the shocks are all the same length, but the valving is different.

[deathman53]

I use 86 parts and 87-89 dogbone. Yes, the 85/86 dogbone is longer, the 87-89 is ~ 1" shorter. I don't know why everybody thinks 86/87 and 88/89 for the linkege, the honda part numbers don't lie. 85/86 had the longest shock and dogbone, 87 had a shorter shock and shorter dog bone, in 88/89 the shock got shorter and the dog bone stayed the same. Also, 85 bottom shock bolt with thinner, while 86-89 trx/atc got the larger diameter bottom bolt. 85-87 and 88/89 used the same bolt for the dog bone to the swingarm. The difference is that because of the swingarm, the 88/89 bolt has a large shoulder to it and recesses into to the swingarm. The correct year shock and linkege should be matched up, results will be so-so if not.

My one 250r(atc) uses a shock built for a 86 and uses 85/86 dogbone and my other (trx) uses a 88/89 shock and 87-89 dogbone. I'm pretty sure both are using a 86 frame-shock link. I have several 85 frame-shock links, they won't work, the metal tubes and bushings won't fit with the larger bottom bolt. The reason why in 86, it was changed to a larger bolt is because of the bottom bolt bending(I bent two). The 85 bottom shock bolt is 13mm and the 86-89 is atleast 16mm.

(frame-shock link)52470-HB9-000 Rod Assy., Cushion Connecting 86-89

(dogbone)52460-HB9-000 Arm Assy., Cushion 86

(dogbone)52460-HB9-670 Arm Assy., Cushion 87-89

(bottom shock bolt)90125-HB9-000 Bolt, Grease, 12x110 86-89

(dogbone-swingarm bolt) 90121-HA2-000 Bolt, Flange, 12x57 86-87

(dogbone-swingarm bolt)90121-HB9-770 Bolt, Flange, 12x62 88-89

[rigger]

That is good info to know. That is what I found is that the bolts were not the same size. I think I may have a few ATC parts in my box of stuff and that is how I have a few different parts.

[snono]

I have A 88-89 arens frame with elka shock, don't know the length, and 86-87 lonestar -1 swingarm. Had elka shock redone by gt thunder for this frame and it has been a pita to get setup. It is so soft it will bottom out the quad with 1 foot of airtime and it sits very low in the back. Wondering now if my combo of parts is junk. I wonder now if the 86-87 swingarm dogbone mount is in the same location as the 88-89. Mine is just so mushy

[deathman53]

the frames are very similar and shock mounts didn't move. Also the 86/87 -1 swingarm is the same length as a 88/89. It sounds like you are using the 85/86 dogbone which would make alot of sense. I'm assuming you had a 86 quad and those had the long dogbones. When you had the shock serviced, they probably changed the length to 88/89, so it would throw it off using the longer dogbone.