vfr661

Based on all these posts, my 98 with 32K is a baby and has lots of life left.

How long is the length of bolt on the bottom and how did you secure it?

I finally grind down the HF oil filter wrench as described by Mbrane and it works great. LIke skymon said, "Works better than bran new spanner tool." It only took me over a year.

The last time a buddy and I got stuck behind 10 Harley "pirates" going down a twisty road, a bicyclist passed my buddy because the Harley group was going SUPER slow. Once out of the twisty road and no more blind spots, we pass them and never look back. I hate getting stuck behind SLOW pirates on twisty roads.....

I've was on a 5 day motorcycle tour through the California coast to Eureka and did not have time to do anything yet but will post an update when I get around to it. What brand of penetrating oil do you recommend?

MBrane: Thanks for sharing the pixs. I'll definitely get one and try it out. Monk: Thanks for your suggestion about using penetrating oil. You guys are awesome!!!

Are you sure an oil filter wrench is going to work? I am willing to try any suggestion at this point. It works for me after grinding the extra grip from between the long end/handle, and thinning out the ends so they fit into the shock collar holes. It's a $5 tool so it's kinda hard to go wrong. Would it be possible to see a pix of the end product after all the grinding? I plan to pick one up and give it a try..

I've already tried that and it still would not budge. The soft oem spanner wrench eventually slips and eventually deform no longer usable.

Are you sure an oil filter wrench is going to work? I am willing to try any suggestion at this point.

There's nothing more to reshape. Both end pieces of the spanner wrench that anchor the collar for rotation have been deformed to the point that it's no longer grabbing. I think the metal used to make the spanner wrench is too soft and deforms too easily. Any applied torque ends up slipping. Is it suppose to be this hard to rotate the collar and set the sag on this type of rear shock?

I am having the hardest time adjusting the preload on 929 rear shock on my 98 5th gen VFR. I've gone through 2 CBR OEM spanner wrenches. The spanner wrench fits perfectly inside the collar but as I apply torque it'd slip and eventually the soft metal of the spanner wrench deforms and is no longer usable. All the while I am not able to adjust preload to the highest 3 setting. On the second attempt I even jack up the bike and spray WD-40 where the collar meet the spring but still can't rotate it. What am I doing wrong? Beside the weak CBR OEM spanner wrench, are there other aftermarket spanner wrench that has work for you? Any suggestion would be appreciated.