Shock Problem

[LAJAMA]

Hi,


I was out riding my 99 Sportsman 500...........it is cold today around 10 degress F and after I was done riding I noticed that my left front shock was stuck in the spring compressed position..........the shock was keeping the spring in a compessed position.................I haven't seen this happen before..........any ideas as to what happened and how to fix it?

Thanks for any help.......

[shui5612]

hm.... 3 possibilities...

1. the spring is "dead" not being able to push the suspension out... fix: new spring.
2. the "suspension" leaked, maybe it let the gas out, or let it on the other side of the chamber so it "pulls" and not "pushes"
(not sure how possible it is on the atvs but seen it happen afew times) fix: new "suspension"
3. it simply froze, or got stuck, like it had a crack or bent on the "shaft" and got
compressed past it, causing it unable to get out of that position. fix: new "suspension"

notice how i say "suspension" by this i do not mean to change out the shock absorber. it might be THE fix. but while you are at it, id switch out the spring and absorber...
in either case you are running up to a free to 400$ fix..

for the free fix, let it sit, preferably in a warm garage, for some time, after that, "jump on the atv" and by this i mean, rock, shake, lift, sit on, etc. try to make it move.
if that doesnt work... in that case you most probably will have to change out the suspension.

hope i helped.

[polman500]

Sounds like you need new strut cartridges...anywhere from around $50 a pair used to $100 each new.