Maintenance & Technical > KX500 Original

1998 KX500 | OEM Spec Build

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manco:
When putting the rear suspension linkage in I noticed that the parts diagram for the KX500 shows the lower rear shock rebound dampening facing left instead of to the right. Most KX500 in pictures show just the opposite with the rebound adjuster on the right. I have the shock in with the rebound to the right now. Seems straight. Doesn't make sense though with the upper rear shock mount biased to the right. Does anyone know what the official correct install is?

Parts diagram shows rebound to left.





Most KX500s have the rebound to the right.




Which way should it go?

manco:
I did some more looking into the direction of the rear shock mount. I can see no reason the lower mount can't be mounted in either direction. The dampening side of the mount is shaved from the outside to make room for the top of the bolt. The mount is centered to the shock rod and both sides of the mount are approx 12mm thick. I was looking at the mount earlier thinking the skinnier thickness of one side biased the mounting that direction but this is incorrect. Regardless of direction of the mount its centered where it is supposed to be either way.

I am gonna follow the parts diagram and mount the dampening controls to the left. That way all bolts are going the same direction. For some reason I think I read in a service manual for XT600s that mounting bolts should go in certain directions for different areas of a bike due to forces of energy created by engine torque causing bolts to loosen if mounted one way or another. Thing of it is all XT600 engine bolts are left to right and suspension right to left while KX500 is the opposite. Torque characteristics of 4T vs 2T? Then again maybe bolts just go the way they do because the assembly line at the factory is setup how it is? Maybe the dampening control was put to right over the years just to show the control in marketing pictures of the right side shock with its compression control too? I wonder what the engineers had in mind making the parts diagram show the dampening on the left? Bolt direction must have played a part as the 3d orientation of the diagram is pretty clearly marked with all bolts coming in from the left.






Dampening control is following parts diagram, facing left.

manco:
Been a while since I had time and space to wrench on this project. I got distracted over the summer with other bike projects. Now back on track and getting the KX500 back together.

450 OX:
looking good so far! question where did you purchase the silicone coolant hoses? Id like to get a set for myself.

Polar-Bus:
Nice job ! I put my rear shock in 180 degrees the wround way once as well, I believe the problem is if you install backwards it's a real PIA to access the dampening adjuster screw. Something will obscure access to the screw. I can't remember the exact scenario as I did this mistake many years ago..

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