Screeching rear spring shock absorber, Buddy 170i

w6euh · Post by **w6euh** » Tue Jul 10, 2018 10:38 pm

Hi all,
My Buddy 170i's rear spring (shock absorber) is making a screeching sound. Should I take it to service, or maybe it's something easy to fix?

Somebody suggested to just spray some lubricant (WD-40) on it... But isn't it so thin that acts as a short-term lubricant and then more like a cleaning agent?

Full disclosure: I'm not mech savvy... I know how to use a wrench, might be able to disassemble something, but have a history of never-reassembled things, and wouldn't want my scooter to be part of that history.

Thanks

BuddyRaton · Post by **BuddyRaton** » Wed Jul 11, 2018 12:48 am

don't use WD 40 as a lubricant. It will lubricate...then collect dust...then dry out.

The first thing I would do is check that all bolts are torqued correctly

I would use a silicone based product. My favorite is Super Slick Stuff.

I would spray with a good lube. be careful and don't get it on your tires. shove a piece of cardboard to keep over spray off them. Bounce the seat a few times, wipe it down, spray it again and see what happens.

If the shock is blown...which would surprise me..it is an easy job to replace.

Keep us updated!

scootERIK · Post by **scootERIK** » Wed Jul 11, 2018 2:25 am

Are you positive that noise is coming from the rear shock?

There is a chance that the noise is coming from the centerstand. The easy way to check is to sit on the scooter and then bounce up and down on the seat, you should here the noise. Now put your left foot on the centerstand tang(the part you push down on to put the scooter on the centerstand.) You want to push it down just enough so that the centerstand is not touching the ground or the scooter. Now bounce up and down on the scooter. If the noise stops then the noise you hear is coming from the centerstand. If you still hear the noise then it is your shock.

w6euh · Post by **w6euh** » Wed Jul 11, 2018 3:09 am

Thanks for the suggestions, BuddyRaton and ScootERIK!

I'll try that tomorrow and will post an update.

GregsBuddy · Post by **GregsBuddy** » Thu Jul 12, 2018 1:31 am

+1 for Scootererik.
It's the centerstand rubber stop rubbing under engine.

w6euh · Post by **w6euh** » Thu Jul 12, 2018 3:25 pm

Thanks again, scootERIK!

Agree with GregsBuddy. You guys were exactly right: it was the center stand!
Problem solved (at least for now) with a paper towel and some chain cleaner/lube borrowed from my stepson's motorcycle.

GregsBuddy · Post by **GregsBuddy** » Thu Jul 12, 2018 5:23 pm

You may have to lube it from time to time.

scootERIK · Post by **scootERIK** » Thu Jul 12, 2018 5:36 pm

I believe that once the rubber bumper wears all the paint off of the part it rubs against the noise stops.

Eventually the centerstands pivots do need to be lubed. Any lube will work to quiet it down. The last time I took mine apart I cleaned it and greased it up with Mobile Synthetic bearing grease and it has been quiet and smooth for over 15k.

Modern Buddy

Screeching rear spring shock absorber, Buddy 170i

Screeching rear spring shock absorber, Buddy 170i

It was the center stand screeching!