Betor Shock Absorbers

[Tony Smith]

Back in the day when I last had anything to do with Betors (Bultaco tragic) the saying went that "Betor shocks are better than nothing, but not by much".

Given that I once replaced a set of Betors with a set of FVQ (fade very quickly) shocks from a Honda and counted it as an "upgrade" you will get the idea of the esteem in which I held them.

I have just ordered a set of Betor rebuildable gas shockies with heavy duty springs and a spare seal kit,  direct from the factory in Spain. The price of Euro 170 including post had a bit to do with it, but I figure that if needs must I can fiddle with fluid weight/quantity and gas pressure to improve them. Given the price of Ikons (which would have been my first choice) I have some latitude as the Betors are only a little over 50% of the Ikon price.

Once they arrive and I have them fitted I will provide a further report.

[Justin B.]

It should be pretty easy to play with different oils.  I have had several MGBGTs and they have "serviceable" shocks all 'round and I used to just run different weight motor oil in 'em.  Usually straight 20w or 30w - I suppose if you wanted a luxo ride you could use ATF...

[Luca]

Justin, the best part about those armstrong lever action shocks is when they stop leaking, you know it's time to add more oil!

(Sorry, I couldn't help myself.  I spent a year as a mechanic's assistant working on British cars, mostly MG)

[Tony Smith]

Justin, the best part about those armstrong lever action shocks is when they stop leaking, you know it's time to add more oil!

(Sorry, I couldn't help myself.  I spent a year as a mechanic's assistant working on British cars, mostly MG)

Armstrong lever action shocks deserve an entire chapter all to themselves in the book entitled "English Automotive Engineering Depravity". The sunbeam alpine I once owned was afflicted with the accursed things.


You can tell I am a fan can't you.......

[Tony Smith]

On the original topic of Betor shocks


They arrived three weeks ago and have been sitting on my workbench waiting for me to unbox and fit.


It's been hot.

[Luca]

Pretty sure they were originally an American design, we just binned them for some of the obvious reasons.  MGA's, by the way, have four tapped holes on each side of the front crossmember.  Those holes are used to mount the lever action shocks, which are also the front upper control arms.  It's not too uncommon to find that those threads strip or the bolts happen to loosen up over time.

Tony, I'll trade you 40 degrees F for 5/8 of the salt on our roads.

[Tony Smith]

Tony, I'll trade you 40 degrees F for 5/8 of the salt on our roads.

I'd take that except my time in England taught me the value of putting salt on roads as a means of enforcing regular turnover in the national vehicle fleet.


Also there is a change coming. today it will be 38 degrees of the Celcius variety, however tonight the winds change from westerly to South-Easterly and tomorrow's forecast is for 32 degrees only. But the really good part is that the nights will drop to 24 degrees instead of staying plus 30 as they have for the past week.

i do not know what other people who live here do, but we have assured the local electricity supplier's profitability running every air-conditoner in the house.


Yesterday when I hopped into the car to come home and the thermometer in the instrument binnacle said it was 54 degrees

[Tony Smith]

The Betors are fitted and I am happy with them.

They listened to me and fitted the correct rate springs - with me alone on the bike I need only the second adjustment stop to get the target 1" drop. The damping is a little light, but not at present bad enough for me to do anything about it. Down the track I will mod the shock bodies so that I can easily change fluid but for the present prepping the KLE for an 4 day adventure ride is occupying my spare time.
 
If anyone else is interested, the wife and I are heading to the Stockman's hall of fame in Longreach some time in June/July. If anyone else is interested we can firm up some dates.

[Semper Gumby]

I have set of Falcon shocks on the Montesa trails bike.  Very happy with those.  If been installing Hagons on the BSAs and have just put a set of slimline on a Honda 350 4 cylinder for my son.  I have been really happy with the Hagons as they have sent me springs on the road far from home when I realized I had the wrong springs on the overloaded BSA.  The spring were drop ship gratis to a campground in California where I was staying.  I asked them about the other springs that came off the shocks and they replied, "oh just ship them to us when you get home from the trip."  Anybody that goes out of there way to help me on the road is going to get my business as well as my eternal gratitude. [smiley=thumbsup.gif]

Btw - the yuge progressive shocks I installed on my R65LT 15 years ago are still working fine.