Fontana / FAC Shock rebuild

grahasp

New member
Location
San Diego, USA
Would anyone happen to know where I could get my hands on a rebuild kit, or any information on rebuilding my Fontana / FAC shocks?

I love these shocks, they were supplied by Lance Weil years ago, and I see them as part of the bike's history (Lance rebuilt the bike back in the '90's), but they are starting to weep, and I'd prefer to be armed with some info (and preferably seals) before pulling them apart. Shaft diameter is 11mm.

Any info greatly appreciated!!

Cheers ...... Simon
 
Says San Diego on Simon's profile.

By the way, this forum seems to be using up many of the available Simons in the world. There were times when I was the only one!
 
Sorry for the silence, got distracted from bike projects ........ something crappy called work!!

Thanks for your replies, I'll try Stein-Dinse for the seals.

Hopefully they can provide other information too on oil quantity, viscosity, etc.

Cheers ...... Simon
 
Unfortunately no luck with Stein-Dinse. They only sell complete FAC Dampers, and I suspect this is a different company than the FAC I'm  trying to find parts for ..... mine being "Fabbrica Ammortizzatori Cremona", which I believe have long ago shut shop. These shocks were sold as 'Fontana' brand ....... so if anyone does have any leads, please let me know. I attached a photo of the shock.

Cheers ..... Simon
 

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I'd doubt if the seals will be anything special. Once you've sorted the sizes you need, as has already been suggested, a generic seal and O ring supplier should be able to help.
Wouldn't surprise me if they were only single lip seals - if there's double lip available in that size, use it.
 
Thanks for the feedback ...... I was reluctant to pull the shocks apart with zero information, but it looks like that might be the only way, then shop for seals once I have the sizes.

I sent Phil an email in the hope that maybe he still has some info kicking around.

Cheers ..... Simon
 
Wow - those are some truly gorgeous shocks! What's the eye-to-eye length on 'em?

I love how they've got the modern threaded preload adjuster rather than the usual stepped ring, yet the body shape is quite clearly a Classic '70s-'80s design ethos/pathos. Just the type of thing I'd want on the bike. And no piggyback! Which is a good thing, as I won't have to worry about the reservoir interfering with me rear caliper as was the case with the P.O.'s set-up. Just a win/win/win all 'round, ticks all of my boxes.

Got a link to Stein Ginse (visualizing a Ginzu knife cutting through a beer stein for a handy mnemonic device) They're selling something different? I suppose that means there's not much hope of finding ANOTHER pair of 'em, then? Don't suppose they're CHEAP, either!

MY suggestion, would be to send 'em off to a suspension specialist, somebody used to servicing OHLINS & the like. 'Cause they'll have a full complement of odd seals & internals, and might even have the wherewithal to IMPROVE upon the basic design. You could give 'em your critical dimensions, bike weight & speed & power etc, rider weight with/without passenger luggage etc - You could get 'em back TUNED not just rebuilt. And I'm sure a true professional/aficionado would welcome an oddball shock on their workbench rather than just more of the same dirt-bike rear mono-shock units etc. Seriously though. I mean, it's interesting to dig into this stuff, and I've got the DIY bug as bad as anybody, but there's no denying the value in having 'em done professionally. With some extra tweaks & mods?

This is why I'm searching the Laverda forum, as it happens. I recall there was some discussion of rebuilding the Marzocchi Strada-II shocks - with an extended length cap/head at the top! And/or the prospect of the Strada-ONE shocks, with the fins, rebuild with the mark-2 type thicker dampener rod & shim-stack etc - Basically a Strada-II shock inside the body of a Strada-I shock. Which has massive appeal to me personally, if only for aesthetic reasons.

Heck what I'd REALLY like to see would be some of the Marzocchi features transferred over to the DOHC-4 Honda OEM shocks! A Schraeder valve (or better yet Presta valve) so they can be more easily re-pressurized, & therefore rebuilt? Heck yeah, that'd be ideal for my Honda project, for starters.

As for the Marzocchi Strada-II shocks, the obvious next-level development for THEM, would be to modify 'em in the guise of the works shocks from the Laverda V-6! Realizing they've got extra piggyback reservoirs & everything, nevertheless I'm sure there's SOME way of carrying it off? If not a Marzo' OEM style piggyback, at the very least a threaded-on reservoir or remote reservoir?

As a HONDA nut, I look at the Laverda V-6 and I can't help but think "Hmmmmm - I wonder what would the Honda ST1100 look, with a total bodywork make-over and wheel-swap....."

But the SHOCKS would at least be a first step, a bold start! Obviously, any ST1100-based pseudo-replica would HAVE to include some works-style double-piggyback (piggyback and baby-carrier?) Marzo' shock set! Of course they'd also look pretty damn awesome on an RGS1200 based SFC Endurance Racer......



-Sigh.
 
SoyBoySigh said:
As a HONDA nut, I look at the Laverda V-6 and I can't help but think "Hmmmmm - I wonder what would the Honda ST1100 look, with a total bodywork make-over and wheel-swap....

-Sigh.

Not exactly the V6 rep you referred to but it's had the body swap & a change of wheels. Bit of work to do to fit twin piggybacks.
 
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