hello i have an X reg piaggio zip 50cc and i need to change the rear shock absorer but am struggling please can you help. thanks

lee, June 2009

If you aren't going to use the shock you are going to replace (which I'm guessing you're not), push a pair of vice grips into the spring and latch on to the damping rod, this will stop it spinning. You can the undo the top nut buy using a 13mm socket.

Ben, October 2015

Strip it down and push it to a nearby garage who will impact gun it for you in two seconds, hopefully free....you need to remove battery and cables pushed to one side...it can be seen at bottom of battery box, but once off, it is fiddly to replace nut on new shocker, so I removed side panels, rear light unit, and seat just to have plenty of room...its up to you...once you have stripped your scooter once, it becomes quick and easy so i did...OR borrow a battery powered impact gun off a garage if they will, save pushing it miles...

F Kilmore, May 2013

lee i have worked on loads of zips the battery will need to be reomoved and the battery tray and then you will see a nut on top of the shock,the problem is that it may not undo without turning the damper rod in the shock so you may need to use an impact gun on it to remove it quickly when thats done just undo the bottom bolt in the crankcase should be a 13mm on the left and a 17mm on the back of it.just take that out and the shock will pull out.reversr the procedure to refit the new one.ps there is a small slot in the top of the damper rod but its hard work to hold it and undo the nut at the same time the top nut is a 13mm i think.

adam bike doctor, June 2009

Hi Lee, I assume it's the top bolt/nut your struggling with? I haven't worked on the Zip 50 but most of the single shock 50's are assembled nearly the same. you're going to have to remove the left rear side panel obscuring the top of the shock.
Once that's off you may find that the fuel tank is in the way. if that needs to be completely removed then you will have to drain the tank & take the tubes off it. The removal & installation of the new shock are straightforward enough.
As i advise anyone with limited mechanical knowledge, get a manual, all the info is there & pix to guide you through the job.

steo, June 2009