1998 Rear Shock Compression adjustment

[Razor36]

Hello all! I purchased a 1998 220 over the summer with the rear shock compression clicker backed all the way off tightly on the softest setting- and then some lol. It’s stuck that way. Previous owner buggered up the head of the brass screw pretty bad and I can’t get it to budge. Tried PB Blaster soaking and all of that stuff with no success. Any suggestions other than a rebuild? Rebound clicker works perfectly. I don’t understand why people have to try to force things beyond a stopping point!

[Chuck78]

Welcome to the forum, & congratulations on the bike purchase!

I would imagine that the adjuster is jammed or broken internally. I would suggest finding a used shock to rebuild and update the valving shim stack configuration on, and swapping out the spring if 5.0kg does not suit your body weight (175-195lbs is suitable for the stock spring, oddly the stock fork springs up front are suited for a 135lb rider, an interesting mismatch done for some unconventional but intentional reason).

The adjuster is jammed or broken internally most likely, and is not something that would seize in place from corrosion etc

Huge gains in handling are to be had from suspension revalving and proper spring rates for the rider's weight, and are some of the best mods to do to a bike beyond keeping up on proper maintenance and jetting the bike properly for it's setup, elevation, premix oil used and premix ratio etc.