If the spring is not broken, I have had luck by pressing the shock back to exactly 6-11/16″, and putting it back in service. If the spring is broken, you still need to press it to length before welding.
I took a look at the posted pictures, and can’t find anything obviously wrong. Try to get a good linear measurement and see what you have there. If it is “sprung” then clean it up, and look inside with a high intensity flashlight to check for a break.
Other signs of a broken or “sprung” spring will be “bluing” or darkening at the top of the shock from heat and friction with the bearing and its housing. The bearing and housing may also be flared out from heat and friction at the point of contact. It is that friction that makes the motor wicked hard to rope over when assembled.
Hopefully, yours measures to spec, and the problem is solved.
Improvise-Adapt-Overcome
