coil shock body will not compress or extend - new 2019 fox van

[Dee Scee]

so, i just received my fox fan from winstanley's bikes - shipped from UK to CA. i am unable to push it in or out at all. i can twist it but just barely and it's super stiff. is this normal? this is the funniest post i've ever made but i'm so not laughing! (reddit?) i'm really hoping i don't have to ship it back or to fox. meh. to be clear, it's just the body, it actually won't compress enough to get the spring and retainer on it.

 

[cozzy]

I changed the spring recently on my van. Yeah it's pretty stiff with no spring. Wind out the rebound and compression and it should be easier to compress.

 

[Dee Scee]

have you ever gotten a new coil shock and tried to slide the shaft in and out just in your hands? i can't get it to move. surely something is wrong here...

 

[Dee Scee]

I changed the spring recently on my van. Yeah it's pretty stiff with no spring. Wind out the rebound and compression and it should be easier to compress.

both all the way open and it's not just stiff or damped, i cannot move it as hard as i try. if i try to even rotate the shaft, i can a little bit but it feels VERY stiff. thank you cozzy