Ohlins install help....
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Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 197
Likes: 3
From: Texas
Ohlins install help....
I've already talked with Howard a couple of times today but now it's getting late so I'm asking ya'll. I'm having trouble installing my new #6 ohlins. Earlier today I had trouble lining up the eyes on the shocks with bolt holes on the bike. After calling Howard he suggested loosening the right side muffler because the axle was hitting the pipes and viola the left shock slipped on. The freaking right side shock is now giving me hell. The muffler is still loose but it's not lining up. In Howard's instructions he has a diagram showing a height adjustment nut, but doesn't mention it anywhere. It looks like if I ran the bottom eye up into the shock utilizing the nut I could get it to line up. I'm getting frustrated because I know it's something simple.... Help
Tourer
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 337
Likes: 30
From: SLC, UT
Do you have the lower bolt tightened up? It looks like the shock is just a tad short because it's "tipped" slightly in the picture. Can you loosen it slightly and moved the shock out just a bit to straighten it out and therefore shorten the length needed to get it lined up? Since you have the shock on on the other side, it doesn't seem like you'd be able to jack the wheel up much, but that could be the next thing to try - if the wheel is slightly dropped on that side, you may be able to lift/straighten it.
Let us know how you make out - I'll be putting my new shocks on tomorrow so will watch this with interest.
Also, what torque spec are you using for the 1/2"-13 bolts?
My shocks look as though they already have some preload on them, did yours come ore-set? In the instructions I have it says they will start out with almost no preload, but I'm wondering if those instructions are out of date.
Let us know how you make out - I'll be putting my new shocks on tomorrow so will watch this with interest.
Also, what torque spec are you using for the 1/2"-13 bolts?
My shocks look as though they already have some preload on them, did yours come ore-set? In the instructions I have it says they will start out with almost no preload, but I'm wondering if those instructions are out of date.
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Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 197
Likes: 3
From: Texas
I took the right side muffler completely off to eliminate that possibility. Then instead of bolting the bottom first I did the top first and low and behold it worked.. Lol.
Checked the sag with wheel off the ground and got 359 mm (r1), bike set back down with no rider 340mm (r2), with me on it 329mm (r3). Howard's site has my shock stroke at 93mm..1/3 of that is 31.
My 359mm minus the 329mm gives me 30mm. I guess I'm right on target and I didn't adjust anything? Damn, Howard is awesome!
Checked the sag with wheel off the ground and got 359 mm (r1), bike set back down with no rider 340mm (r2), with me on it 329mm (r3). Howard's site has my shock stroke at 93mm..1/3 of that is 31.
My 359mm minus the 329mm gives me 30mm. I guess I'm right on target and I didn't adjust anything? Damn, Howard is awesome!
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From: Eastern NE
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Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 197
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From: Texas
For installing it was off the ground but did use the jack to fine tune to bring everything into line. The shocks I got from motorcycle metal are the #6s, I had the extra cash so I figured what the hell why not buy the best.
Woke up fresh this morning and with the wife sitting on it with me, I threw a saddle bag in the tp and had her hold the other and I had my son measure the sag for us. I had to tighten the collar 13 rounds to get us in the 1/3 stroke spot.
Both the rebound and the compression came at 12 clicks from full closed , during our ride we agreed upon 15 clicks on the rebound and 14 on the compression. I do want to try the zip tie test but it's too dang hot right now.
Oh yeah, the wife hit me up the side of the head and asked why didn't we get these sooner. She said "it's like Butta."
Woke up fresh this morning and with the wife sitting on it with me, I threw a saddle bag in the tp and had her hold the other and I had my son measure the sag for us. I had to tighten the collar 13 rounds to get us in the 1/3 stroke spot.
Both the rebound and the compression came at 12 clicks from full closed , during our ride we agreed upon 15 clicks on the rebound and 14 on the compression. I do want to try the zip tie test but it's too dang hot right now.
Oh yeah, the wife hit me up the side of the head and asked why didn't we get these sooner. She said "it's like Butta."
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Former Sponsor
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 5,360
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From: Davie, FL
Scratch the ol' noggin first!
I've already talked with Howard a couple of times today but now it's getting late so I'm asking ya'll. I'm having trouble installing my new #6 ohlins. Earlier today I had trouble lining up the eyes on the shocks with bolt holes on the bike. After calling Howard he suggested loosening the right side muffler because the axle was hitting the pipes and viola the left shock slipped on. The freaking right side shock is now giving me hell. The muffler is still loose but it's not lining up. In Howard's instructions he has a diagram showing a height adjustment nut, but doesn't mention it anywhere. It looks like if I ran the bottom eye up into the shock utilizing the nut I could get it to line up. I'm getting frustrated because I know it's something simple.... Help
When this is the case and your swing arm is askew it takes some out of the box thinking to get it right.
Adjustable end eyes, like you have:
With the bottom end eye bolted to the swing arm: Loosen the 19mm blue check nut than take a 17mm open end low tirque wrench (thin) and turn (lefty Loosie) the shaft and piston (ya, it turns), threading up the adjustable end eye up into the fixture while holding fast the top end eye/top cap/body/spring from turning. When the bolt is exactly aligned up to the mounting boss/bung so no cross threading will happen, tighten up the top mounting shock bolt, than hold the 17mm hex fixture and tighten up the blue 19mm check nut to lock er' down. Result: the one shock is shorter than the A side (in your case) to make up for the swing arm not being exactly straight with the frame.
Non-Adjustable end eyes:
Fine out which is the (longest) shock and install that one first. Now let down the jack so the second (shorter) shock bolt aligns up with the mounting hole.
Last edited by FastHarley; Sep 6, 2014 at 07:35 PM.
Former Sponsor
Joined: Apr 2007
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From: Davie, FL
P.S.
I told you that I was working all day. I told you to call me if you experience any more drama and I would tell you the short cut. I said that helping you was my job, my duty to you and I would have not be bothered, so do not be shy. I believe I said this early this AM.
I am not telling you what to do. Some men would keep the GPS in the glove compartment and figure out your location and the path on how to get there themselves. I understand that and I told you w had no shock police in your area. Do what you like and what makes you happy. I do not wish to tell you how many of my customers told me their local so called expert "Wrench" could not mount the Ressys on a 2014 bagger. Your install looks very sanitary except for moving the top ressy hose clamp down to the bottom "step/smaller diameter" by drilling the ressy mounting hole closer to the bottom hose clamp as I said earlier this am. If you want people pointing and laughing as you pass by at your askew hose clamps, that is up to you. BTW, that large hole looking from behind is behind the sadle bag and can not be seen.
I am not telling you what to do. Some men would keep the GPS in the glove compartment and figure out your location and the path on how to get there themselves. I understand that and I told you w had no shock police in your area. Do what you like and what makes you happy. I do not wish to tell you how many of my customers told me their local so called expert "Wrench" could not mount the Ressys on a 2014 bagger. Your install looks very sanitary except for moving the top ressy hose clamp down to the bottom "step/smaller diameter" by drilling the ressy mounting hole closer to the bottom hose clamp as I said earlier this am. If you want people pointing and laughing as you pass by at your askew hose clamps, that is up to you. BTW, that large hole looking from behind is behind the sadle bag and can not be seen.