Shock Preload Adjuster Question

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May 4, 2023 | 05:45 PM

pjbuilder

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From: Illinois

Shock Preload Adjuster Question

I bought a stock 13" tall shock from a forum member that came off of a low rider ST to replace my sport glide shock. The ST Shock has the a preload adjuster that mounts beneath the seat. My sport glide has the preload adjuster that mounts on the side of the bike. Instead of compressing the shock spring and moving the entire preload adjuster to the new shock, as some forum members have done, I'm thinking there may be a way to change out just the adjuster from one to the other without much loss of fluid.

If you have any experience doing this or can offer any definitive advise as to whether it's possible or not to do this, I'd love to hear from you.

Thanks,

May 6, 2023 | 05:37 PM

pjbuilder

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From: Illinois

I answered my own question.

Changed out my stock Sport Glide shock today with a 13" shock from a Low Rider ST. I was able to swap the pre-load adjuster from my Sport Glide shock to the ST shock without dismantling the shocks or compressing the springs. Both swapped adjusters on the new and existing shock work as before with no leaking. Original banjo bolt crush washers were used as well. I left the new one on a pre-load of 4 and went for a ride, just in case it might leak under pressure for any length of time. So far so good.

May 8, 2023 | 06:11 PM

natural gasser

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From: In the mountains

Quote:

Originally Posted by pjbuilder

You didn't lose any oil when you loosened the banjo bolt? I got a shock off a ST and when the banjo bolt was loosened to move the line a little, a small amount of fluid came out.

May 8, 2023 | 09:14 PM

pjbuilder

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From: Illinois

Quote:

Originally Posted by natural gasser

You didn't lose any oil when you loosened the banjo bolt? I got a shock off a ST and when the banjo bolt was loosened to move the line a little, a small amount of fluid came out.

I first changed the setting of each adjuster to the lowest setting to reduce pressure in the line. Then I placed each shock vertically in a vise with the top of the shock up and the adjuster reservoir hanging down. I only removed each line from the shock, not the remote adjuster. I immediately swapped the sport glide line and adjuster to the new ST shock. For the entire few seconds it took to make the change the reservoir (remote adjuster) was hanging down so as to not let any fluid escape by gravity.

When I disconnected the line from my Sport Glide shock, not one drop of fluid came out. When I disconnected the line from the ST shock, literally, a drop of fluid came out. I tightened each banjo bolt and tested each one to make sure it still functioned. It's possible the loss of a drop of fluid could reduce the overall function of the adjuster but after two rides and over 48 hours I haven't seen or felt any change in the preload. I'm thinking one way to know for certain would be to mark the the location of the preload ring on the shock at any given setting and check it again in the future.

I had planned to take the shock apart like some on the forum have done but was running into too many issues getting the correct tool to compress the spring. If it didn't work, worst case scenario, I was buying a new shock.