Shotgun install Question on a SOFTAIL
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Cruiser
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 142
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From: Central Pa
Shotgun install Question on a SOFTAIL
The UPS guy was good to me this morning and dropped off a box I have been waiting for
Anyway, for those of you who have already installed these....in the instructions when you are mounting the shocks it says to "make sure rubber shock dampeners are positioned on front frame mounts", are these dampeners suppose to come with the kit or are they already on the bike with the stock suspension? I want to start on this ASAP (my day off) but do not want to tear my bike apart if there is something that I am missing before I start. I would have given JD a call and ask but it is pretty early out there in CA.
Also, does anyone know of a link or post with detailed pics of the install, particularly on how the harness is routed and the switches and relay are mounted?
Last edited by Das_Fatboy; Apr 11, 2012 at 08:29 AM. Reason: Added another question.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 3,891
Likes: 54
From: Mansfield, MA
About to do mine in the next week or so..
All the air ride threads have been moved here...
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/air-suspensions-155/
All the air ride threads have been moved here...
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/air-suspensions-155/
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 142
Likes: 0
From: Central Pa
About to do mine in the next week or so..
All the air ride threads have been moved here...
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/air-suspensions-155/
All the air ride threads have been moved here...
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/air-suspensions-155/
And I was hoping to get a quick response...and it is specific to softails
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Cruiser
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 142
Likes: 0
From: Central Pa
Novice
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
From: Sask, Canada
the rubber bushings that you need are already mounted to your stock shocks, so when you pull them off just put them back on the same way with the shotgun.
for the wiring harness i grabbed about 3-4" of split loom to cover the wires that were not covered coming out of the relay, and i mounted the relay to the starter. if you looking at the starter there is a small nut near the bottom of the plate (3/8" socket) i spun the relay around so the mounting side (flat side) was facing out and took a small file to just curve the plastic and it fit great.
then i ran the wire up into the battery box by zip tying it with all the other wires along to the left of the starter and into the box.
for the switches they mount just above the horn and i ran the wires along the back bone and zip tied it in place......you don't see any of the wiring and the relay is not noticeable unless you know it's there.
one other thing i should mention, i could not mount the compressor the way they show in the instructions. the compressor head was hitting the tranny and would not let me mount the shocks, so i turned the compressor in it's bracket and now it's mounted with the compressor pointed towards the rear tire.
when you look at the instruction picture it shows the compressor head (finned part attached to the round part clamped in the bracket) towards the front of the bike, this one now has the finned part pointing to the back of the bike and fits between the splash guard and the lower mount on the swing arm.
sorry for the long post, but i don't have any pics as this was not my bike so i tried to make it easy to understand lol....oh and it was a 2006 deluxe.
for the wiring harness i grabbed about 3-4" of split loom to cover the wires that were not covered coming out of the relay, and i mounted the relay to the starter. if you looking at the starter there is a small nut near the bottom of the plate (3/8" socket) i spun the relay around so the mounting side (flat side) was facing out and took a small file to just curve the plastic and it fit great.
then i ran the wire up into the battery box by zip tying it with all the other wires along to the left of the starter and into the box.
for the switches they mount just above the horn and i ran the wires along the back bone and zip tied it in place......you don't see any of the wiring and the relay is not noticeable unless you know it's there.
one other thing i should mention, i could not mount the compressor the way they show in the instructions. the compressor head was hitting the tranny and would not let me mount the shocks, so i turned the compressor in it's bracket and now it's mounted with the compressor pointed towards the rear tire.
when you look at the instruction picture it shows the compressor head (finned part attached to the round part clamped in the bracket) towards the front of the bike, this one now has the finned part pointing to the back of the bike and fits between the splash guard and the lower mount on the swing arm.
sorry for the long post, but i don't have any pics as this was not my bike so i tried to make it easy to understand lol....oh and it was a 2006 deluxe.
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,855
Likes: 3
From: North Carolina
When you go to mount the compressor loosen the pinch clamp that is used to mount the compressor. This will let you rotate the compressor down while still in the mounting clamp. Once you mount the bracket and compressor, you the rotate and or slide the compressor units bracket so that it will fit the way it is suppose to with the compressor head facing forward.
You'll understand it once you begin your install and when I get home I can forward you a link to my build tread that had a couple pictures that may help clear that up a little.
Yea, it is unfortunate that these treads get moved to the basement where they are normally never seen. I've never understood that because they are relevant to the forum topic. And if this is the standard then all performance type threads should be moved to the appropriate area IMHO. Not a suggestion but a scary thought that all threads could be moved to an area that doesn't necessarily pertain to "Softails" and to areas most of us who call this home, never go to. lol
You'll understand it once you begin your install and when I get home I can forward you a link to my build tread that had a couple pictures that may help clear that up a little.
Yea, it is unfortunate that these treads get moved to the basement where they are normally never seen. I've never understood that because they are relevant to the forum topic. And if this is the standard then all performance type threads should be moved to the appropriate area IMHO. Not a suggestion but a scary thought that all threads could be moved to an area that doesn't necessarily pertain to "Softails" and to areas most of us who call this home, never go to. lol
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Novice
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 17
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From: Sask, Canada
When you go to mount the compressor loosen the pinch clamp that is used to mount the compressor. This will let you rotate the compressor down while still in the mounting clamp. Once you mount the bracket and compressor, you the rotate and or slide the compressor units bracket so that it will fit the way it is suppose to with the compressor head facing forward.
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Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 142
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From: Central Pa
Thanks for all of the great info. I have the old shocks off already, the shoulder bolts were not a problem as far as I was concerned, I just used a rubber mallet to hit the wrench to break them loose. The hardest part was running back to get a fresh coffee and print new instructions after I spilled it 
One other quick question, as you are standing at the rear of the bike looking forward, which part of the battery box is the best side to run the wires up thru...it all looks congested in there? LF, LR, RF or RR?
One other quick question, as you are standing at the rear of the bike looking forward, which part of the battery box is the best side to run the wires up thru...it all looks congested in there? LF, LR, RF or RR?
The compressor will mount in eithier direction , but mounting with heaed on right side facing forward will allow for better clearance with splash guard. Route wiring after shock body is installed. Attach shock body to swingarm, while in verticle position, now plug in air line and direct line away from belt as shown in picture.