Shock Adjustments ??
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Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 622
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From: Long Island , NY
Shock Adjustments ??
Hello all
Can someone please explain excatly how I go about adjusting my shocks
I went to sears and bought a Rubber Strap wrench - Strapped it to the bottom of the shock the part with the knotches and tryed to turn it and snaped the wrench
So what part of the shocks do you turn ?will it click through the 4 settings ?
Thannks
Can someone please explain excatly how I go about adjusting my shocks
I went to sears and bought a Rubber Strap wrench - Strapped it to the bottom of the shock the part with the knotches and tryed to turn it and snaped the wrench
So what part of the shocks do you turn ?will it click through the 4 settings ?
Thannks
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 4,722
Likes: 7
Can be done easier with a strap wrench or even by hand with the bike or back wheel lifted off the ground. I recommend you get a spanner wrench to do it. I picked one up at a dealer put out by Drag Specialties. Then I got another one included with my shocks when I bought my Progressives.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,724
Likes: 205
From: ORYGON
Hello all
Can someone please explain excatly how I go about adjusting my shocks
I went to sears and bought a Rubber Strap wrench - Strapped it to the bottom of the shock the part with the knotches and tryed to turn it and snaped the wrench
So what part of the shocks do you turn ?will it click through the 4 settings ?
Thannks
Can someone please explain excatly how I go about adjusting my shocks
I went to sears and bought a Rubber Strap wrench - Strapped it to the bottom of the shock the part with the knotches and tryed to turn it and snaped the wrench
So what part of the shocks do you turn ?will it click through the 4 settings ?
Thannks
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 493
Likes: 0
From: Newfoundland, Canada
Harley didn't include the shock adjusting tool (something that you may use almost daily) so I figgered it must cost about $10,000 or sumptin'...then again, if it cost 10 cents, they would probably not include it..so I don't have one.. I'll prolly get one later but I'll try the hand (not the ball peen hammer and ball bearing) method...Which way do I turn them to carry extra load..to my right or left?? .. Clockwise or counter clockwise looking down..(or any way you can make it "idiot proof")
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Bill
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Bill
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 4,722
Likes: 7
You have to adjust your shocks daily? Once I got mine set like I like them, they haven't been changed.
It's called a spanner wrench. It's shaped sort of like a Y and some are either solid or some have sort of a scissor action to them.
You should be able to tell by looking up under the shocks which way to turn them to increase or decrease the "preload". The tighter you make the spring, the more preload you have. If you can't tell by looking, then the answer is no to making them idiot proof. :-)
It's called a spanner wrench. It's shaped sort of like a Y and some are either solid or some have sort of a scissor action to them.
You should be able to tell by looking up under the shocks which way to turn them to increase or decrease the "preload". The tighter you make the spring, the more preload you have. If you can't tell by looking, then the answer is no to making them idiot proof. :-)
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Tourer
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 493
Likes: 0
From: Newfoundland, Canada
So your shocks are the same, when you are riding two-up or alone???...ooooops ...you don't have a passenger seat...guess you ride alone..some guys would look at my bike and see that I sometimes ride two-up..
I like mine a little stiffer when riding with someone on the back...a little softer when riding alone..(and that ain't a sexual thing) but that's just me I guess..
Last edited by '09fxdb; Aug 17, 2009 at 10:00 PM.
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2007
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I have progressive 412 heavy duty 12" shocks. I do have a passenger seat, I just only use it when I carry a passenger and I haven't found that my shocks need adjusting when I do. That's not true for everyone, I realize, but daily? -come on. LOL
And it should be no surprise to any of us that the moco doesn't give a lot of extra stuff with the bike. They are experts at making something just attractive enough to buy knowing you will be back to purchase more stuff, either because you need it or want it. With that said, however, I'm not even sure they sell a spanner wrench. Most dealers do, but they aren't HD brand that I've seen.
As for which way to turn them, no I don't remember without looking. But I do remember that, when you do look, it's very obvious, or should be, which way to turn them for the desired result.
And it should be no surprise to any of us that the moco doesn't give a lot of extra stuff with the bike. They are experts at making something just attractive enough to buy knowing you will be back to purchase more stuff, either because you need it or want it. With that said, however, I'm not even sure they sell a spanner wrench. Most dealers do, but they aren't HD brand that I've seen.
As for which way to turn them, no I don't remember without looking. But I do remember that, when you do look, it's very obvious, or should be, which way to turn them for the desired result.