Lowering Softail HELP!
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Lowering Softail HELP!
I am replacing the studs on my shocks. I understand the whole aspect of it, but have a question. When pressing the shock apart, is there any danger from them being nitrogen filled? Thanx
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Joined: Jan 2008
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From: Pacific Northwest
RE: Lowering Softail HELP!
The answer is no. No danger or damage will occur while pressing it together.
Just a couple of tips:
I just lowered an '07 Heritage. Get a piece of pipe with a dia. that will allow the chrome shock to fit into and long enough that the shock eye won't extend all of the way through. Put it in a press and collapse the spring enough to allow you to remove the snap ring from the inside of the spring enclosure, then slowly release the press.
You can heat the stud with a propane torch for a few seconds to loosen the factory loctite. The HD factory has a man they hired away from the TV show "Gladiators".His name isTy-rade and he'sthe guy that tightens all of the rear suspension bolts on the softails.I made a tool from a 3/4" wrench and an old 1/2" drive socket to remove the rear 3/4" bolts. Cut the wrench about 3" from the box end. Weld the socket to the oppositeendof the box (the end you cut)so you can pop a ratchet in and you'll develop the torque needed to undo Ty-rade's handywork. The use of profane and explicit language in a deep growly voiceis very helpful as well as a very bright flashlight since HD had the foresight to paint everything black underneath (except for the prettychrome shock hidden inside the housing).
There are flats on the stud just ahead of the jam nut at thefront of the spring enclosure. The flats are 9/16" and the jam nut is 1-1/16". Have bandages and aspirin close by.
Hope this helps.
Just a couple of tips:
I just lowered an '07 Heritage. Get a piece of pipe with a dia. that will allow the chrome shock to fit into and long enough that the shock eye won't extend all of the way through. Put it in a press and collapse the spring enough to allow you to remove the snap ring from the inside of the spring enclosure, then slowly release the press.
You can heat the stud with a propane torch for a few seconds to loosen the factory loctite. The HD factory has a man they hired away from the TV show "Gladiators".His name isTy-rade and he'sthe guy that tightens all of the rear suspension bolts on the softails.I made a tool from a 3/4" wrench and an old 1/2" drive socket to remove the rear 3/4" bolts. Cut the wrench about 3" from the box end. Weld the socket to the oppositeendof the box (the end you cut)so you can pop a ratchet in and you'll develop the torque needed to undo Ty-rade's handywork. The use of profane and explicit language in a deep growly voiceis very helpful as well as a very bright flashlight since HD had the foresight to paint everything black underneath (except for the prettychrome shock hidden inside the housing).
There are flats on the stud just ahead of the jam nut at thefront of the spring enclosure. The flats are 9/16" and the jam nut is 1-1/16". Have bandages and aspirin close by.
Hope this helps.
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