Suspension?
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4th Gear
Joined: Jun 2024
Posts: 8
Likes: 1
From: Georgia
Suspension?
My 1992 FLSTC sits about one inch from the ground. I'd like to have it sit like it did when new but but don't know how to raise it. I see others that sit about 5 inches higher. I need help from someone with more experience than I have. (which is next to none). Thanks.
HDF Community Team
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 6,186
Likes: 2,412
From: USA
Sounds like your bike is slammed, for appearances.
It's also quite possible you've got an air suspension, particularly on the rear. Physically look the shocks over for an air line coming from them. Follow that line to the other end. You'd either find a valve fitting that you'd use and air hose on, or a compressor hiding on the bike.
Anyhow, reinstalling the stock shocks and springs would get you back to the stock ride height.
It's also quite possible you've got an air suspension, particularly on the rear. Physically look the shocks over for an air line coming from them. Follow that line to the other end. You'd either find a valve fitting that you'd use and air hose on, or a compressor hiding on the bike.
Anyhow, reinstalling the stock shocks and springs would get you back to the stock ride height.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 14,061
Likes: 11,080
From: San Diego, CA
Sure sounds like you have a lowering kit on your shocks
Do you have a shop press.....?
Some lowering kits need a press to install the lowering kits. So you can first try to adjust the bike to its highest adjustment with the lowering kit and see if that is acceptable.
You may have one of the kits like this:
https://www.denniskirk.com/la-choppe...prd/583403.sku
A link to the install instructions is in the ad, so you can see how they are attached.
You'll need to get some OEM hardware and replace the "lowering kit" with a press.
Your other choice would be to buy some replacement shocks and just swap out the shocks.. Be aware that some years of softails, replacement shocks are hard to come by. I can't remember the years..
Good luck with your ride height adjustment.
Do you have a shop press.....?
Some lowering kits need a press to install the lowering kits. So you can first try to adjust the bike to its highest adjustment with the lowering kit and see if that is acceptable.
You may have one of the kits like this:
https://www.denniskirk.com/la-choppe...prd/583403.sku
A link to the install instructions is in the ad, so you can see how they are attached.
You'll need to get some OEM hardware and replace the "lowering kit" with a press.
Your other choice would be to buy some replacement shocks and just swap out the shocks.. Be aware that some years of softails, replacement shocks are hard to come by. I can't remember the years..
Good luck with your ride height adjustment.
Last edited by hattitude; Jun 19, 2024 at 08:49 AM.
HDF Community Team
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 6,186
Likes: 2,412
From: USA
Or do you just mean you see no air lines?
Thread Starter
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4th Gear
Joined: Jun 2024
Posts: 8
Likes: 1
From: Georgia
This bike was just about ready to be put in a basket when I got it. The bottom two shocks are disconnected. It sounds like that's going to be my problem. There are no airlines I can find.
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HDF Community Team
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 6,186
Likes: 2,412
From: USA
Ah, so it's a project that you get to put back together. OK.
So, I would jack the bike up in order to be able to work under it. Yep, it'll be a pain, especially if working alone.
Then I'd examine the shocks on there, to figure out what they are, and what's involved in reattaching them. Hopefully you've all the hardware you need. If not, buy it. Then, reattach the shocks and see where it puts you.
If you've more reassembly to get to a complete and running bike, I'd probably do all that, just to get it running, to ride it, and decide from that point where I want to go with it.
So, I would jack the bike up in order to be able to work under it. Yep, it'll be a pain, especially if working alone.
Then I'd examine the shocks on there, to figure out what they are, and what's involved in reattaching them. Hopefully you've all the hardware you need. If not, buy it. Then, reattach the shocks and see where it puts you.
If you've more reassembly to get to a complete and running bike, I'd probably do all that, just to get it running, to ride it, and decide from that point where I want to go with it.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 14,061
Likes: 11,080
From: San Diego, CA
If you are putting the bike back together, I would also make good use of either the online parts finder, or actually buy a Harley Parts Catalog for your year/model bike.
I personally like the catalog I can hold in my hand, but it's the same pics/parts as the online partsfinder. The exploded diagrams help me understand what I need to do, when working on a system I have little experience with.
And of course, you should get a copy of the Harley Factory Service Manual for your year/model. If the MoCo no longer sells them new (you'd be surprised how many older ones they still have available), you can search eBay for a good used one.
Here is the online parts finder:
https://www.harley-davidson.com/us/e...&gclsrc=aw.ds#
I personally like the catalog I can hold in my hand, but it's the same pics/parts as the online partsfinder. The exploded diagrams help me understand what I need to do, when working on a system I have little experience with.
And of course, you should get a copy of the Harley Factory Service Manual for your year/model. If the MoCo no longer sells them new (you'd be surprised how many older ones they still have available), you can search eBay for a good used one.
Here is the online parts finder:
https://www.harley-davidson.com/us/e...&gclsrc=aw.ds#
Last edited by hattitude; Jun 21, 2024 at 08:17 AM.
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 1,276
Likes: 1,018
From: Eastern Ont.
https://partsfinder.onlinemicrofiche...rleydavidsonmc
U can also check out this website as well. It is a very handy. Its Ronnies Harley Davidson. Hopefully the link works.
U can also check out this website as well. It is a very handy. Its Ronnies Harley Davidson. Hopefully the link works.