Has anyone altered the preload setting on their rear shocks? My '07 rides comfortably enough but i'm thinking some handling improvement could be made to stiffen the ride up a little.... it can get a bit bouncy after a bump.I faintly recall reading (from perhaps the manual??) that the HD specs for weight (loaded) assume a persons weight to be approximately 90kgs (198lbs)... I land around the 240lbs mark... anyone else in this neighbourhood made adjustment to the preload?

 

Check out the article on this site about Shock Preload. It has a chart at the bottom about weight and adjustments

http://fatbillscustoms.com/


Mike
NY

 

Thanks Mike - those instructions will be great. The photo's show the shocks removed from the bike... I'm assuming that is just for the benefit of explanation?

Do i need the bike on a lift or can i get someone to hold it for me?
And most online threads here state a specialised tool is needed, anyone just used a couple of spanners?

 

Generally a spanner wrench will do the trick.Sometimes it won't because when they assemble the shocks they get that thread locker all over the damn place.I had to pull mine and disassemble them to get all that crap off so they would adjust properly.It helps to raise the bike some.I just put some 2x4 s under the rear tire because my jack would have been in the way if I raised it that way.You shouldn't have to remove the shocks though.

 

You can do it without a jack, but of course its easier (more clearance) with one. The spanner wrench and a couple wrenches for the nuts and you're done.

 

The actual HD tool (94455-89) has the "tips" of the tool belt at right angels... do they lock into the cylinder to assit the turn?





[IMG]local://upfiles/20201/19D13D9C37D24E36BC1CAE5C3A0C1526.jpg[/IMG]

 

Thanks for posting that Mike. Very informative!!

 

Your welcome but I won't take all the credit, someone else posted that site in a thread and I found it doing a search here on HDF.

The site actually has other good info as well.

I just bought the HD Spanner wrench but haven't adjusted my Shocks yet so I'm all ears as well...

Mike
NY

 

Just an update on activity. I got the spanner over the weekend and try as i might i wasn't able to budge the nut on the thread... after rotating it and the adjuster plate together almost a full turn i found locktight on the thread and nut. I'm going to refer the job to the dealer who should be able to make a much faster job of it than i once the bike gets on a lift, but also worth noting was the fatbillcustoms pictures aren't 100% accurate,. at least for comparison to my Deuce... might be spot on for the Fatboy i don't know for sure- with my standard suspension there is only a single nut (not two) as FBC's pictures show).

Looking from front to rear, you have the shock bolted onto the frame (nut on the far front side of the frame securing the shock), then you have the thread (which has 4 threads exposed as per standard preload settings), then you have the nut then immediately you have the adjuster plate which is slightly recessed into the shock's external cyclinder. That plate needs to move forward toward the front of the bike and once i get the fricking locktight off i'll get what i want. The 2006 service manual has a really good photo and description... i'll try and remember to post it later this week (my dealer photocopied it for me on Saturday when i bought the spanner).

 

When me and the wife rode when new, it would bottom out pretty easily. I adjusted mine 3
turns stiffer, much better even solo.