, I will likely head over to my local dealer. They have been very good to me so it probably won't be a big deal.
adjusting stock shocks
Road Master
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,008
Likes: 1
From: Oceanside Ca
I know I'm gonna get some flack for this, but it works.
Jack the bike up and set her down on three blocks.
Plenty of room to get to all the crap under your bike.
HINT: Put her in gear so she don't go rolling...
Also works great when draining the transmission.
Jack the bike up and set her down on three blocks.
Plenty of room to get to all the crap under your bike.
HINT: Put her in gear so she don't go rolling...
Also works great when draining the transmission.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,337
Likes: 4
From: Sunny South Florida
Not a big fan of leaving my scoot on blocks while I'm under it. That is nearly 800 lbs of hurt if it comes down.
Either way, I have done many a softail shock adjustment and never had one beat me yet. 10-20 minutes and a beer or so later, you're back on the ground and ready to go.
Either way, I have done many a softail shock adjustment and never had one beat me yet. 10-20 minutes and a beer or so later, you're back on the ground and ready to go.
Club Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 145,895
Likes: 821
From: 40 miles Northeast of Indy..
Ur dealer should do it for free.. had our firmed up at the 1k service..
they come set up in the middle of adjustment..
haven't touched them since then... been fine for our 2 up 90% of the time for 4yrs and 30k.
I can tell its a little stiffer for solo. but not bad at alll.
At least we don't bottom out any more unless we hit a really bad hole/bump
they come set up in the middle of adjustment..
haven't touched them since then... been fine for our 2 up 90% of the time for 4yrs and 30k.
I can tell its a little stiffer for solo. but not bad at alll.
At least we don't bottom out any more unless we hit a really bad hole/bump
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 2,033
Likes: 7
From: TEXAS
Hey bro, you said your were gonna get some slack and I could write a book on why thats not a good idea. Your a pretty cool forum member and I like reading your posts, so I'm not going to say the obvious. Be careful bro!
Road Master
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,008
Likes: 1
From: Oceanside Ca
I am very careful, insanely careful.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 3,718
Likes: 11
From: Punta Gorda,FL
I have a 2005 SE Fat Boy which comes about an inch lower in the rear, about the same as your LO. It probably uses the same shocks as the LO and the Deluxe uses.
The dealer set mine the first time, since I couldn't break the retention nuts loose. I told them not to put any loctite on the nuts or overly tighten them.
Now I can change the setting in about 5 minutes, with the bike on the jiffy stand. I have the yellow Sears jack, but don't use it when I adjust the shocks.
I lay on the garage floor on the right side of the bike and use an open end wrench that I cut the handle down to about 4 1/2" and a $5 spanner wrench I got from the dealer. When I'm done I just tighten the retention nuts a bit past snug. They have never come loose. If anything the retention nuts tend to get tighter.
The dealer set mine the first time, since I couldn't break the retention nuts loose. I told them not to put any loctite on the nuts or overly tighten them.
Now I can change the setting in about 5 minutes, with the bike on the jiffy stand. I have the yellow Sears jack, but don't use it when I adjust the shocks.
I lay on the garage floor on the right side of the bike and use an open end wrench that I cut the handle down to about 4 1/2" and a $5 spanner wrench I got from the dealer. When I'm done I just tighten the retention nuts a bit past snug. They have never come loose. If anything the retention nuts tend to get tighter.
Road Captain
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 641
Likes: 0
From: swifton,ar
maybe you need to spring (pun intended) for a set of air shocks and mount the chuck somewhere that'd be easy to get to !??? makes sense
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Road Captain
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 705
Likes: 8
From: southern IL
I usually ride 2 up & we're 400+lbs together. We've only bottomed out a few times after 12K+ miles, but that's too many for my comfort. So, I got the spanner wrench & adjusted it to about 2 threads showing. May do it more after a solo ride test. I don't want it to be so stiff I bounce off the thing when riding solo.
I thought adjusting it was SUPER easy. The spanner wrench inner section is the right size to adjust the outer nut. Just flip the wrench around so the spanner flanges are away from the shock body. Took me about 5 minutes just crawling under it on the ground.
I thought adjusting it was SUPER easy. The spanner wrench inner section is the right size to adjust the outer nut. Just flip the wrench around so the spanner flanges are away from the shock body. Took me about 5 minutes just crawling under it on the ground.
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