Fatboy Shock Question

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Mar 26, 2011 | 05:38 PM

vchacon

Thread Starter

Intermediate

Joined: Aug 2010

Posts: 27

Likes: 0

From: SoCal

Fatboy Shock Question

Hi All,

I bought my brother 2002 Fatboy. He is a bit shorter than me so he had the dealership change the stock shock in order for him to plant his feet. He mentioned its an adjustable shock but doesn't know what it is.

I eventually plan to change to the shotgun shock but for now...

The problem: The bike doesn't seem to have a properly set rebound.

The following pictures show the shock. Does anyone know which one it is? Does anyone know if these can be adjusted for rebound?

Thanks,

Victor

Mar 26, 2011 | 08:16 PM

shineybike

Road Captain

Joined: Aug 2005

Posts: 576

Likes: 1

From: Southern Maine

I'm not sure which one is which, but it looks like you have a mis-matched set of shocks. My 2004 softail has two alike shocks and when I first got it it had the lowering shocks that were also alike.

Mar 26, 2011 | 08:18 PM

Fatboy Brian

Grand HDF Member

Joined: Feb 2010

Posts: 4,230

Likes: 477

From: Southwest VA

They are both shocks and you can adjust the rebound on them.

Mar 26, 2011 | 09:47 PM

dub976

Tourer

Joined: May 2009

Posts: 430

Likes: 2

From: ChiTown burbs

you can adjust them, you just need a spanner wrench and I believe 1 1/16" open end wrench. loosen jam nut and spin shock with spanner. I've got a older fatboy the way you spin is different but their was a good write up on here for how to do it. hit the search button.

Mar 26, 2011 | 10:19 PM

gforrest2

Road Captain

Joined: Jun 2007

Posts: 726

Likes: 3

From: Pacific Northwest

Maybe the older shocks are different, but on my '06 there is no rebound adjustment. The only adjustment you can make is preload. This is done with the shock adjust ment tool, a "U" shaped tool with bent ends that fit on the top of the shock and allow this adjustment.

Mar 27, 2011 | 09:26 AM

handyhoward

Road Master

Joined: Aug 2007

Posts: 1,049

Likes: 5

From: Emerald Coast, FL

Quote:

Originally Posted by gforrest2

Preload and rebound are being used interchangeably here... changing the preload or rebound is not the proper way to raise or lower a bike. Preload is the stiffness that the shock is set at to control the rebound when going over bumps.

A longer shock will lower the bike... and conversely a shorter shock will raise the bike. The dealer may have put on a longer shock or may have put on a shock with a lowering bolt kit on it... it's hard to tell. Did this swap out lower the bike?

Mar 27, 2011 | 10:41 AM

tmitchellof PG

Elite HDF Member

Joined: Sep 2006

Posts: 3,718

Likes: 11

From: Punta Gorda,FL

They are set at the softest setting now.
You should be be able to turn each shock at least 3 full turns, this will put them at the firmest setting.
First thing is to back off the retention nuts with a 1-1/16" open end wrench. I had to cut my wrench down to about 5" in length so I could use it while the bike was on the jiffy stand. If you can't break the retention nuts loose it probably has loctite on it so use a heat gun or hair drier to loosen up the loctite.

Now you can see 3+ threads. When you are done there will be no threads showing. The longer the shock body the firmer the setting.
Once you try the ride on the firmest setting you can adjust the shocks anywhere in between to your liking.
Tom