Adjusting rear shocks
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Road Captain
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 729
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From: Indiana
Adjusting rear shocks
I have an 03 night train with lowering bolts in the rear shocks. I have tried to adjust the shocks but they will not budge for me. is there a trick to it? Also which way do I turn it to soften and stiffen it up?
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,067
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From: New Hampshire
Taken from Yahoo Answers....
Rear shocks can be adjusted with bike resting on jiffy stand, but on a jack stand is better. Loosen jam nut, use spanner wrench (Kent Moore 94455-89 or Jim's equivalent), turn adjuster plates out (toward locknut) to increase preload, turn adjuster plates in (away from locknut) for a softer ride and lighter loads. Be sure both shocks are set to the same preload position or bike will pull to one side over bumps. Tighten locknut.
Rear shocks can be adjusted with bike resting on jiffy stand, but on a jack stand is better. Loosen jam nut, use spanner wrench (Kent Moore 94455-89 or Jim's equivalent), turn adjuster plates out (toward locknut) to increase preload, turn adjuster plates in (away from locknut) for a softer ride and lighter loads. Be sure both shocks are set to the same preload position or bike will pull to one side over bumps. Tighten locknut.
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Road Captain
Joined: Jan 2009
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From: Indiana
Ok I tried to loosen the jam nut but it is not moving to I put some pb blaster on it and going to let it sit for a bit. Next question is when I loosen up the jam nut will it only go so far or do I just loosen it just alittle bit??
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Road Captain
Joined: Jan 2009
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From: Indiana
I have tried everything and the jam nut will not move at all. The only movement is when the whole shock wants to move so I put the spanner wrench on it with the wrench for the jam nut and it will not move. I need some ideas.
Club Member
Joined: Sep 2010
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From: Beyond Fucital
Are you turning the jamb nut counter clock wise? Also I had to put a long nail punch in the shock body to keep it from spinning while I adjusted the plate. Mark the shock body and plate and count turns so you adjust both shocks the same amount of turns. Also counter clockwise (toward rear tire ) for stiffer ride.
Last edited by RANGER73; Apr 1, 2012 at 10:18 PM.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 3,718
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From: Punta Gorda,FL
You probably need to heat the retention nuts up to release the loctite.
HD, in their wisdom, loctites the retention nuts.
Once I got my retention nuts loose, I just barely snug them tight when I am done adjusting the shocks. The nuts have never loosened up between adjustments. If anything they tend to get tighter.
Tom
HD, in their wisdom, loctites the retention nuts.
Once I got my retention nuts loose, I just barely snug them tight when I am done adjusting the shocks. The nuts have never loosened up between adjustments. If anything they tend to get tighter.
Tom
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Road Captain
Joined: Jan 2009
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From: Indiana
Ok yeah I was thinking the same thing. I will probably try to heat it up. Just hope it doesn't go up in flames with all the oil down there.
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Tourer
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 444
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From: Grand Rapids, MI
If you CAN loosen the jam nut, but CANNOT turn the shock with the spanner wrench, then spray some penetrating oil on the threads where they meet the shock. Let it sit for a few hours then try again. On my softail, the shock adjuster and threads point forward. Lots of crap gets in there. Once I had mine moving, I cycled them thru and entire adjustment range and then coated the threads in high quality anti-seize.
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Road Captain
Joined: Jan 2009
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From: Indiana
Yeah I sprayed them last night with Pb blaster an going to give them another try tonight. My next question is once I get the jam nut moving will the threads only go so far and stop or do I just need to loosen them up a couple threads so I do not unthread them all the way?