Help adjusting progressive 422's
Thread Starter
|
Banned
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 192
Likes: 0
Help adjusting progressive 422's
Hello,
I had some progressive HD 422 installed on my softail.
Right now the bike sits up like a lifted truck. I have to tippy toe it.
It's my understanding the progressive shocks have two inches of height adjustment and soft / firm adjustment.
Right now it's all the way firm at max height.
I want to lower it 1/2 inch at first. And soften it a notch at a time.
It's so high in the back that the passenger actually slides and pushes me forward.
Thanks
I had some progressive HD 422 installed on my softail.
Right now the bike sits up like a lifted truck. I have to tippy toe it.
It's my understanding the progressive shocks have two inches of height adjustment and soft / firm adjustment.
Right now it's all the way firm at max height.
I want to lower it 1/2 inch at first. And soften it a notch at a time.
It's so high in the back that the passenger actually slides and pushes me forward.
Thanks
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 2,264
Likes: 9
From: Rhode island
It's easy, I could do it without a jack. Just get under it and loosen the nuts towards the end (actually towards the front wheel) of the shock, then tighten the 2nd set of nuts behind them so they squeeze the frame. Pretty much look at how it is now and adjust them forward
Road Master
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 970
Likes: 19
From: Philippines
Your 422's have 2 way adjustment: 1. Height and 2. Preload (Spring Stiffness). The 422's height adjustment is from stock height down to 2 inches lowered. Progressive's web site has downloadable instructions but you should have instructions included with your shocks.
Adjust the height first. To lower the bike you must lengthen the shock which moves the swingarm up. Note; lowering the bike reduces the amount of wheel travel. Insure that both shocks are adjusted equally.
After you achieve your desired height, set the preload (Spring Stiffness). You will need a special spanner wrench which can be purchased from Progressive, JP Cycles or Harley. If I remember correctly Progressive may include this tool with the shocks.
Follow progressive's instruction or that of your Harley Service manual.
Adjust the height first. To lower the bike you must lengthen the shock which moves the swingarm up. Note; lowering the bike reduces the amount of wheel travel. Insure that both shocks are adjusted equally.
After you achieve your desired height, set the preload (Spring Stiffness). You will need a special spanner wrench which can be purchased from Progressive, JP Cycles or Harley. If I remember correctly Progressive may include this tool with the shocks.
Follow progressive's instruction or that of your Harley Service manual.
Like others have said, there are 2 adjustments you can make to your shocks: length (bike ride height) and preload (stiffer or softer suspension).
As far as adjusting the shocks for preload, determine what type of riding you will do most. If you ride single, setting it at a soft to mid-soft setting will work well. If you ride with a passenger a lot, then you may want to set it a little stiffer to help keep from bottoming out on hard bumps.
To adjust the preload, loosed the nut that is tightened down against the adjuster plate (the one with holes all around it) and run the nut all the way loose, then turn the adjuster plate inward (toward the rear of the bike) to soften the shocks and lower the bike (by a small amount). Turning the adjuster plates outward (toward the front of the bike) will increase your preload and will stiffen the shocks (raising the bike slightly). You should only be able to get about 4 complete rotations of the adjuster plate either way. To see where you're at, bottom them all the way one direction, mark a spot on the adjuster plate that you can see, then adjust them all the way the other direction. This will give you an idea of how much adjustment you have altogether. Don't pay attention to the outside of the shock body because that will spin as you move the adjuster plate, but won't do anything to adjust the shocks. The only thing that actually adjusts anything is the adapter plate itself, using the spanner wrench.
As far as raising or lowering the bike, the longer you make the threaded shaft by loosening or tightening the adjuster nut, the lower the bike will sit. The shorter the length of the shaft is, the higher the bike will sit.
Progressive 422's are great. We carry them on our site and have used them on many Softails with great results. They make a quality product.
Hope this helps. Good luck with it.
As far as adjusting the shocks for preload, determine what type of riding you will do most. If you ride single, setting it at a soft to mid-soft setting will work well. If you ride with a passenger a lot, then you may want to set it a little stiffer to help keep from bottoming out on hard bumps.
To adjust the preload, loosed the nut that is tightened down against the adjuster plate (the one with holes all around it) and run the nut all the way loose, then turn the adjuster plate inward (toward the rear of the bike) to soften the shocks and lower the bike (by a small amount). Turning the adjuster plates outward (toward the front of the bike) will increase your preload and will stiffen the shocks (raising the bike slightly). You should only be able to get about 4 complete rotations of the adjuster plate either way. To see where you're at, bottom them all the way one direction, mark a spot on the adjuster plate that you can see, then adjust them all the way the other direction. This will give you an idea of how much adjustment you have altogether. Don't pay attention to the outside of the shock body because that will spin as you move the adjuster plate, but won't do anything to adjust the shocks. The only thing that actually adjusts anything is the adapter plate itself, using the spanner wrench.
As far as raising or lowering the bike, the longer you make the threaded shaft by loosening or tightening the adjuster nut, the lower the bike will sit. The shorter the length of the shaft is, the higher the bike will sit.
Progressive 422's are great. We carry them on our site and have used them on many Softails with great results. They make a quality product.
Hope this helps. Good luck with it.
Thread Starter
|
Banned
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 192
Likes: 0
Do I understand this correctly, I have pics of my original shocks, can I assume the progressives work the same way. the large bolt that I need the special wrench for adjusts the preload, and the smaller bolt to the right, with the blue marker on it, adjusts the height of the bike ?
which way do I turn the large bolt to make softer ? If I'm behind the bike facing forward, do I turn clockwise or counter ?
which way do I turn the large bolt to make softer ? If I'm behind the bike facing forward, do I turn clockwise or counter ?
Trending Topics
Thread Starter
|
Banned
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 192
Likes: 0
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 100,455
Likes: 19,811
From: Centennial, CO
The nuts with the blue adjust the height. screw those towards the end of the shaft to lower the bike. Make sure both of the shocks are the same length when done with this. The big nut is the locknut for the pre-load adjuster. loosen that one til it stops, then use the spanner to turn the plate in to soften the ride, out to stiffen the ride. As you are under the bike looking at the shock from the front of the bike, turn the plate clockwise to soften, counterclockwise to stiffen.