Working Shotgun
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Road Master
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 789
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From: Utah
Working Shotgun
Just got my Shotgun installed and now trying to figure out how to work it. I hit the left switch and hear the compressor go and it lifts. I hit the switch the other way and it dumps air and it drops. However, if I have it raised all the way and then hit the right switch and the compressor comes on, the bikes lowers. I expected that switch to not affect the height, just stiffen up the ride. Am I missing something here or doing something wrong?
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 4,133
Likes: 125
From: Japan
Actually, the left switch (which fills the shocks) is your rebound switch. The more air you put into the shock, the more it stiffens the ride. You'll notice that the bike won't lift as much when holding this switch up, with you on the bike. It just lifts a bit as a direct result of having air in the shocks, but you control the amount exact amount of lift with with the right switch. I usually dump the air whenever I park it and then fill the shock and adjust lift as I let the bike warm up or as I'm rolling away.
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Road Master
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 789
Likes: 3
From: Utah
Hmm. I wonder what I did. The left switch definitely raises and lowers, and the right definitely drops it. Even when I start out with it all the way down, the right switch wants to drop it more, almost like its sucking it down when the compressor is running. If I have it all the way up with the left switch and then engage the compressor with the right switch, it sucks the bike down. If I dump the air with the right switch, the bike pops back up.
I can understand if I got the switches swapped sides cause I moved them to my console, but I assumed when the compressor is running the bike would either be raising or stiffening.
I can understand if I got the switches swapped sides cause I moved them to my console, but I assumed when the compressor is running the bike would either be raising or stiffening.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 4,133
Likes: 125
From: Japan
I'll admit that I am pretty clueless when it comes to the technology that actually makes the shock work. The thing you do have to remember on Softails, tho, is that the shock is elongating when the bike lowers. The compressor coming on while this happens, either means that it is putting more air into the shock to extend it or somehow moving air from one place to another. All I know is that when I first let air into my shock by holding my left switch up, the compressor comes on and the bike does raise a a bit, tho not all the way. I'll bounce the bike a little while continuing to hold the left switch up, to get a feel for stiffness. When I've got the stiffness I want, I'll toggle the right switch up or down to adjust height (hissing sound going up, compressor sound going down) and then I'll be on my way. Whole process takes about 30-40 seconds. I may make a few more adjustments on the road as conditions change, but that's generally how it works on my bike. If you're still confused, you might want to give J.D. a call...
Road Warrior
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 1,515
Likes: 1
From: malibu
Almost sounds like you have the switches as a whole, upside down and reversed. Like Hoggy says, the compressor buzzes when filling with air. I hold mine for about 20-25 seconds. Then let go. Then I raise the height by the other switch. Or lower her back down a little after raising her too high.. If it needs more stiffening, I go back to the first switch and pump her up a little more.
All the fun is learning how the switches work. And btw, slamming her at every stop in front of as many people as can see.
All the fun is learning how the switches work. And btw, slamming her at every stop in front of as many people as can see.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 4,133
Likes: 125
From: Japan
YES, definitely always good for a lot of "ooohs & aaahs"!
EDIT:
I don't really think it matters what the orientation of the switches is, just as long as you remember which does what...
Last edited by HoggyMtnBreakdown; Aug 1, 2012 at 11:27 PM.
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Thread Starter
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Road Master
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 789
Likes: 3
From: Utah
I can live with having my switches reversed, just need to figure out how to operate it. Going to spend some time playing with it later today and if I still am too dumb to figure it out then I will give JD a call.
Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,465
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From: Montclair, CA.
Switch operation.
Ut-rckr,
here is the instructions from the shotgun shock web site, JD explained it to me as both switchs up to get the height you want then the aft switch down to adjust ride firmness.
Switch operation
Switches have three positions
a) Middle is off
b) Up should be stationary, stays in place until manually moved
c) Down should be momentary, moves back to neutral when not held
Put both switches up, they should stay up in the stationary position. This will raise the suspension as fast as possible since the compressor will fill the air cavity to raise the bike and the other switch will open the cavity that pushes the bike down. Allow the bike to rise to full height and then after ten seconds put switches in neutral position.
Now that the bike is all the way up, it is in the position to adjust for both height and firmness. To lower the bike you will move the switch that turns the compressor on when the switch is in the down, momentary position. If the switches were mounted in the dash, this switch will be toward the front of the bike.
After you set the bike in any position you prefer to ride in at this time, you can check for firmness by vigorously pushing down on the rear fender. If you want to firm up the suspension this can be done without changing the ride height. To achieve a firmer ride move the switch up into the stationary position, the switch that turns on the compressor. If the switches are on the dash, the one for firming will be toward the rear of the bike.
Hope this helps.
here is the instructions from the shotgun shock web site, JD explained it to me as both switchs up to get the height you want then the aft switch down to adjust ride firmness.
Switch operation
Switches have three positions
a) Middle is off
b) Up should be stationary, stays in place until manually moved
c) Down should be momentary, moves back to neutral when not held
Put both switches up, they should stay up in the stationary position. This will raise the suspension as fast as possible since the compressor will fill the air cavity to raise the bike and the other switch will open the cavity that pushes the bike down. Allow the bike to rise to full height and then after ten seconds put switches in neutral position.
Now that the bike is all the way up, it is in the position to adjust for both height and firmness. To lower the bike you will move the switch that turns the compressor on when the switch is in the down, momentary position. If the switches were mounted in the dash, this switch will be toward the front of the bike.
After you set the bike in any position you prefer to ride in at this time, you can check for firmness by vigorously pushing down on the rear fender. If you want to firm up the suspension this can be done without changing the ride height. To achieve a firmer ride move the switch up into the stationary position, the switch that turns on the compressor. If the switches are on the dash, the one for firming will be toward the rear of the bike.
Hope this helps.