Shock adjustment for my 2013 Heritage
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 177
Likes: 1
From: Massachusetts
Shock adjustment for my 2013 Heritage
I have had my bike about 3 weeks now and I am going in for my 1,000 mile service next week.
One of the things I would like to do is have them adjust the shocks, it is currently set at 2 from the factory.
I weight about 200 lbs and my wife about 150, I will be riding solo most of the time but about 25% of the time with a passenger.
Looking at the service manual it seems I should set it to #4 335-395, when we are two up. I have always set my preload on all my bikes for the two up weight and then my ride was just a little stiffer.
Does this make sense?
The Service Manual states I need a special tool to adjust the shocks is this true?
Thanks for your help
Dan
One of the things I would like to do is have them adjust the shocks, it is currently set at 2 from the factory.
I weight about 200 lbs and my wife about 150, I will be riding solo most of the time but about 25% of the time with a passenger.
Looking at the service manual it seems I should set it to #4 335-395, when we are two up. I have always set my preload on all my bikes for the two up weight and then my ride was just a little stiffer.
Does this make sense?
The Service Manual states I need a special tool to adjust the shocks is this true?
Thanks for your help
Dan
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 250
Likes: 0
From: Southern Ct
I have a softail '07 FXSTC. I bought the HD wrench, the shocks can be adjusted using a strap wrench also. The entire shock rotates on the adjuster bolt. Holding the bolt from turning is necessary.
We ride 2 up and I adjusted the shocks equally out toward the lock nut 11/2 turns, it rides nice and rarely bottoms out.
Al
We ride 2 up and I adjusted the shocks equally out toward the lock nut 11/2 turns, it rides nice and rarely bottoms out.
Al
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,067
Likes: 2
From: New Hampshire
I have had my bike about 3 weeks now and I am going in for my 1,000 mile service next week.
One of the things I would like to do is have them adjust the shocks, it is currently set at 2 from the factory.
I weight about 200 lbs and my wife about 150, I will be riding solo most of the time but about 25% of the time with a passenger.
Looking at the service manual it seems I should set it to #4 335-395, when we are two up. I have always set my preload on all my bikes for the two up weight and then my ride was just a little stiffer.
Does this make sense?
The Service Manual states I need a special tool to adjust the shocks is this true?
Thanks for your help
Dan
One of the things I would like to do is have them adjust the shocks, it is currently set at 2 from the factory.
I weight about 200 lbs and my wife about 150, I will be riding solo most of the time but about 25% of the time with a passenger.
Looking at the service manual it seems I should set it to #4 335-395, when we are two up. I have always set my preload on all my bikes for the two up weight and then my ride was just a little stiffer.
Does this make sense?
The Service Manual states I need a special tool to adjust the shocks is this true?
Thanks for your help
Dan
Yes you will need a cheap little special wrench to actually adjust the shocks but breaking the lock nuts loose is a pain in the butt.
You will quickly discover that if you are going from 1 up to 2 up regularly you will want air shocks (Shotguns are the best and most costly). I ride solo 100% so progressive 422s are just fine for me.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 66,948
Likes: 4,573
From: TOAK western branch
If you dont want to get the HD tool use an oil filter strap wrench. https://www.google.com/search?q=oil+...w=1675&bih=933
Road Captain
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 705
Likes: 8
From: southern IL
The shocks are not setup for 2 from the factory, they are at the softest setting possible from the factory.
Yes you will need a cheap little special wrench to actually adjust the shocks but breaking the lock nuts loose is a pain in the butt.
You will quickly discover that if you are going from 1 up to 2 up regularly you will want air shocks (Shotguns are the best and most costly). I ride solo 100% so progressive 422s are just fine for me.
Yes you will need a cheap little special wrench to actually adjust the shocks but breaking the lock nuts loose is a pain in the butt.
You will quickly discover that if you are going from 1 up to 2 up regularly you will want air shocks (Shotguns are the best and most costly). I ride solo 100% so progressive 422s are just fine for me.
Personally, I would never pay anyone to turn a wrench a few times, especially not at ~$100 an hour!!!
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 66,948
Likes: 4,573
From: TOAK western branch
Come on. Thats our bread and butter. Love those easy jobs and a one hour minimum...
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 177
Likes: 1
From: Massachusetts
The shop included the 1000 & 5000 service when i bought the bike, other wise i do all my own wrenching.
Since there will be no charge i figured i would have then do the work.
Since there will be no charge i figured i would have then do the work.
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Club Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 145,895
Likes: 821
From: 40 miles Northeast of Indy..
To keep U from buying the tool if U don't want too, Ur dealer should adjust Ur shocks at no charge at the 1k service. I did the very same to mine as Ur wanting to do.
I had them (dealer) adjust two things which they didn't charge me for at the 1K.
They did the shocks (too light) and passing lights (too low).
.
I had them (dealer) adjust two things which they didn't charge me for at the 1K.
They did the shocks (too light) and passing lights (too low).
.
Last edited by oct1949; Oct 26, 2012 at 09:43 AM.
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Road Captain
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 705
Likes: 8
From: southern IL
Sorry dude, the only thing I've had somebody else do to my bike is change the tires and change the stator under warranty. 50K miles and still purring like a lion!!
Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,465
Likes: 3
From: Montclair, CA.
Shotgun Shock air shocks YEP that's the ticket
As mentioned earlier the Shotgun Shock air suspension is the way to go if you do two up riding because setting the bike at the stiffer setting is going to become a pain in your back, when riding and getting down on the floor and adjusting yourself. With the SS setup you can adjust on the fly and it also has the "WOW COOL" factor when you pull into a stop and other riders are around and you lower it down or raise it up.
Just my
Just my