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Trouble Adjusting Shocks

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Old Apr 13, 2013 | 12:55 PM
  #1  
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prstaples1911
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Default Trouble Adjusting Shocks

Hoping someone can help me.

I am trying to adjust the preload on the shocks. Per the instructions I turned the one (left) shock a few turns clockwise until it bottomed out so I could back it out the proper number of turns.

Then I moved to the other (right) shock to do the same thing. However, I have turned that shock for over 8 full turns and it will not bottom out. I just keeps turning. What am I missing?

Can a shock be stripped? Am I supposed to keep a wrench on the flat of the shaft the whole time? The instructions say to use the second wrench only when loosing the jam nut.

Thanks for the help.
 
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Old Apr 13, 2013 | 02:49 PM
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You are using the shock adjustment tool....right?
If you are, you need to get a wrench on the flat spots of the shaft.
If that doesn't work......Something's stripped.
 
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Old Apr 13, 2013 | 05:37 PM
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The threads on the shaft get gummed up with road grime sometimes and you need to put a wrench on it to turn the adjuster. Try spraying it with penetrating oil first, that will help free things up.
 
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Old Apr 13, 2013 | 06:53 PM
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I let it sit in the sun for a few hours and then tried again. It seemed to work the second time. What I am not clear on is whether a second wrench needs to be on the shaft while you turn the spanner wrench.

The directions just say to use a second wrench on the shaft while you loosen the jam nut.

Given the pain in the *** to adjust preload I could make a good case for replacement Progressive shocks with the RAP feature.
 
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Old Apr 13, 2013 | 07:16 PM
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Just make sure that when you are Adjusting the Shock that None of the other Bolts or Nuts are turning , if they are then you will have to Hold-um . But once the Jam nut is turned all the way Back from the Shock nothing should turn but the Shock ,
 
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Old Apr 13, 2013 | 07:16 PM
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Just did this yesterday on my Slim. I used a wrench on the shaft and the spanner on the jamnut (at the same time) to loosen it up. Once i had the jam nut loose. I only used the spanner to bottom out the shock. It took a good tug to get it moving, but no problems after that. Do you mean it made 8 full rotations? 8 full turns seems like a lot. Mine made one full turn back to "zero".
 
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Old Apr 13, 2013 | 07:18 PM
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..... AND I Spray all that stuff with WD-40 before I adjust-um
 
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Old Apr 13, 2013 | 10:38 PM
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Originally Posted by HoldFast2012
Just did this yesterday on my Slim. I used a wrench on the shaft and the spanner on the jamnut (at the same time) to loosen it up. Once i had the jam nut loose. I only used the spanner to bottom out the shock. It took a good tug to get it moving, but no problems after that. Do you mean it made 8 full rotations? 8 full turns seems like a lot. Mine made one full turn back to "zero".
Yes. One shock bottomed out with a turn our two. The other kept spinning and spinning under tension. I believed I backed the nut fully off in each case, but maybe not. Either way, the second shock acted liked the first after I let it sit some.
 
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