Installing shotgun shocks - please help
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Road Master
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 1,086
Likes: 5
From: London, UK
Installing shotgun shocks - please help
I'm trying to remove the stock rear shocks on my fatboy. Having discovered that the "rear shock bolts" seemed to be a "bit tight", I took a look at the service manual. I see they are meant to be set at 121-136 ft-lbs, which explained their reluctance to loosen.
You can't get a socket on them, so I bought a torque adapter as suggested in the manual. The longest socket wrench I have is my torque wrench, so I popped that on and have tried using it to loosen them. No luck.
I've also got a foot-long 3/4" ring-end spanner, so I've tried using that and a mallet. Again, no dice.
There's limited access when the bike is on the ground, and given the force that is evidentially going to be required, I'm reluctant to jack it up without getting these bolts a little looser first.
How have others tackled this problem?
I think I've tried all the advice I've read so far, short of applying heat. The service manual says the bolts should be fitted using blue loctite. Is there a chance they have used red instead? If so, should I try applying heat? If so, how much, for how long and where -- and are we talking a gas soldering iron or kitchen blowtorch kind of level?
Thanks for your help
You can't get a socket on them, so I bought a torque adapter as suggested in the manual. The longest socket wrench I have is my torque wrench, so I popped that on and have tried using it to loosen them. No luck.
I've also got a foot-long 3/4" ring-end spanner, so I've tried using that and a mallet. Again, no dice.
There's limited access when the bike is on the ground, and given the force that is evidentially going to be required, I'm reluctant to jack it up without getting these bolts a little looser first.
How have others tackled this problem?
I think I've tried all the advice I've read so far, short of applying heat. The service manual says the bolts should be fitted using blue loctite. Is there a chance they have used red instead? If so, should I try applying heat? If so, how much, for how long and where -- and are we talking a gas soldering iron or kitchen blowtorch kind of level?
Thanks for your help
Road Captain
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 556
Likes: 5
From: wisconsin
Use heat. Used a heat gun on mine for about 5 min a side and they came right out. Used the high setting and applied it where the shoulder bolt threads in, but in a continueus motion. JD recommended this when I ordered mine. Good luck
Last edited by 06 flstfise; Jul 8, 2013 at 07:58 AM.
Road Captain
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 643
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From: Republic of Tejas
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Grand HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 4,624
Likes: 189
From: Newcastle, Ca.
Get the bike off the ground!! It will make removal much easier.Sounds like you have a jack. If its an atv jack, use some boards under the tires to keep the bike from rocking. Used a pipe as a wrench extension to get them off.
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