Adjusting Softail Shocks at home ---doable?
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 3,908
Likes: 19
From: Dayton
You can get a .pdf download version for $20 here: http://www.motorcycle-manual-downloa...82c9e9ac78a784
Road Captain
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 635
Likes: 7
From: Sin City
This might give you some idea. Forgot to mention this video is for adjustment of Progressive shocks, but it does show how to adjust the preload.
http://youtu.be/6O-rMRgwIM4
http://youtu.be/6O-rMRgwIM4
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Tourer
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 429
Likes: 4
From: St Clair County
Put another 200miles on "The Beast" yesterday , digg'n the Blackline seat even more!
Rode to Mount Veronon IL and got my 5k done at HD dealer in town, on a sat, while we waited---144.76 OTD !! I had them crank up my shocks ( increase preload). No extra charge !!! Saved me almost $300 bucks ...... I will be back...............super firm ride , but handles great!! I'm totally Happy ......scraped the boards turning in the the dealer, but not after the adjustment. Btw, it did rise the beast a bit .....nice
Rode to Mount Veronon IL and got my 5k done at HD dealer in town, on a sat, while we waited---144.76 OTD !! I had them crank up my shocks ( increase preload). No extra charge !!! Saved me almost $300 bucks ...... I will be back...............super firm ride , but handles great!! I'm totally Happy ......scraped the boards turning in the the dealer, but not after the adjustment. Btw, it did rise the beast a bit .....nice
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 3,973
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From: Omaha
It takes me about 10 minutes to adjust my shocks in my garage and I ain't no bike mechanic.
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Tourer
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 429
Likes: 4
From: St Clair County
$300 to adjust your shocks? If your dealer is charging that much to adjust the shocks you might want to take some KY with you next time you go there for any work, because you're going to get screwed!!!!!!
It takes me about 10 minutes to adjust my shocks in my garage and I ain't no bike mechanic.
It takes me about 10 minutes to adjust my shocks in my garage and I ain't no bike mechanic.
Found a dealer 60+ miles from me to do the $5k for under $150 (shock adjustment free)
No KY needed here.........., thx
Grand HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 4,624
Likes: 189
From: Newcastle, Ca.
I looked at this. Its a great demonstration but on my 2010 fatboy lo there is a bracket running from one side of the frame to the other that hides half of the jam nut for the ride height adjustment and looks hella cramped to adjust the preload...unless they put the freakin shocks on backwards. The shocks are mounted so the adjustment nuts are towards the front of the bike. I wish I could get a good answer on how to freakin do this. Maybe I'm retarded...HELP!
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
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From: Honah Lee
Mine had a set of SE shocks that are longer then standard. They obviously had loctite on them and no amount of levering would break it free. I even had a special short torque extension wrench and a 3/4" extension. Actually only way since even on a lift leaves little room to get a big wrench on it and hang it down. You need a short torque extension hanging down and then breaker bar at 90 degrees from that. Forget being up on a lift levering like that. I was afraid to throw heat on them. Guess if your are very careful and a small pencil torch. Any way, I finally took them completely off. They were set fully cranked down for maximum two up. Once off, I was able to get two monster wrenches on them and broke them free. I figure with just me, I could loosen them up completely. Well, now it will bottom on big bumps like dips to bridges and stuff, so guess mid way is best. It still seems to still ride awful heavy and my 66 year old back make me dodge or slow down. It's a real pain. I truly saw little difference in either way but do not remembering it bottoming. However, it probably was since even when you squeeze it up, it will take same amount to bottom since tighten it down does not add any carrying capacity. Pay someone and make sure they sound like they have done it before and know where to set it for you.
Last edited by Jackie Paper; Apr 13, 2014 at 12:17 PM.
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