what is the best way to adjust the shock on a heritage softail. bought the spanner tool having a hard time fitting it to the shock.

 

I used a short wrench to loosen jam nut and was able to just get the spanner to fit in shock. It will turn hard at first but gets easier as it starts moving. Just have to wiggle it and it will fit the grooves.

Steve

 

I have no problem with the spanner wrench. I cut down the handle of the open end wrench to give me enough room to turn it.
When you first turn the shocks go one way or the other as far as they will turn. Then paint a white stripe on the bottom.
After that when you adjust them you will be able to see how many turns you've gone and that both shocks have been adjusted equally.
You will probably need a heat gun or hair dryer to heat the nuts to loosen the loctite that is put on at the factory.
When you are done adjusting the shocks if you decide to go to the end of the adjustment back them off the other direction just a hair. This will make it easier to loosen them when you adjust them next time.
Don't tighten the nuts very tight, for some reason they seem to get tighter between adjustments. I just barely go past snug and have never had the nuts loosen.
I don't put any loctite on them either.

The first time you do the adjustment it is a PITA, after that it's a 5 minute job.
Tom

 

after you loosen the nut (with the spanner wrench backwards), you just put the prongs in the holes in the shocks and turn them.

It certainly might be tough the first time.

I adjust mine all the time and it only takes <5 mins.

Do a search of the forum, there's some detailed instructions loaded.