corvette shocks fail
Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,350
Likes: 46
No offense, but there are people that would post that after they cut the eyelet off just to try to keep people from running them. I have had them for a couple of years & 21K miles on them,no problems. Between my wife & I is close to 500#. But I will pull the bags off & inspect them, thanks for the info.
Toby
Toby
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 14,143
Likes: 11,214
From: San Diego, CA
I have no idea why someone would try to "mickey mouse" a shock on a Harley with the many, many options available...
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 10,637
Likes: 1,246
From: Lake, Ms
2010 Limited with some stuff
Thread Starter
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,976
Likes: 49
From: Northern California
Why ?? A corvette is certainly much heavier and would put a greater load on the shock right ??
BUT when used on the HD they do carry ALL the load.
When used in the intended application they control the suspension movement.
When used on a bike they are the suspension.
From my understanding they work well and are a fairly inexpensive way of having a air ride. But for me air ride could be too failure prone ?? Spring a leak and you have a rigid and possibly a long unpleasant ride home.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 4,999
Likes: 55
From: Bay Area
Why ?? A corvette is certainly much heavier and would put a greater load on the shock right ??
BUT when used on the HD they do carry ALL the load.
When used in the intended application they control the suspension movement.
When used on a bike they are the suspension.
From my understanding they work well and are a fairly inexpensive way of having a air ride. But for me air ride could be too failure prone ?? Spring a leak and you have a rigid and possibly a long unpleasant ride home.
BUT when used on the HD they do carry ALL the load.
When used in the intended application they control the suspension movement.
When used on a bike they are the suspension.
From my understanding they work well and are a fairly inexpensive way of having a air ride. But for me air ride could be too failure prone ?? Spring a leak and you have a rigid and possibly a long unpleasant ride home.
On a HD the shock is the rear pivot point of the entire powertrain, it bolts to a rubber mounted swing arm which is attached to the back of the transmission, which is attached to a completely rubber mounted motor. The power train oscilates when in motion and there are side loads placed on the shocks when the bike leans. Auto shocks are made from a lighter gauge sheet metal and the welds are not designed to take side loads which the metal will break more than likely than the weld breaking. Even the Chinese welders must have some sort of pride in their welds.
Ever wonder why shops don't advertise cheap ways around bike suspension?
My analogy is like this "If a person smoked for 40 years and didn't get cancer, does that mean its ok to smoke"?
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Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,350
Likes: 46
On any air shock, when lifted above stock ride height, the shock no longer just controls up & down. As for side load, don't think for one minute that a car won't produce side load in a turn. As for using them on a Harley, I am one of those people. The stock shocks on our FLTH's are a air shock. The Vette shocks have more travel & has more pressure capabilities. There are companies out the that do use the same shock, some have some minor differences, just as brand to brand will do. Arrnott comes to mind & charges 800.00 more for the kit. Cost for the DIY is 200.00+-50.00 depending on how you do your dump valve & air compressor. People have been doing this for years, this is not a new find. As for failing due to the eyelet breaking off, prove that was even on the bike when it broke, or not used on something else before it broke. Prove that it wasn't tampered with or a setup to have people stop doing it because someone doesn't think it is right. Good luck
Toby
Toby