Progressive ft. lowering kit (update)

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Jun 27, 2007 | 11:42 PM

Mike07FLHTC

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Joined: May 2007

Posts: 713

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From: Pa.

Progressive ft. lowering kit (update)

I just put in the progressive 1.25' front lowering kit.I cut the spacers to 3/4' and added 5.5' of SE fork oil.Now the bike rides very stiff.I really f%@ked up the ride!
Anyone put the kit in there bike and can tell me what spacers you used,what oil used,what amount of oil used.
Do you think its the heavy SE oil?
the spacer is to long?
Added to much oil?
Thanks for your help
Mike
07 FLHTC

Jun 28, 2007 | 12:23 AM

dougbk

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Joined: May 2006

Posts: 1,229

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From: Greater St Louis, MO

RE: Progressive ft. lowering kit help Please!!!!!

The SE oil and the progressive springs are too much together. Use your recommended oil and see if that helps. If not, you can trim some off of the spacer to get the ride where you want it.

Jun 28, 2007 | 01:59 AM

IAMSWUTIAMS

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Joined: Nov 2006

Posts: 18,664

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From: San Diego, Mexifornia

RE: Progressive ft. lowering kit help Please!!!!!

Quote:

ORIGINAL: Mike07FLHTC

I just put in the progressive 1.25' front lowering kit.I cut the spacers to 3/4' and added 5.5' of SE fork oil.Now the bike rides very stiff.I really f%@ked up the ride!
Anyone put the kit in there bike and can tell me what spacers you used,what oil used,what amount of oil used.
Do you think its the heavy SE oil?
the spacer is to long?
Added to much oil?
Thanks for your help
Mike
07 FLHTC

Don't mean to hijack your thread, but, did you use a fork spring compressing tool to remove the springs? I'm trying to avoid paying $300 for this specialty tool. Thanks for any help.

Jun 28, 2007 | 05:05 PM

Mark98012

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Joined: Oct 2006

Posts: 466

Likes: 2

From: Bothell, WA

RE: Progressive ft. lowering kit help Please!!!!!

Lowered the wife's 07 RK custom a couple of weeks ago. Don't know what year or model you have but it went smooth and works great. Used Burley kit (White Bros.), took out springs, dampener and rebound springs. Replaced damp. springs w /supplied springs, re-installed damp. and put in new (shorter) springs and cut spacer to get required pre-load. Buttoned everything up and put in the required fork oil (10.5 oz. from manual) and good to go. "IAMSWATIAMS", it takes 2 people without anything special. Cap upside down(w/ a wrench flat on a board), one guy holding the wrench and guiding and aligning the cap and another pushing the leg DOWN compressing the spring and turning upper leg. It goes right in. I actually did my '86 a few years back by myself but for the life of me I can't remember how (but I had no special tools).

MarkR

Jun 28, 2007 | 06:34 PM

IAMSWUTIAMS

Extreme HDF Member

Joined: Nov 2006

Posts: 18,664

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From: San Diego, Mexifornia

RE: Progressive ft. lowering kit help Please!!!!!

Quote:

ORIGINAL: Mark98012

Lowered the wife's 07 RK custom a couple of weeks ago. Don't know what year or model you have but it went smooth and works great. Used Burley kit (White Bros.), took out springs, dampener and rebound springs. Replaced damp. springs w /supplied springs, re-installed damp. and put in new (shorter) springs and cut spacer to get required pre-load. Buttoned everything up and put in the required fork oil (10.5 oz. from manual) and good to go. "IAMSWATIAMS", it takes 2 people without anything special. Cap upside down(w/ a wrench flat on a board), one guy holding the wrench and guiding and aligning the cap and another pushing the leg DOWN compressing the spring and turning upper leg. It goes right in. I actually did my '86 a few years back by myself but for the life of me I can't remember how (but I had no special tools).

MarkR

Mark, the RK has conventional forks, the batwings have damper cartridge style forks. A little different process.

Jul 4, 2007 | 07:57 AM

rottnutz

Road Captain

Joined: Jun 2007

Posts: 512

Likes: 3

From: Washington

RE: Progressive ft. lowering kit help Please!!!!!

You have to keeping trimming the spacer. When I talked with tech support, they recommended the stock levels and viscosity. The key to smoothing out the riding is adjusting the preload. I'd trim some with the bench grinder, smooth the edges install the cap and test it by putting a towel on the floor, placing the tube on it and pushing down on it. When it was where I wanted it, I re-installed on the bike.. Worked great.

Jul 4, 2007 | 11:18 AM

Mike07FLHTC

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Joined: May 2007

Posts: 713

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From: Pa.

RE: Progressive ft. lowering kit (update)

Thanks for the replies.
I thought I'd update .I see a lot of people have read the post.So for those interested here goes.

I took the forks apart again.Cut the spacer to 1/2',mixed 8oz.of type E with 4oz. of SE heavy oil,and added 5.59' of oil as per the book.Ride is just what I was looking for.Nice lower ride, don't have the nose dive and ithandles better.Didn't need any special tool to do it.Goes a lot faster the second time around.
Mike