I remember seeing a post about changing the oil in the shocks. Will you please describe what is involved?

 

Low profile shocks are back breakers. Changed them to 13" standard air shocks about a month after I purchased my SG and that was 4 yrs ago.
I can't see any reason for the lower shocks unless you are vertically challenged. It's very hard to see the difference visually. No one has ever noticed that my SG sits 1" higher than other SG's.

 

My '09 Street Glide was also bottoming out until I brough the pressure to 50# when loaded up with the tour pak and the OL. No problems since. In '09 the MOCO changed the amount of air needed.

 

All Harleys have short suspension travel, around 3" on a 13" shock. Riding solo seems to give nobody problems, but when 2-up opinions differ. We have been talking about this on HDF for years! Shorter rear shocks usually have less travel before they bottom out and frankly I wouldn't do it. May look OK but that is a cut too far IMHO.

Get yourself a long drink and browse through earlier threads. Some of us have bought better quality shocks to improve comfort, while some HDFers complain about spending more than 5 cents on shocks. You can spend a lot of money trying several cheap solutions and find they are all poor, or save your bucks and buy truly good ones.

 

The previous owner of my 06 RG lowered front and the rear with HD stuff. I hate it so i am returning the bike back to stock height. Got some 13" shock off ebay and will put the Progressive monotube cartridges in the front when they come in.

 

atrain68 here is a copy of the post
There has been some discussion on changing oil in your shocks. By changing the weight of oil you can adjust the dampening. This is done all the time in racing bikes and quads. I changed the oil in my own bikes shocks and found it to be quite easy and the results were well worth it. I had problems with bottoming out all the time even with the air pressure as high as I dare putting in to them as much as 50 psi. After the change of oil to a 10 weight only 12 to 15 psi was needed even with a heavily loaded ultra. I made a simple press out of materials I bought at Home Depot about 20$ and is makes the oil change about a 30 minute job. My adapter made from a 1/8 pipe nipple and a 45 street el and a spark plug boot and small funnel make up the rest of the parts needed.
1 With the shock removed and brass fitting out of it install the shock upside down with the adapter pipe installed, It takes about 5 complete strokes on the handle to empty the shock of its old dirty oil about 10 oz.
2 Turn the empty shock over and put the funnel into the spark plug boot and measure out 10 oz of clean suspension oil into your measuring cup I used a ratio rite.
3 While pumping with short strokes on the press add the oil into the funnel and do not over fill because by pumping you will be burping out the air and sucking the oil into the shock.
4 wen the shock is filled with no more than 10 oz of oil put the air fitting back on the shock with thread sealant and reinstall on the bike. You are now ready to do the same for the second shock.
Attached Thumbnails

 

atrain68 pm me with your e mail and i will send the the pictures that go with the post can't seem to get them to copy

 

Texas BowHunter,
You hit the nail on the head with this one. I ride an '09 Street Glide and I used to have a hard time getting a decent ride out of when two-up with the missus. Pretty much unless I'm running 50psi maxed out I have had bottoming issues. I just purchased a new pari of 13" shocks, new take offs. I also purchased the bracket that allows you to lower the bike 1", 2" or 3". My plan is to install the 13" in place of the 12" that are already on it, and set the lowering brackets for the 1" lower setting. I'm hoping this solves my problems, giving me the ride of a 13" with the look of the classic Street Glide. I'll definitely report on is when I have it all installed...

 

Hope this helps
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/touri...ks-better.html
paul

 

oh by the way the -09 shocks have changes incorperated internally...it wasn't just the increase allowed amount of air that has changed...
The dampener valve internally has changed as well...
FWIW...I have a S/G and had the 12" shocks on it and didn't like the ride...Changed to a heavier fluid soon there after...No improvement...seemed to make things a bit harsher unlike the 97c versions...
I traded out the 12" to a buddy who was vertically challenged and got his new -09 13" shocks off his R/G...I have the 13" with a pringel 1" lowering kit and had a desent ride but The amount of air I had to run was up there...Something I felt could be improved on...
I put 10wt amsoil in the shocks and the ride was much to firm...removed the 10 wt and mixed the 10 wt an 5wt equally and got a 7.5wt and the ride seemed to improve a bit...
Still wasn't to my liking though...
I tried the slick Shift ATF fluid and thought I might be onto something but after a few days it wasn't any better then what I had in there with the 7.5 wt...
I'm presently running the Spectro Very Light fluid, 350cc's and have gotten some positive feeling from it so far...the weather has been miserable down here and I haven't gotten to really put this fluid thru the test but so far ...At 10lbs of air the ride is improved over what I had experienced with the other fluids I mentioned and tried...
It seems that with the newer -09 dampener valve the shock seems to be happier with the lighter fluid...Just the opposite with the 97C's...Go figure...
Also I got rid of the air lines and am running 1ea. each shock 1/8" mpt shreader valve (kind you would air a tire up with) on each shock to help prevent the loss of air from all those quick air line disconnect fittings...
Once you get to understanding how easy it is to remove the fluid and re-apply it back into the shock you will be able to try all brands of fluids until you get that magic formula and pass it along with others and do it for your buds for ????
FFT
paul