Has anyone installed 13" Progressive 430's on a Street Glide. I have been trying on my 2012 Street Glide and I cannot for the life of me get the top and bottom bolt holes to line up. The shock is taller than the bolt holes, I have tried on a lift, on the center stand and on the side stand. I know there has to be a way I just cannot figure it out. I have an ez up center stand so I cannot put my lift at the back of the bike due to clearance so that is the only thing that I am thinking may be the issue. Maybe I need to have the lift more at the back of the bike. I don't want to remove the center stand yet just in case there are words of wisdom from all the gurus out there.

 

Street glides come with short shocks, and that's a standard length you are trying to install. You'll have to get that swing arm farther from the fender!

 

Some exhausts let the wheel axle not go deep enough .Example V&H twinslash ovals.The dent in the exhaust is not deep enough.Talking about a 2010 FLHT

 

Just a thought did you have both of the old shocks removed before trying to install the new ones.
That way the swing arm should stay down as you jack the bike up with the lift, until the holes line up. Good luck...

 

Thanks for the responses so far, I did only have one shock off. Maybe I will try that.

 

You need to take both shocks off. To do so, jack the bike up a little, so the rear wheel is still just touching the ground. That will take the weight of the bike off the shock bolts, so you can remove them all. Then lift the bike a little further, to increase the distance between upper and lower fittings, with the wheel still on the ground. Don't try to be too precise, as if the gap is too great you can put some packing under the rear wheel to get things closer.

If your bike lift is anything like mine, do not try to lower the bike a little, with the shocks removed. Mine has no precise control for letting the bike down, although it is good when raising it.

 

Oh man!

 

All good now, removed the second shock and it worked. Duh, feel dumb but that's how you learn. Thanks to all for your comments and suggestions except JoeTag, go find another hobby.

 

Well done, we knew you could do it!