Hello all
Can someone please explain excatly how I go about adjusting my shocks
I went to sears and bought a Rubber Strap wrench - Strapped it to the bottom of the shock the part with the knotches and tryed to turn it and snaped the wrench
So what part of the shocks do you turn ?will it click through the 4 settings ?
Thannks

 

Grab the lower part of the shock with both hands and twist to increase of decrease pre-load on your shocks. Or go to the HD shop and buy the shock wrench for about $11.00

 

Can be done easier with a strap wrench or even by hand with the bike or back wheel lifted off the ground. I recommend you get a spanner wrench to do it. I picked one up at a dealer put out by Drag Specialties. Then I got another one included with my shocks when I bought my Progressives.

 

Yeah, much easier with bike on lift. I still have an old scissor type wrench from my FXR that works.

 

Strap Wrench, why that's for the fetser valve, what you need is a ball peen hammer and some ball bearings.

 

Harley didn't include the shock adjusting tool (something that you may use almost daily) so I figgered it must cost about $10,000 or sumptin'...then again, if it cost 10 cents, they would probably not include it..so I don't have one.. I'll prolly get one later but I'll try the hand (not the ball peen hammer and ball bearing) method...Which way do I turn them to carry extra load..to my right or left?? .. Clockwise or counter clockwise looking down..(or any way you can make it "idiot proof")
----------------
Bill

 

You have to adjust your shocks daily? Once I got mine set like I like them, they haven't been changed.

It's called a spanner wrench. It's shaped sort of like a Y and some are either solid or some have sort of a scissor action to them.

You should be able to tell by looking up under the shocks which way to turn them to increase or decrease the "preload". The tighter you make the spring, the more preload you have. If you can't tell by looking, then the answer is no to making them idiot proof. :-)

 

I know how the whole preload thing works...just wondering which way to turn them...guess you don't know either..
So your shocks are the same, when you are riding two-up or alone???...ooooops ...you don't have a passenger seat...guess you ride alone..some guys would look at my bike and see that I sometimes ride two-up..
I like mine a little stiffer when riding with someone on the back...a little softer when riding alone..(and that ain't a sexual thing) but that's just me I guess..

 

I have progressive 412 heavy duty 12" shocks. I do have a passenger seat, I just only use it when I carry a passenger and I haven't found that my shocks need adjusting when I do. That's not true for everyone, I realize, but daily? -come on. LOL

And it should be no surprise to any of us that the moco doesn't give a lot of extra stuff with the bike. They are experts at making something just attractive enough to buy knowing you will be back to purchase more stuff, either because you need it or want it. With that said, however, I'm not even sure they sell a spanner wrench. Most dealers do, but they aren't HD brand that I've seen.

As for which way to turn them, no I don't remember without looking. But I do remember that, when you do look, it's very obvious, or should be, which way to turn them for the desired result.

 

Thank-you...and since it's pissing down rain today, I think I'll make myself a little more familiar with those shocks...
----------
Bill