Bought my first Fat boy. But the suspension needs to be stiffened up. I bought the tool, turned the shocks and it made no difference, maybe I am doing it wrong.
I need help.


Here I tried it out of the bike,



And in the bike on the lift.

I don't see threads disappearing, I put a line on the chrome cartridge, and it doesn't seem to go in, or out.

 

Preload starts at 1:45.

 

You loosened the tightening nut prior to turning, right? Sometimes we overlook the obvious.

 

Loosen the locknut/hexnut, use a wrench on the flats of the shaft to hold the shaft from turning and turn the spanner nut to the desired adjustment. By the way this adjustment can be done with shocks installed on bike.


Guys 200+ typically will have 2 threads or less showing. If your 240 or so probably right at no threads showing. Looks like your shocks are close to factory setting which would be for a fairly light rider. Less shaft threads showing ='s more preload, more shaft threads showing ='s less preload.


The goal is to set the laden SAG between 3/4" to 1" for most travel and ride quality. Do not set the laden SAG less than 3/4", the suspension needs down travel to track irregularities.


Laden SAG being the measured difference from rear wheel off ground (suspension fully extended) to rider on bike feet on pegs/boards. Measured from axle straight up to a reference like the fender strut.


Many people think that setting the preload softer will improve ride which is not true if the bike has a proper amount of laden SAG. The combined bike and rider weight is supported by the springs and the spring rate doesn't change with preload adjustment just the ride height and available travel is changed.


Softails especially benefit from adjusting the preload up to minimize laden SAG as this allows for more available travel which causes the rear suspension to bottom less often and not as hard when it does. The shocks do not bottom, on softails the swingarm crossbar contacts a rubber bump stop on the frame. A lot of people think the shocks are firm when actually what they are feeling is the suspension bottoming. Set the preload up and set/minimize the laden SAG and the bike rides better.

 

I don't know who original attribution goes to but this was dead on for me (post 4):

https://www.hdforums.com/forum/evo-c...djustment.html

 

Link gets it in the ballpark.


Best/proper way is to measure laden SAG...very easy to do.

 

You have a link or procedure?

 

Explained in my first post.


Measured difference from rear suspension off ground/full extended to rider on bike feet on pegs suspension supporting bike and rider weight.


Easily measured on a softail from the axle straight up vertically to the fender strut.


I use a collapsible gauge and set the bottom end on the caliper bracket right over the center of the axle and collapse till it fits under the fender strut straight up from axle. That way I can measure the gauge after getting off the bike. Masking tape on fender strut helps to find straight up location when sitting on bike.


Cheap/quick gauge, couple wooden dowels or similar held together with a couple zip ties, snug enough to hold position but still movable.


Do a search for motorcycle SAG, static, rider, laden or whatever term used to describe with rider weight on bike.

 

OK I may give that a shot some time to see how it compares.