How do you adjust the shocks on a Heritage Softail?
Turn the shock adjuster plates inward — clockwise — away from the jam nut to lower the spring pre-load and smooth out the ride for lighter loads. Make sure you turn the shock adjuster plates an equal number of turns for each shock. Tighten the jam nut on each shock absorber in a clockwise direction.
How do you adjust the preload on a Harley Softail?
To increase preload for heavier riders/loads/passengers, loosen locknut with the inside portion of the supplied wrench or a 1-1/16” wrench and back it off several turns. Use the supplied wrench or a Harley adjustment wrench to turn the adjustment nut counterclockwise to the desired preload setting.
How do you adjust a shock absorber?
To correctly adjust a shock absorber, set the adjustment knob at zero prior to system engagement. Cycle the mechanism and observe the system’s deceleration. If damping appears too soft with no visual deceleration and bangs at end of stroke, move the indicator to next largest number.
How to adjust the rear shock on a Harley Davidson Softail?
Lower the motorcycle to the ground and remove the hydraulic jack stand from underneath the motorcycle. The shock absorber adjustment spanner wrench is available from your Harley Davidson dealer. Be careful when placing the hydraulic jack underneath the motorcycle. Do not place the jack underneath the brake pedal.
Where is the Softail on a Harley Davidson?
Softail Shock Adjustment. Positioned horizontally under the motorcycle, the shock is mounted to the frame in the front of the bike and to the swing arm in the rear. As the shock compresses, the bike gets taller. As the shock extends, the bike stands lower. The rear shock spring preload may be adjusted to the total load,…
How much weight can a Softail shock handle?
Softails’s come from the factory with the lightest setting for the rear shocks (for <180lbs solo rider). However, they can handle well over 400lbs with no problems with a simple preload adjustment. The service manual is a bit vague on how to set the preload. The procedure I use is fairly simple.
What kind of wrench do I need for softtail shock adjustment?
Softtail Shock Adjustment You will need a spanner wrench (Harley Davidson part # 94448-82B) and a large 1-1/16″ wrench. The 1-1/16″ wrench is used for the jam nut. It is a good idea to purchase a cheap 1-1/16″ wrench that can be cut shorter to access the jam nut.
Lower the motorcycle to the ground and remove the hydraulic jack stand from underneath the motorcycle. The shock absorber adjustment spanner wrench is available from your Harley Davidson dealer. Be careful when placing the hydraulic jack underneath the motorcycle. Do not place the jack underneath the brake pedal.
What’s the best way to adjust rear shocks?
Now your ready to adjust the shocks to your weight/load. 5) With the spanner wrench, turn the adjuster plate clockwise no more then 4 complete turns by counting how many times the mark from step 4 crosses the 6 o’clock position. 0 turns is the stiffest setting, and 4 turns is the softest setting.
Softail Shock Adjustment. Positioned horizontally under the motorcycle, the shock is mounted to the frame in the front of the bike and to the swing arm in the rear. As the shock compresses, the bike gets taller. As the shock extends, the bike stands lower. The rear shock spring preload may be adjusted to the total load,…
Softtail Shock Adjustment You will need a spanner wrench (Harley Davidson part # 94448-82B) and a large 1-1/16″ wrench. The 1-1/16″ wrench is used for the jam nut. It is a good idea to purchase a cheap 1-1/16″ wrench that can be cut shorter to access the jam nut.