Evo rear shocks question please....

[BaZa®]

Just been asked this can anyone help?

I dont know if you can lead me in the right direction or not. But here goes.
I just picked up at 96 Road king and I find the rear shocks too stiff.
When I sit on the bike there is no compression of the rear, No air in them, off the bike I cannot compress them and when adding air they do not extend.
Is there a preset for the spring tension?
thanks

[michael_dinwiddy]

If you look in the right hand pannier the front and rear pressures are marked.

Only use a hand pump not an air line as the pressures are between 10 and 15 psi.

If the bike has been standing a long time one of the shoks could have seized but I doubt it.

I assume the swinging arm moves.

There is also the possibility that the airline is pinched.

Striff shocks are unusual normally they are too squidgy

best o luck

[Gogsy]

Try using this tool.
Attachment 5338
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/54630-03A-HARLEY-DAVIDSON-Suspension-Air-Pump_W0QQitemZ200213713880QQihZ010QQcategoryZ10458 QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[hogglide]

I have no air in rear shocks of my 96 roadking and i can compress them about an 1" to possibly2" by hand, you should be able to get some movement.

[hogglide]

Further to last post recommended air pressures are:solo rider 0 psi.Rider and passenger 5 psi. rider,passenger with luggage 10psi.these are obviously recommendations.Do not exceed35 psi but i wouldnt fill shocks with that much air.

[grbrown]

I have just changed my rear shocks for Fournales, but used around 10psi solo and 15 two-up, 20 if fully laden with luggage. I agree that generally the original shocks are soft. If there is no movement suggests one is bent or seized up.

Start my disconnecting each shock in turn (saves jacking up the bike) to see if it compresses. With just one on the bike it should compress very easily!

You don't need anything fancy to pump them up - I used a cheap short bicycle pump (fits in a toolbag) from Halfords and an airbed adapter, plus a low pressure pencil gauge.

[Tony Cross]

Starting a bit of work on an 89 classic which needs new rear suspension units fitting. How much were yours if thats not a rude question and how do they compare with the originals Graham?

[grbrown]

Originally Posted by Tony Cross

Starting a bit of work on an 89 classic which needs new rear suspension units fitting. How much were yours if thats not a rude question and how do they compare with the originals Graham?

Tony,

I bought them from Harley Custom UK, the 'Chrome Steel Classic' version, which is the only model Fournales recommend for my model and year (1990). Current price is £345 + VAT etc. I also bought a suitable pump from them (they operate at around 10.5bar, or 150psi). Fournales has a website, but it is not very informative.

I haven't ridden the bike far as yet, and I have also replaced the original swingarm 'bushes' with solid metal ones and replaced the tyres. Roads are filthy at present, so it may be a while before I get any serious miles on it. (I will be taking it to Wales for a new S&S engine shortly, but motorways are not a good test of such things.) First impressions are very good, like bracing myself to hit a hole I couldn't avoid and then thinking the bike seemed to glide over it, which it wouldn't before. My hope and expectation is that they will prove significantly better than the originals, especially when fully loaded.

So a cautious thumbs up!

They look very plain and very chromed! They were very slightly longer than the originals, so I couldn't take on old one off and fit the new one, had to take both old ones off and jack the rear to get the length just right. There is no difference obvious once fitted.

The upper shroud screws down, to reveal the valve. They have to be set individually (I haven't touched mine yet) rather than via a single valve as on my originals. I also fitted them with their logos facing in, valves facing to the rear, as I reckoned that makes them more accessible.

I have other handling mods in hand, including Hyperpro progressive rate springs and Race Tech emulators for the front forks, a TrueTrack stabilizer handling kit, also a Screaming Eagle 'race brace'. This thing is going to handle like a racer very soon!

[Tony Cross]

Sorry for being late with a thank you for that but I have suffered an internet failure for just over a week. Keep me posted on your latest developments.

[grbrown]

Originally Posted by Tony Cross

Sorry for being late with a thank you for that but I have suffered an internet failure for just over a week. Keep me posted on your latest developments.

No probs! I delivered the bike to Matts in South Wales on Saturday, on the filthiest journey I have suffered for years. Bike rode beautifully, which further impresses me that these shocks are worthwhile. Weather was very wet and cold and I reckoned I suffered carb icing on occasions.

When I ride it next it will have a nice new little S&S 107 in it, so value judgements may have to be adjusted significantly....

Go to my 107inch Mountain Motor string for news as it breaks.