Lowering kit help - bottoms out

[phillipsgtx]

I recently had a Heartland E-Z Rocker kit installed on my 08 FXCWC with a 2" lowering kit install on the rear shocks. With the extenders adjusted to the minimum amout of lowering the swing arm bumper bottoms out. Any insight from someone who has installed a progressing lowering kit? The rest of the conversion went great.

[petrock]

Is the rear shock's preload adjustment set to your weight? If not, you'll bottom out like crazy with a 2" drop. If you do, you might want to increase the preload a bit to compensate for the 2" drop. Good luck...

[phillipsgtx]

Originally Posted by petrock

Is the rear shock's preload adjustment set to your weight? If not, you'll bottom out like crazy with a 2" drop. If you do, you might want to increase the preload a bit to compensate for the 2" drop. Good luck...

I would like to do it now so I could enjoy riding tomorrow. A crash course in preload adjustment would be great....Thanks

[rcsoftail]

Found some instructions. You will need the spanner wrench.

Adjustment range is approximately 4 full rotations.
1.) Loosen pre-load adjustment lock nut. (re. to fig. 1)
2.) Using a special tool such as our ZPN 750803 Softail
shock pre-load tool, turn adjusting plate clockwise to
stiffen pre-load & counter-clockwise to loosen pre-load.
(re. to fig. 2)
3.) Lock down pre-load adjusting nut using a medium
strength thread locker such as Loctite “Blue” or Permatex
“Blue” when pre-load has been set

Here's a link http://zodiac-nl.hu/instructions/243067.pdf

[petrock]

Originally Posted by phillipsgtx

A crash course in preload adjustment would be great....Thanks

Check out www.fatbillscustoms.com page on adjusting shock pre-load. Its the guide I use to adjust my shocks. Only step they don't list is putting the bike up on a lift and strapping it down securely with tie down straps so you have room to work and not have to worry about the bike wiggling off the lift as you mess with the adjustment.

When ever I adjust my shocks I use zero turns as the baseline. I turn the spanner thingy until there are zero threads and then adjust it to the weight I need. For my 235lbs fat bootie I use three full rotations (three threads). When I've got the girlie on a long ride, I use one full turn. When I've got the girlie and a loaded T-Bag strapped on the backrest/luggage rack, I use zero to .5 turns depending on the weight of the loaded T-Bag. Takes about 20 minutes from start to finish (now that I've done it a bunch of times).

I'd recommend adjusting it to fit your weight. Ride it around and see if it bottoms out or not. If it does, adjust it stiffer (1/4 turn) and do another test ride. Repeat until it stops bottoming out. Good luck...

[phillipsgtx]

Sure do appreciate the input. I'm all over it first thing in the morning. Thanks again for the help....

[phillipsgtx]

After several rounds of adjusting, the final solution was to replace the bump stop with a 07 softail standard piece. The stock Rocker bump stop was an inch longer to protect the swing arm mounted fender. The change out took all of 15 minutes. With the Heartland kit installed it was no longer needed due to the strut mounted fender. Now I have the shocks set in the center adjustment with the bike lower an inch and a half and it rides and looks great. Thanks to all who responded, I am now fully versed in the full on EZ Rocker Heartland conversion as well at the softail lowering investigation that came with it.......

[FatBill]

Before you put it on a lift and secure with straps...make sure you eat food for energy and breath air so you don't pass out and ....