Disassembly and Reassembly of Harley Davidson Rear Shock Absorbers

Take your shocks apart for cleaning, painting, or changing parts.

[@JamesCarter-ii4up]

Hey I just learned something... Again... You have Help Many Old bikes get back in the Wind... Thanks for sharing your wisdom and knowledge.... thank you

[@pacificmike9501]

Thank you.

[@davemetz7368]

Thank you Mike. I've always been curious about dismantling shocks.

[@pacificmike9501]

Thank you.

[@Gunslnga1]

Man, you saved me on the shock disassembly, I was headed in wrong direction! Thank you so much!

[@pacificmike9501]

Glad to help.

[@MikeFLHT]

Mike. Loving your videos. What I would like to see are videos on how YOU perform a full service on a shovel, evo, pan, knuckle, etc. I think it would be of interest to many. Thanks again for your good efforts here. It's in the wind... Spanky

[@pacificmike9501]

Good idea. We'll do that pretty soon.

[@cameramanmike2072]

Awesome . Good to see you again Mike . Thanks for keeping the candle lit .

[@pacificmike9501]

Thank you.

[@rodslogic4350]

Thanks Mike. Great information as usual. Keep these tips coming short, quick and to the point videos always a pleasure to watch.

[@pacificmike9501]

Thanks, will do!

[@bobberclub]

Thank you Mike ! Just used your "ol' days" tip to take my shock apart, it works great with old clutchplates ! Greetings from Germany

[@pacificmike9501]

Glad it helped. Greetings.

[@paulj7149]

Thanks for the tips on maintaining these old sleds. Hats off to ya...

[@pacificmike9501]

Thank you.

[@haroldscheg5982]

Awesome Job Mike, keep the video’s a rolling!

[@pacificmike9501]

Thank you.

[@anthonymalfino1]

I love your videos my friend. I do. This one helped me a lot. May God bless you on the way Mike.

[@pacificmike9501]

Glad it helped. Take care.

[@johnF56]

Good video..... Quick and simple.

[@pacificmike9501]

Glad you liked it!

[@johnjames9799]

Good video Mike,,,

[@pacificmike9501]

Thank you.

[@simontouchette]

thanks! very well explained!

[@pacificmike9501]

Glad it was helpful!

[@burlymugg]

nice! i want to parkerize some shock parts, i have a press so i'll likely just make one of those tools you have and get to gettin

[@pacificmike9501]

Cool. Thank you.

[@podunk9798]

Thank God for this video.

[@pacificmike9501]

Glad if it helped you.

[@RichardSmith-yv8pe]

Cool quick video. Maybe a video showing all the special tools would be great as well. Thanks...

[@pacificmike9501]

Thank you.

[@pacificmike9501]

We'll show more tools as we use them.

[@chrisgarland1401]

Thank you sir.

[@pacificmike9501]

Thank you.

[@joesurfer9754]

I was coming on here to ask you to make a video of taking shocks apart. And I found this, lol. I will have to got the clutch disk, all thread route and it dont sound like fun.

[@pacificmike9501]

It's a little slow, but not at all difficult. Not a big deal at all.

[@pacificmike9501]

It's just a disc at each end, with allthread and nuts holdingg them together. Tighten the nuts and remove the keepers.

[@joesurfer9754]

@@pacificmike9501 Thank Mike, I appreciate it a lot.

[@misticmechanic9196]

Hi MIke, please advice, does FLH`80 rear schocks are rebuildable? I mean can i diassembly them, change the sealings and oil inside?

[@pacificmike9501]

No. You can remove the shock absorber and (back when they were available) you could replace the shock itself, but the shock absorber unit itself, is sealed.

[@ironearl69]

Hi Mike, Great method to make this job easier. Here is a somewhat related question. I started restoring a ‘69FLH 3yrs. ago and sandblasted and powder coated the frame and installed new bearings and seals in the swingarm and reinstalled swingarm to the frame. The bike sat till this year. Divorce will do that…lol. It is almost done now, but I missed a step. I now see that Harley recommends that you preload the swingarm pivot bolt by using a set of scales placed under the rear axle bolt in place in the swingarm and set preload for about 1-2lbs. Would I be safe to simply at this point just back off any torque I put on the swingarm pivot bolt and then re-tighten till the head of the bolt mates (comes into contact) with the frame and then tighten an additional ¼ turn or so? I have never done this before, but I cannot imagine anyone actually doing as the manual states about the scales. Your thoughts? Thanks.

[@pacificmike9501]

Hate to admit it, by I've always checked it by feel. I've always torqued the pivot bolt to 45lbs. Now you have me wondering. I've checked them for "shake" by feel. I've checked them for movement side to side. I've always put new bearings and races in them with new spacers and seals. I've had no problems there. Now, I'm going to do some research.

[@ironearl69]

Hi Mike, Thank you for your reply. I think little torque is required as long as it passes the shake test. The washer on the pivot bolt is tabbed so you can ensure the bolt does not back out. Please let me know if you find out something contrary. By the way, I found out the missing piece to the puzzle with regards to the thrust washer for the starter housing; looks like OEM housings were machined to accept the brass TW and then you could 'stake' them; however, my experience with aftermarket housings exposed that they are not machined for the TW. What they do is have a thicker casting which compensates for the thickness of the brass TW, so no TW required.

[@pacificmike9501]

Thank you. I agree with all of it. Just one thing: I don't thoroughly test a locktab. To me, it's a good thing, but not enough. Having a swingarm pivot bolt come out is no party. I had one that was sticking out several inches. If my swingarm passes all tests after I've torqued it to about 45lbs and the locktab is set, we're good to go.

[@pacificmike9501]

Sorry, that was thoroughly "trust" a locktab.

[@ironearl69]

Mike, thanks for your reply. I'm going to take your advise and torque to 45lbs. and do the shake test...if all seems good then set the tabbed washer. Hope you're finding time to get some riding in!

[@joedoherty3287]

What grade of oil do you use in your panhead? Also do you use non ethanol gas?One more ? I have a manuel point set up ,What is your preferred points? Outstanding videos Thanks for passing on your knowledge.

[@pacificmike9501]

20/50. Just a personal preferance. It circulates better when starting up. Finding good points is difficult. They seem to be inconsistent today. You'll have to try different brands until you find what you like. I use use the best and highest octane gas I can find. Formulas seem to vary from area to area. I'm sorry to be so "non-committal."

[@joedoherty3287]

Thanks Mike wished Id had teachers like you while in school would have gotten better grades maybe graduated Doing good ,Retired an have a 61 Pan also a dyna 70+ Thanks again@@pacificmike9501

[@pacificmike9501]

Thank you. Glad to be of help to you. I've been fortunate to have had good teachers. I hope to do them justice. Didn't do to well in school myself.

[@mikeburton1703]

i would have liked to have seen you take the shock out completely as i want to put new shocks on my old chrome springs ...do you have to press the bottom off too before the shock will come out completely?

[@pacificmike9501]

No. Once you remove the top "clip," remove the shock.

[@mikeburton1703]

@@pacificmike9501 thanks that way i can put new shocks in the chrome springs ...thanks for the info...

[@SamDVgun]

I would like to raise a toast for your informative video. Can we replace the stock shock spring with short size spring to lower it on stock shocks?

[@pacificmike9501]

I've never seen that work well. Different methods for different chassis. You didn't say what the bike is. Some are easy. What is the bike?

[@pacificmike9501]

Thanks for the toast. I'll drink to that.

[@SamDVgun]

Pacific Mike it’s a 2015 Harley Davidson iron 883XL

[@JohnR-du9pm]

You make Great informative videos sir! But i have a curiosity and I can't find the answer doing searches so maybe you can help. I've owned a 1984 Softy since it was new and I've never changed the shocks. As I'm sure you know they aren't adjustable but my belt is. My question, have you ever disassembled a first or second year Softy shock? I'd like to know what the innards look like. I believe they are different from the later style shock. Thanks!

[@pacificmike9501]

I don't remember taking a very early Softail shock apart. I've replaced a bunch with better shocks. I remember on the 84, removing the right shock to install the missing fifth bolt in the bottom of the trans. You might want to check for that if yours is a four speed.

[@Billybob58-xf4hq]

Its the little things in life..........

[@pacificmike9501]

Yep.

[@dugy40]

What about a Harley air shock? They look just like the Honda ones being rebuilt.

[@pacificmike9501]

Okay.

[@PickTheTumblers]

Does anyone know a good manufacturer for 95 flstc rear springs?

[@pacificmike9501]

Matter of preference. You'll find all of the major suppliers carry them as complete shock absorber units.

[@iggynub]

Shop press is just a bottlejack? blew my mind m8.

[@pacificmike9501]

It is a standard old hydraulic press. Pressure is delivered through a hydraulic jack.

[@josedaniel4725]

Would you sell one of those shock tools?

[@pacificmike9501]

It's a large washer with a "bridge" welded to it. My friend, Stevie made it for me. He has since passed. I miss him and treasure all the things he made for me. This one is an easy one to fabricate. In the old days, we used two old retired clutch discs and three lengths of "all thread."