HarleyTechTalk

I purchases the 944's recently and I started to put on my removable backrest and it wouldn't fit because the bracket hit the shock when trying to latch it down. I finally removed the top bolt and put a spacer in between the shock and the mount. It cleared the shock but now I can hardly get the backrest bracket in between the spacer and the normal docking location. Anybody had this problem? How did you arrange the spacers to make this work without binding the backrest bracket?   Thanks

what year and model of bike.  I have had 440's on my 04 EGC with no issues using the detach backrest/tourpack and the 940's on my 2011 RGU using detachable backrest/tourpack.

2012 Streetglide with factory detachable back rest.

Quote from: sammiew on April 14, 2013, 07:40:13 AM
2012 Streetglide with factory detachable back rest.

When I get home tonight (6pm) I will take some photos for you.  I was pretty sure the 940 and 944's shared the same body just different internals maybe not tho. 

Funny, I just experienced this same problem a couple weeks ago on an 11 SG with 944's. I happened to have the quick detach tour pak off and momma wanted to go for a ride so I went to put the backrest on and it wouldn't go. The bottom "ears" of the rack slot were hitting hard on the top of the shocks just inboard of the shock mount eye.

So, I moved the flat washer to the inboard side to space the shock out and it helped a little bit. Finally ended up taking a die grinder with a 180 grit disc to the bottom of the rack ears. Took maybe .020" or .030" off and rounded the edges smooth. It goes on now but it is still all but touching the shock.

Hated to do that. Think I'll space them out a bit more though. Probably something Progressive should mention to customers huh?

I ended up taking the four equal sized bronze spacers that came with the shocks and installed those and everything fit perfectly and the backrest problem went way.  I am 165 and the wife is 125 lbs and I have the shocks on its lightest setting. It seemed a little stiff with both of us riding so I am somewhat worried when I ride by myself there is no more adjustment that i can do and it will be hopefully not be too stiff. I have the standard springs so I will find out later.

So, you say you have the standard weight springs, correct? The top cap is threaded up fully/no lines showing?  Combined weight of you/wife is 290# and this is still too stiff? Are you positive you have standard springs? 290# on lightest preload on standard springs shouldn't be stiff...

By my sales slip that came with the shocks it shows standard springs. It has some numbers on the springs if that tells anything?  1370 90/130

The springs were 11" fully extended. With myself it only came down to 10". With both of us it read right at 9.5"

Maybe their too soft at that adjustment
and not giving enough?

Quote from: sammiew on April 14, 2013, 06:39:18 PM
By my sales slip that came with the shocks it shows standard springs. It has some numbers on the springs if that tells anything?  1370 90/130

The springs were 11" fully extended. With myself it only came down to 10". With both of us it read right at 9.5"

the stock size StGl shocks are 12".  Did you put the 11" on to lower the bike?  if so, the angle that the shocks are now at when the bike is level may have the shock adjustment head in the way of the detachable items.  If the shocks are 11" at rest and goes down to 9 1/2" when two up, you need to increase the preload on the springs.  The stiffness that you are experiencing could be due to you not having much actual suspension movement at the current preload setting.  I'm not sure, but I don't think those shock have any more than 3" of overall travel (and likely even less than that) so when you take 1 1/2" of that up in just setting on the bike that doesn't leave much travel for softening bumps. 

Quote from: mayor on April 15, 2013, 03:16:33 AM

Quote from: sammiew on April 14, 2013, 06:39:18 PM
By my sales slip that came with the shocks it shows standard springs. It has some numbers on the springs if that tells anything?  1370 90/130

The springs were 11" fully extended. With myself it only came down to 10". With both of us it read right at 9.5"

the stock size StGl shocks are 12".  Did you put the 11" on to lower the bike?  if so, the angle that the shocks are now at when the bike is level may have the shock adjustment head in the way of the detachable items.  If the shocks are 11" at rest and goes down to 9 1/2" when two up, you need to increase the preload on the springs.  The stiffness that you are experiencing could be due to you not having much actual suspension movement at the current preload setting.  I'm not sure, but I don't think those shock have any more than 3" of overall travel (and likely even less than that) so when you take 1 1/2" of that up in just setting on the bike that doesn't leave much travel for softening bumps. 

Should probably be set for 1/2" sag solo or 3/4" sag for 2 up if you ride 2 up majority of the time

the 940/944 only come in 13" the 90/130 spring is the lighter weight spring.   They have about 3.2" travel so sag should be 1" +/-.  Progressive can put a longer lighter spring on but that will negate the 940/944 ability to set an inch lower without loosing travel.  Ie you will sit like a 13" shock instead of a 12" shock.  I had them change springs on mine (they do it for free) and 10X better ride.

http://www.progressivesuspension.com/pdfs/7100-105.pdf

you can scroll down to the 940/944 for specs.

Quote from: Jeffd on April 15, 2013, 07:11:06 AM
the 940/944 only come in 13" the 90/130 spring is the lighter weight spring.   They have about 3.2" travel so sag should be 1" +/-.  Progressive can put a longer lighter spring on but that will negate the 940/944 ability to set an inch lower without loosing travel.  Ie you will sit like a 13" shock instead of a 12" shock.  I had them change springs on mine (they do it for free) and 10X better ride.

This is what confuses me about the 444 is that they say you can use a shorter spring and it doesn't loose travel.. This doesn't make sense.. Maybe it doesn't loose total travel but you are going to have to make that bagger fly so the shock can extend to get that travel..

Max

Quote from: Max Headflow on April 15, 2013, 08:23:05 AM

Quote from: Jeffd on April 15, 2013, 07:11:06 AM
the 940/944 only come in 13" the 90/130 spring is the lighter weight spring.   They have about 3.2" travel so sag should be 1" +/-.  Progressive can put a longer lighter spring on but that will negate the 940/944 ability to set an inch lower without loosing travel.  Ie you will sit like a 13" shock instead of a 12" shock.  I had them change springs on mine (they do it for free) and 10X better ride.

This is what confuses me about the 444 is that they say you can use a shorter spring and it doesn't loose travel.. This doesn't make sense.. Maybe it doesn't loose total travel but you are going to have to make that bagger fly so the shock can extend to get that travel..

Max

they actually use 2 springs to accomplish on the 940/944 not sure if the 444's are the same way.  I am not smart enough to articulate why it works but after seeing one taken apart it makes sense how it workslol.  I know for me travel was not an issue but the harsh ride was.  I live in an incredible nice area to be able to ride fast but the roads are not so nice lol. 

I maybe getting you guys confused with my way of wording this topic and now I am getting confused myself.    Let me try again, after mounting the shocks the bike was raised up on my jack to let the shocks fully extend. I measured from the axle to a location on the bottom of my fender and it read 11" to this point. I put the bike on the ground and got on it and took another measurement to the same location on the fender and it went down to 10" with me only and then to 9.5" with the wife. The adjustment knob is turned all the way up with no threads showing at all.  Now I am confused on how you would make the adjustment to get a per say 1/2"sag for riding by myself? Do you raise the bike back up and screw down the adjustment knobs till it reads from 11" full travel to only 10.5" to do this? Surely not I hope. Seems like if you are sitting on the bike and make adjustments it will shorten the spring even more. 

There was a link to a video on here about a year ago on how to set ride height. I think it was from J&P Cycles. I have searched their sight and here and haven't found it. Maybe someone more tech savvy than me can located it and post it for you. It is a simple process once you see it done.

Quote from: sammiew on April 15, 2013, 06:56:19 PM
I maybe getting you guys confused with my way of wording this topic and now I am getting confused myself.    Let me try again, after mounting the shocks the bike was raised up on my jack to let the shocks fully extend. I measured from the axle to a location on the bottom of my fender and it read 11" to this point. I put the bike on the ground and got on it and took another measurement to the same location on the fender and it went down to 10" with me only and then to 9.5" with the wife. The adjustment knob is turned all the way up with no threads showing at all.  Now I am confused on how you would make the adjustment to get a per say 1/2"sag for riding by myself? Do you raise the bike back up and screw down the adjustment knobs till it reads from 11" full travel to only 10.5" to do this? Surely not I hope. Seems like if you are sitting on the bike and make adjustments it will shorten the spring even more. 

Twisting  the collar down so that more of the shock body is showing increases the preload on the spring. Best to do it with the rear tire off the ground.. Mainly cuz it's easier..

Say you got 1.5 inches of sag and you want 1.. Screw the top collar down 1/2 inch.. Angles and actual distance is a little weird but you should be close..
Max

Quote from: sammiew on April 15, 2013, 06:56:19 PM
I maybe getting you guys confused with my way of wording this topic and now I am getting confused myself.    Let me try again, after mounting the shocks the bike was raised up on my jack to let the shocks fully extend. I measured from the axle to a location on the bottom of my fender and it read 11" to this point. I put the bike on the ground and got on it and took another measurement to the same location on the fender and it went down to 10" with me only and then to 9.5" with the wife. The adjustment knob is turned all the way up with no threads showing at all.  Now I am confused on how you would make the adjustment to get a per say 1/2"sag for riding by myself? Do you raise the bike back up and screw down the adjustment knobs till it reads from 11" full travel to only 10.5" to do this? Surely not I hope. Seems like if you are sitting on the bike and make adjustments it will shorten the spring even more. 

Sounds like you have 1" of SAG solo, and 1.5" of SAG 2-up...sounds good to me.  I would never run less than 1" of SAG as the suspension has to have down travel to track the road surface and maintain contact/traction when the bike is light on the road.   Rick

Progressive shows us how to set Suspension Sag
Progressive Suspension 944 Shock
Maybe these will help

Quote from: sammiew on April 15, 2013, 06:56:19 PM
I maybe getting you guys confused with my way of wording this topic and now I am getting confused myself.    Let me try again, after mounting the shocks the bike was raised up on my jack to let the shocks fully extend. I measured from the axle to a location on the bottom of my fender and it read 11" to this point. I put the bike on the ground and got on it and took another measurement to the same location on the fender and it went down to 10" with me only and then to 9.5" with the wife. The adjustment knob is turned all the way up with no threads showing at all.  Now I am confused on how you would make the adjustment to get a per say 1/2"sag for riding by myself? Do you raise the bike back up and screw down the adjustment knobs till it reads from 11" full travel to only 10.5" to do this? Surely not I hope. Seems like if you are sitting on the bike and make adjustments it will shorten the spring even more. 

If you spaced out the top of the shock and not the bottom of the shock the shocks are not parallel and may be binding as they compress.   I have seen this case more than once.

 Thanks you for all the reply's fellows. I am getting a better idea on how to set these shocks up. I watched the YouTube Video closer this time around and picked up a few of my answers from this. Kinda looking like I don't have enough A-- for the shocks to do their job.

Thanks again

Quote from: sammiew on April 16, 2013, 05:45:46 AM
Thanks you for all the reply's fellows. I am getting a better idea on how to set these shocks up. I watched the YouTube Video closer this time around and picked up a few of my answers from this. Kinda looking like I don't have enough A-- for the shocks to do their job.

Thanks again

when I first got my 940's that was the case and I contacted Progressive directly and they told me they feel the average weight of the bagger rider was something like 250.  I think they were stereo typing pretty bad lol.  If you contact them they will install a lighter spring at no charge.

That video wolf_59 posted is the one I was referring to. Very simple explanation once you see it.