Adjustable Shock Question!

[larryk]

HI, I have a GL1800 with a Cobra CSC kit. IT's new to me, and I'm trying to figure out the "fully adjustable shock". The manual says:

With one finger, turn clockwise until you feel tension.

Loosen set screw and rotate knob counter clockwise to

9:00 o’clock.

Retighten set screws and there will be tension at the

start of 9:00 o’clock.

So now what have it got? It does not tell me what adjustment has been made or how to get the result I want. Can you guys explain it for me, the manual isn't very clear on this one.

Thanks, larry.k

[Trikemaker]

Hi Larry,

Sorry for the late reply but I think I can help you out.

The manual is correct just a little bit vague.

This adjuster is a small master cylinder that pushes hydraulic fluid through the little black hose that then moves valves in the shock. This changes the damping in the shock to make it a firmer or softer ride.

Just so you know we have not sold this shock since the middle of 2014 because our new JRi shock does not require it.

Anyway, here is how to adjust it.

1. Loosen the set screw so that the knob can be completely removed.

2. Turn the shaft counterclockwise by hand until it out as far as possible. This is the softest position.

3. Bounce the rear suspension of the trike several times to get the shock valves to settle back to the soft position.

4. Turn the shaft clockwise (in) by hand to take out any slack. Go until you start to feel resistance and then go about an 1/8 of a turn farther.

5. Reinstall the knob pointing in the 9:00 position or as far counterclockwise as it will go. It has a pin on the back that limits how far it can turn.

6. Tighten the setscrew and you are done.

9:00 is the softest position and 3:00 is the firmest position.

[larryk]

Thanks for the response, sorry it has taken so long for me to get back around.

I think that the little black hose on my unit is broken, OR the small cylinder is faulty, because nothing happens when the knob is turned, there is no pressure inside the system at all.

I have one more question: My '02 GL1800/CSI bike sits very low to the ground, about 5 inches off the pavement (measured at the exhaust tip outlet). It rides on 205/60 R15 tires. I have scraped the bottom of the bike on a rough road surface 4 times so far, and it worries me a lot. The question is: Can the ride height be adjusted within the suspension system, or by other means? I would like to get it up another two inches to help avoid scraping.

Thanks again for your note, it's very helpful.

larry.k

Hi Larry,

Sorry for the late reply but I think I can help you out.

The manual is correct just a little bit vague.

This adjuster is a small master cylinder that pushes hydraulic fluid through the little black hose that then moves valves in the shock. This changes the damping in the shock to make it a firmer or softer ride.

Just so you know we have not sold this shock since the middle of 2014 because our new JRi shock does not require it.

Anyway, here is how to adjust it.

1. Loosen the set screw so that the knob can be completely removed.

2. Turn the shaft counterclockwise by hand until it out as far as possible. This is the softest position.

3. Bounce the rear suspension of the trike several times to get the shock valves to settle back to the soft position.

4. Turn the shaft clockwise (in) by hand to take out any slack. Go until you start to feel resistance and then go about an 1/8 of a turn farther.

5. Reinstall the knob pointing in the 9:00 position or as far counterclockwise as it will go. It has a pin on the back that limits how far it can turn.

6. Tighten the setscrew and you are done.

9:00 is the softest position and 3:00 is the firmest position.