Pro Action Rear Shock Intall Today With Lots Of Pic's On 2017 Tri Glide

[Bill G]

Finally. Thanks to all who responded to help. The pics were very helpful, but one little trick did it. Special thanks to "scuba1954". I was having probs getting lift kit aligned. One member said to do just like I installed the lift kit. Well that was over 6 months ago. Hell, I forgot last week. Anyway "scuba1954" gave me a phone call & that did the trick. Shocks are now on,but I will have to wait till tomorrow to get the wheels back on. Too sore from rollin around on the floor. That's for younger than me.. THANKS EVERYONE

I am glad you got it all figured out.

I had a simular issue with the left shock during my Pro Action rear shock installation. Below is what I mentioned about it in my original rite up about the installation.

(QUOTE) #3 from my original posting below concerning shock length.

#3 The right side shock went on easy and threaded right on to the shock mounting brackets top and bottom.

The left shock did not. I had to put a little pressure down ward on the swingarm by placing a padded short bar or long screwdriver between the frame and bottom shock bracket and pull down a little to get the shock bolt straight so it would thread into the lower shock bracket. (I think this was because the drive belt held a little upward tension on the left side). It did not take much effort at all for the bolt to line up. (END QUOTE)

After it's all said and done it sure feels good. Now go ride the heck out of it.

You can now fine tune your shock click adjusters to your liking. I would adjust 1 click and ride a long ride. Then adjust (softer or harder) for me softer and try again. It took me about 4 rides to get it all dialed in perfect for our set up. I settled on 2 clicks out and also liked 3. Of course this adjustment will be diffrent for everyone.

Our shocks came set at 5 clicks. Pro Action says most find somewhere between 3 & 6 clicks to work for them.

Ride Safe,
Bill G

[PosseRider]

I am glad you got it all figured out.

I had a simular issue with the left shock during my Pro Action rear shock installation. Below is what I mentioned about it in my original rite up about the installation.

(QUOTE) #3 from my original posting below concerning shock length.

#3 The right side shock went on easy and threaded right on to the shock mounting brackets top and bottom.

The left shock did not. I had to put a little pressure down ward on the swingarm by placing a padded short bar or long screwdriver between the frame and bottom shock bracket and pull down a little to get the shock bolt straight so it would thread into the lower shock bracket. (I think this was because the drive belt held a little upward tension on the left side). It did not take much effort at all for the bolt to line up. (END QUOTE)

After it's all said and done it sure feels good. Now go ride the heck out of it.

You can now fine tune your shock click adjusters to your liking. I would adjust 1 click and ride a long ride. Then adjust (softer or harder) for me softer and try again. It took me about 4 rides to get it all dialed in perfect for our set up. I settled on 2 clicks out and also liked 3. Of course this adjustment will be diffrent for everyone.

Our shocks came set at 5 clicks. Pro Action says most find somewhere between 3 & 6 clicks to work for them.

Ride Safe,
Bill G

I missed (forgot) that. Neither shock would line up. But, all is good now.

[Bill G]

I missed (forgot) that. Neither shock would line up. But, all is good now.

Glad you got it, I am curious here do you have a lift kit on your trike??

I will bet you a dollar to a donut that if you have lift kit brackets on your trike. Your swing arm was against or resting on the exaust because of the extra lift at full extension while trying to get the shocks back on. This may have been why you struggled with both shocks at full extension during the install. The tolerances with lift brackets put the swing arm very close to the exaust mainly on the header side. On a lot of trikes the swing arm rest right on the exaust (more so on the header side) after the install or very close and most guys don't even know it. These clearances differ from trike to trike with some deviation. Some hit and some have a small amount of clearance. This area between the swing arm and the exaust was very close with the lift brackets on our 2015 trike.

2017 model,
The lift brackets will place the swingarm very close at full extension if not hitting on the exaust on the 2017 models.

The swing arm will hit here.. See pic my 2017 at full extension with stock shock bracket. With lift brackets on our 2017 it hits here at full extension. I removed the lift brackets. Maybe company's like DK will come out with a lift bracket option that will work with the tighter clearances like on our trike.

Ride Safe,
Bill G

[Capt.Bob]

Glad you got it, I am curious here do you have a lift kit on your trike??

I will bet you a dollar to a donut that if you have lift kit brackets on your trike. Your swing arm was against or resting on the exaust because of the extra lift at full extension while trying to get the shocks back on. This may have been why you struggled with both shocks at full extension during the install. The tolerances with lift brackets put the swing arm very close to the exaust mainly on the header side. On a lot of trikes the swing arm rest right on the exaust (more so on the header side) after the install or very close and most guys don't even know it. These clearances differ from trike to trike with some deviation. Some hit and some have a small amount of clearance. This area between the swing arm and the exaust was very close with the lift brackets on our 2015 trike.

2017 model,
The lift brackets will place the swingarm very close at full extension if not hitting on the exaust on the 2017 models.

The swing arm will hit here.. See pic my 2017 at full extension with stock shock bracket. With lift brackets on our 2017 it hits here at full extension. I removed the lift brackets. Maybe company's like DK will come out with a lift bracket option that will work with the tighter clearances like on our trike.

Ride Safe,
Bill G

Bill, I would get your dollar and be able to eat my donut on the DK Customs custom lift kit for my 2017 TGU. Yes, at full extension of the swing arm unsupported by the shocks, the clearance on my trike with the right-side Z-pipe is only about 1/4". However, my swingarm cannot travel any further and neither can the Z-pipe so 1/4" is like a mile. Some of the Z-pipes seem to have larger welds and may be a bit out of spec as it appears on your 2017? On my 2016 TGU, the custom lift kit clearance was adequate and so is that on my 2017. What you may have experienced may be more of a one-off situation depending on the factors I mentioned about the welds on the Z-pipe and/or the bend that they put on a particular part. There is the ability to adjust the connection between the Z-pipe and the header/rear muffler so I suspect clearance issues can be fairly readily accommodated. I personally would not ride without my DK Customs Custom Lift Kit for the following reasons: 1. The pipe clearance when I unload the trike from my Drop-Tail trailer is inadequate without the lift kit 2. The trike rides smoother with the lift kit due to the change in shock angles 3. The steering is much lighter with the slight change in rake of the front end 4. I don't have to worry about bottoming out riding two-up over larger potholes 5. Braking seems to be a tad better with the front tire due to the slight weight distribution toward the front tire 6. I think it really looks MUCH better than that "drag-butt" look.

[Bill G]

Bill, I would get your dollar and be able to eat my donut on the DK Customs custom lift kit for my 2017 TGU. Yes, at full extension of the swing arm unsupported by the shocks, the clearance on my trike with the right-side Z-pipe is only about 1/4". However, my swingarm cannot travel any further and neither can the Z-pipe so 1/4" is like a mile. Some of the Z-pipes seem to have larger welds and may be a bit out of spec as it appears on your 2017? On my 2016 TGU, the custom lift kit clearance was adequate and so is that on my 2017. What you may have experienced may be more of a one-off situation depending on the factors I mentioned about the welds on the Z-pipe and/or the bend that they put on a particular part. There is the ability to adjust the connection between the Z-pipe and the header/rear muffler so I suspect clearance issues can be fairly readily accommodated. I personally would not ride without my DK Customs Custom Lift Kit for the following reasons: 1. The pipe clearance when I unload the trike from my Drop-Tail trailer is inadequate without the lift kit 2. The trike rides smoother with the lift kit due to the change in shock angles 3. The steering is much lighter with the slight change in rake of the front end 4. I don't have to worry about bottoming out riding two-up over larger potholes 5. Braking seems to be a tad better with the front tire due to the slight weight distribution toward the front tire 6. I think it really looks MUCH better than that "drag-butt" look.

Bob you can have the dollar..Lol. I have adjusted the Z pipe every wich way, loosened the exaust system and maid sure it was at the furthest down position. Still a no go.. I still think this issue is more common than what is known.

Have talked with you before about this I asked you how yours fit on a pm. I am glad your 2017 worked out.

Ride Safe,
Bill G

[Capt.Bob]

Bob you can have the dollar..Lol. I have adjusted the Z pipe every wich way, loosened the exaust system and maid sure it was at the furthest down position. Still a no go.. I still think this issue is more common than what is known.

Have talked with you before about this I asked you how yours fit on a pm. I am glad your 2017 worked out.

Ride Safe,
Bill G

Bill you seem like a nice guy so I don't want to take your dollar. I took a picture of the weld on my right Z-pipe and it appears to be considerably smaller in diameter than the weld they put on your pipe which I suspect added to the clearance issues. Had you thought about just gently grinding the contact area flat on the large bead or even slightly reshaping the Z-pipe with a hammer ? That may have given you sufficient clearance? I know that these are work arounds but it appears that the MoCo's QC and uniformity from sample to sample may have looser tolerances than we would like? Bob

[HDMAN]

Bob you can have the dollar..Lol. I have adjusted the Z pipe every wich way, loosened the exaust system and maid sure it was at the furthest down position. Still a no go.. I still think this issue is more common than what is known.

Have talked with you before about this I asked you how yours fit on a pm. I am glad your 2017 worked out.

Ride Safe,
Bill G

Bill, you are right I have installed several sets of replacement shocks on Tri Glides and Freewheelers and some of them the left shock is next to impossible to install. There is a difference in the eye to eye length from right to left side. In my opinion many are this way, if you look at the rear of trikes sitting on showroom floors I think you will see that on some the left side is lower than the right.
I believe there is a problem with the rear frame. I had my dealer try to adjust the rear frame it was not totally successful. In my opinion this has a negative impact on ride I feel it could bind the suspension.
I had a 2015 Freewheeler it was not an issue on it, however on my 2017 it is. It would be great if a factory rep with lots of knowledge could be contacted reference this problem.

Gene

[Bill G]

Bill you seem like a nice guy so I don't want to take your dollar. I took a picture of the weld on my right Z-pipe and it appears to be considerably smaller in diameter than the weld they put on your pipe which I suspect added to the clearance issues. Had you thought about just gently grinding the contact area flat on the large bead or even slightly reshaping the Z-pipe with a hammer ? That may have given you sufficient clearance? I know that these are work arounds but it appears that the MoCo's QC and uniformity from sample to sample may have looser tolerances than we would like? Bob

Thanks for the pic Bob,

Yes,

I have lightly ground the weld down and smoothed it out on the top 1/2. I did this last time I had the muffler off just because the clearance bothered me. The only problem is I no longer have the Comfort lift brackets handy to try them out to see if the clearance is now enough.

Bob
Is that pic you posted was your axle hanging freely? shocks at full extension?. Or is it with the trike resting on the ground sitting on the tires?


Pic's of the weld ground down Below,

In these pic's our trike is sitting on the ground with the weight of the trike on the suspension and the shocks. The black is just a super high temp paint sprayed on the top area to seal the grinding marks or polishing left from grinding the weld down.

Thanks,
Bill G

[Bill G]

Bill, you are right I have installed several sets of replacement shocks on Tri Glides and Freewheelers and some of them the left shock is next to impossible to install. There is a difference in the eye to eye length from right to left side. In my opinion many are this way, if you look at the rear of trikes sitting on showroom floors I think you will see that on some the left side is lower than the right. I believe there is a problem with the rear frame. I had my dealer try to adjust the rear frame it was not totally successful. In my opinion this has a negative impact on ride I feel it could bind the suspension.I had a 2015 Freewheeler it was not an issue on it, however on my 2017 it is. It would be great if a factory rep with lots of knowledge could be contacted reference this problem.Gene

Gene,


Every trike I have seen when measured leans to the left a little 1/8" to 1/4" some 1/2" I wish Harley would do better on stuff like this it is disappointing for sure. Measure your car from fender to fender on flat ground you will be surprised what is allowed.

There may be something to what your saying for sure. In my case I think it was the upward drive belt tension on the left side. The shock only needed a tiny bit of downward motion to get the bolt to line up and thread in straight.

When they adjusted your trike they may not have got things aligned correctly. Something like for example your Panhard rod (the round rod that goes from your axle to the frame and adjust things left or right) or something else could be out of adjustment. Rear alignment has to be correct or in spec or there will be negative results on these trikes.

Ride Safe,
Bill G

[470004]

Thanks for the photos!

[Bill G]

Bill you seem like a nice guy so I don't want to take your dollar. I took a picture of the weld on my right Z-pipe and it appears to be considerably smaller in diameter than the weld they put on your pipe which I suspect added to the clearance issues. Had you thought about just gently grinding the contact area flat on the large bead or even slightly reshaping the Z-pipe with a hammer ? That may have given you sufficient clearance? I know that these are work arounds but it appears that the MoCo's QC and uniformity from sample to sample may have looser tolerances than we would like? Bob

Bob,

Not to question what you said I know you said your trikes suspension was off the ground.

But when I looked at your pic again and zoomed it in close. In the corner of the pic it looks like your trikes tire are sitting on the ground or the concrete. I may be wrong about what I am seeing.

With the Comfort Lift on our 2017 Tri Glide the swing arm looked to clear just a hair siting on the ground like yours. But then when lifted at full swing arm extension tires off the ground with the shocks at full extension the swing arm then hit.

I just want to make sure things are apples to apples here on what we are comparing or looking at.

I also agree 100% with you and your reasons stated on the benefits of the DK Comfort Lift when installed on a trike.

Ride Safe Friend,
Bill G

[Capt.Bob]

Bill G. My picture was of the trike on the ground this morning with the stock shocks and the Custom Lift Kit installed. I am using about 17 pounds of air in my stock shocks when I ride solo.

[Bill G]

Bill G. My picture was of the trike on the ground this morning with the stock shocks and the Custom Lift Kit installed. I am using about 17 pounds of air in my stock shocks when I ride solo.

Thanks Bob,

Bare with me here,

If you lift your trike on jack stands like in the pic below with the axle hanging free and un-supported your axle will be at its lowest point without any sag. With the clearance shown in your pic I bet your swing arm will hit the Z pipe when the swing arm moves towards its outward range of operation ( right now your trike has weight on it taking up the sag). Let me explain my concern now would be when you go down the road and hit a dip or a bigger bump and your suspension compresses then unloads upward I would think your swing arm could hit the Z pipe or exhaust during its range of travel in theory.

It seems like this is not really a big issue or there would be a ton of complaints out there about this. I am going to get and install another set of lift brackets on our 2017. If I end up this time having the clearance on the ground with our trike like you do I am going to call it good.

Take Care,
Bill G



Ride Safe,
Bill G

[Capt.Bob]

Thanks Bob,

Bare with me here,

If you lift your trike on jack stands like in the pic below with the axle hanging free and un-supported your axle will be at its lowest point without any sag. With the clearance shown in your pic I bet your swing arm will hit the Z pipe when the swing arm moves towards its outward range of operation ( right now your trike has weight on it taking up the sag). Let me explain my concern now would be when you go down the road and hit a dip or a bigger bump and your suspension compresses then unloads upward I would think your swing arm could hit the Z pipe or exhaust during its range of travel in theory.

It seems like this is not really a big issue or there would be a ton of complaints out there about this. I am going to get and install another set of lift brackets on our 2017. If I end up this time having the clearance on the ground with our trike like you do I am going to call it good.

Take Care,
Bill G



Ride Safe,
Bill G

Bill, I just jacked up my 2017 TGU and did note that the weld on the Z-pipe is just barely touching the front edge of the swingarm in the unsupported position with the wheels entirely off the ground. I see where your concern is. However, a scenario where the trike would hit a pothole and completely unload to the point of full extension of the swingarm seems highly unlikely. I would think that other hard parts would not be liking that scenario more than the lowly z-pipe

[Bill G]

Bill, I just jacked up my 2017 TGU and did note that the weld on the Z-pipe is just barely touching the front edge of the swingarm in the unsupported position with the wheels entirely off the ground. I see where your concern is. However, a scenario where the trike would hit a pothole and completely unload to the point of full extension of the swingarm seems highly unlikely. I wouuld think that other hard parts would not be liking that scenario more than the lowly z-pipe

Thanks again Bob for your input and the pic's. With a lot more thought on this I agree. I ordered another set of Comfort Lift brackets last night. I will send you a pic after the install. I am hoping for results like yours.

I will for sure split that dollar with you now....Lol my friend, over a cup of coffee.

Take Care Friend,
Bill G

[Bill G]

Thanks again Bob for your input and the pic's. With a lot more thought on this I agree. I ordered another set of Comfort Lift brackets last night. I will send you a pic after the install. I am hoping for results like yours.

I will for sure split that dollar with you now....Lol my friend, over a cup of coffee.

Take Care Friend,
Bill G

I said above I would post a pic after the install.

Clearance at Z pipe after Comfort Lift install on our 2017 Tri Glide. Trike sitting on the tires on the ground.

Z pipe clearance pic after lift / pic before lift. Both pic's tires on the ground.

Ride Safe All,
Bill G

[Capt.Bob]

I said above I would post a pic after the install.

Clearance at Z pipe after Comfort Lift install on our 2017 Tri Glide. Trike sitting on the tires on the ground.

Z pipe clearance pic after lift / pic before lift. Both pic's tires on the ground.

Ride Safe All,
Bill G

Bill, The pictures you put up are not particularly clear. How is the clearance now?

[Bill G]

Bill, The pictures you put up are not particularly clear. How is the clearance now?

Bob,

The clearance now is about the same as yours give or take. Just shy of a 1/4" .

Bob I know it's hard to see the gap. The reason is because of the high temp black paint that was applied over the thick weld that was buffed or ground down a little. This makes it hard to get enough light in the pic to see the gap.

The clearance is shy of about 1/4" with the tires on the ground now. About the same as the pic below with the swing arm at full extension with the stock HD shock brackets before the weld was ground down.

* 1st Pic below stock shock brackets full ext of the swing arm tires off ground before the weld was ground down. About or just shy of 1/4".

* 2nd pic tires on the ground Comfort Lift installed weld ground down with black high temp paint applied. As said just shy of 1/4" clearance. A little less gap than the first pic but enough. Like you said a 1/4" is a mile..Lol

Ride Safe,
Bill G

[DK Custom Products]

More Details on the Limited Lifetime Warranty on the Pro-Action Shocks-
It is a Lifetime Warranty subject to the following Limitations:

Only for the original purchaser of the shocks
Does not cover accidents, fire, environmental catastrophes (submerged in a flood, etc.)
Does not cover if the shocks were abused (overloading them), improper installation or application (mounted upside down, running a Sportster shock on a Road King, etc)

If they are installed properly, not overloaded, not damaged by some external force, then they are Lifetime shocks for the original purchaser....if they wear out, they will be rebuilt/replaced at no charge.


Kevin

[gerald martin]

There was a mention of some one cutting off the threads on the shock bolts to make clearance to get the bolts out. I don't know about the USA but in Canada there is a safety law that at least three threads must extend out of any nut. I worked in the oil patch for ten years putting pipe lines together. If the inspector saw there were less than three threads showing you were gone no ifs ans or buts. I guess it has something to do with the stretching and shrinking of bolts and nuts from temp changes