Calling all Sportster Shock people, I'm stuck

So I ordered some sportster shocks because I needed a little bit more height and stiffness assuming they would fit with little modification. The upper bushings don't even fit on the frame peg. I thought that I read that it would and the lowers with a cavalier swap or maybe modifying them.

The bushings are too wide and it looks like the metal sleeve on the inside is attached to the rubber bushing unlike the stock bushing that can be slid out. It also has a flat metal eyelet as opposed to a concave one like the stock shocks so I don't think I can simply swap the stock ones in.

They are from a 2004, perhaps the 2003 and prior ones are the shocks that fit better?

I need help and I can provide some pics if needed!
Thanks guys

 

Mine are from a 2005 FXDL. I had to drift the bushings out with a socket, then use the rubber bushings from the stock Yamaha shocks to install.

It's a PITA, but it is possible.

 

Wouldn't it be a whole lot easier (and nearly as frugal) to just buy a slightly longer set of Progressive 12-series shocks that actually fit the bike and the stiffer ("HD") optional springs to go with?

 

It all depends. Mine were 12.5" shocks off a 2005 Dyna with only 3700 miles, took me less than 20 minutes to install, and cost me $11.90 plus $10 shipping.

I couldn't find progressives for less than $75 for the 14 series, and that was just the shocks. I spent the extra on new Motion Pro cables and rear shoes.

I do not, however, plan on going used for the front springs this summer. That will get new Progressive springs.

 

I was able to get the bushings out but the stock ones from the yamaha seem too small. There is quite a bit of play between the bushings and the shock. Also the top mount of the shock on the HD has a metal sleeve in the bushing but the stock does not. SHould I try and utilize this for any reason? I know with the weight of the bike on the shocks they shouldn't move around too much but that small amount of play concerns me.

I'm trying to dremel out the metal sleeve to fit the shock mount on the frame and I ground down the eye on the shock to the stock width.

Fitz, only reason I didn't go that way was because i was able to get these for about 30 bucks. Right now the difference between 75 and 30 is pretty big.

Any other tips would be greatly appreciated!

 

The metal bushing will not fit the bike, the bushing's O.D. is just about the same as the shock mount on the bike.

Which is why I had to use the original bushings. But I didn't have the fitment problem you are describing. Sorry I can't be of more help.

 

Progressive sells a metric bushing set - you can phone them up and get it for relatively cheap. Not sure if it will work with the HD shocks but they do have the right size metal bushing. Maybe you can ask about their ID and OD sizes?

 

Well I'm just drilling out the inside diameter of the metal sleeve and then will fine tune the fitment on the lathe. I did have to get create with the bushing on the right side bottom, I hope it will work.

The shocks are 13.2 inches, I mocked them up and the rear wheel still turns and I didn't hear any unusual sounds so I think I'm good there. I'll know more tomorrow. Thanks for the help guys

 

You could always go to a auto parts store with both bushings and try to match up the one you need. But you'll have to get the guy in the store that knows about the parts and not the one that's a dipsh#t. :roll:

 

Do a search and you would find

http://xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic/t=1 ... =moog.html

read the whole thread

 

Thanks, I did read that thread and many other similar ones. I bought the same end link kit posted in that thread but they didn't fit at all. They were too too tall, too wide, and the eyelet was way too small. Also it didn't have the center groove for ridge on the eyelet of the shock.

Luckily they were only 6 bucks. Gonna try and get them down to size this afternoon. The eyelet on HD shocks are much wider than the stock shocks and I haven't heard anyone mention that. I am grinding them down a bit but I am just throwing that out there.

 

I used them. Sanded/ground them to fit the shock and drilled them out to fit the bike. Took 30 minutes.

 

Did your shock have a raised lip in the inside of the eyelet?

I just finished doing them, they turned out ok. I won't have the time to install them yet. I ended up grinding down the HD eyelets/bushings/sleeves to a more moderate "stock" size. We will see how they fit tomorrow.

I did use the cavalier end link bushing for the bottom right shock mount (where it mounts to the swingarm)

 

throw up some pics of the process, that would be cool for future users attempting thre same feat.

Thanks!