Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums Accessories Re: Trouble with Progressive 440's??

Has anyone experienced any problems installing the 440's? I can't seem to get the lower shock and bushing on the new shocks to slide onto my bike. I have tried using soap and even vaseline to try and ease it on there. close to using a hammer next!
Any suggestions?

Thanks,
Alan

Alan:
I am testing a set of 440's on my bike. I had the rear wheel off the ground with my 2x6" bike jack. You have the weight off your wheel, right? Even with the jack in place, I still had to move my rear wheel up about 1/8" to get the bottom shock mount to slip on. I used a small crowbar under the tire to move it up.

Yes, I had my cycle jack supporting it and the rear tire off the ground but the shock would not simply slip on the peg. I boiled a pot of water and stuck the rubber bushing in there for a few minutes, forced it on as best i could then got the bolt threads started and wrenched it down. The shock slid most of the bushing out the first time, but the second time it stretched it enough I suppose and went on better. Anyhow, for me the answer was more pressure. I will test them tomorrow morning. I am disappointed with the fit though. Hopefully I just got an odd sized bushing on my set. I am waiting for the front fork springs to be delivered this week and hope they are a little easier to install. Thanks for the assistance though. Always worth asking those who have walked the trail ahead of me.

Alan

The box the guy loaned me, had different size bushings. I just used the ones he had installed on the shocks. The Progressive box came with quite a few additional pieces.
The weather has been bad here in MD, I haven't had a chance to test them yet. I curious to see if I still have clearance problems with my pipes.

The problem might be that you have the Harley shocks and not the metric cruiser ones, I was going to buy some 11" progressives off a mate of mine who bought some for his Harley but they were too low for him, and i had the same problem as you so i didn't get them.

My bet is that yours are for a Harley

Phil, I thought the same thing after trying to force these things on for an hour. I went back online to Progressive Application Chart and they are the correct part number for my bike. Anyway, I have them mounted now and the bushing is stretching nicely. I finally just had to man up and use vaseline, pliers, wood block and hammer....viola!!!! Fits like a glove!

Carefull, vaseline is petroleum based and not so good for rubber if I remember correctly...