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CVO Technical => Wheels/Tires/Suspension/Brakes => Topic started by: JCZ on July 06, 2005, 07:46:24 PM
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Somebody on this site reported that their dealership told them that the air pressure in the shocks is a maximum of 50 PSI instead of the 35 as reported in the manuel.
I contacted my friend who works in management at HD and this is his response to my question about that:
So, I investigated it myself and found that the 05MY FL CVO manual was indeed incorrect. It should indeed say “50 psi (354 kPa)” for max and not “35 psi”. I’ve got access to all manuals in electronic form and the 05MY manual has a note identifying the mis-print. In looking at other manuals, the 35psi max applies for standard shocks but low-profile ones require more air pressure. Dealers got a bulletin on this though, and they should have notified customers – especially CVO customers. J
Again, sorry for the delay and even more sorry for the error in the manual. Hope this helps.
So take note, if your dealership hasn't contacted you yet.
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I’ve got access to all manuals in electronic form
JCZ, if you have the electronic version, can't you just post it for all of us?
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JCZ, if you have the electronic version, can't you just post it for all of us?
Oh I don't have it in electronic version.........I'm not in management at HD. Only the privledged get that. However, all joking aside, he's been great on confirming or denying rumors, etc. (such as this one) and so far (past two years) has been right every time......so I really do appreciate having access to him for this kind of thing.
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Good job JC
Had read about the 50PSI but wasn't sure!
Thanks!
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Good to know, thanks JC.
I had not been notified as of yet.
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I'm not as smart as the rest of you guys,are you talking about the air shock that you have to use the screw on type hand pump,where the valve is located beside the left saddle bag?IF so I was told I couldn't put more than 20 pounds in that.Thanks for any help,you guys are giving me a good education.
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Yes, that is the them, the rear air-shocks and it is filled by using the screw on hand pump.
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No wonder 15 pounds was bottoming out so bad,if it quits raining on the east coast I'll pump some more in.Thanks
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50 #'s ?? [smiley=nixweiss.gif] Its a stiff ride at 35 #'s. [smiley=nervous.gif] Besides I thought 440's were the way to go no matter what the air presure. [smiley=confused5.gif]
ride safe [smiley=beerchug.gif]
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50 #'s ?? [smiley=nixweiss.gif] Its a stiff ride at 35 #'s. [smiley=nervous.gif] Besides I thought 440's were the way to go no matter what the air presure. [smiley=confused5.gif]
ride safe [smiley=beerchug.gif]
Monorat, we're talking about the stock air shocks (most have switched over to the 440's). And while some of these guys are petite at 225 (me) or better, then have a passenger whose holdin her own, King tour pack loaded, trying to hang with the big dogs in the twisties (where you live).......you want to have it pumped up there.
Not saying that I'd go up to 50 psi, they're just saying that that is the max on our shocks and not the 35 that's printed in our manuels and what the other Electra Glide models use. I do keep mine at 35 even riding solo, when riding with Andy and some of the others, in the mountains.
But the 440's were ordered about ten days or two weeks ago .......not seen em yet, thow. I'll have em on before we hit Yosemite.
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Yeah, the 440s are coming down the road, hopefully soon,
but in the meantime it is good to know what to set them at.
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Your right JCZ. Its good info and I'm going to try the 50 #'s this weekend with a passenger and tour trunk. Keep mine at 30 #'s right now solo, 35 #'s loaded. Have tried from 12 to 20 #'s solo but did not notice any difference. Hope you get your 440's before Yosemite so I can get some good feedback. Ride safe [smiley=1syellow1.gif]
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I've been running 35 PSI in mine and it rides much better than 15 where the dealer had them at.
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One word of caution...if you had the dealer add the detachable tourpac to your 04 SEEG, you may not be adding air to the shocks with the Harley Pump. The reason, the thickness of the additional metal prevents the pin from being properly depressed. so when you pump the piston of the airpump you are only pressurizing the pump itself. You may have to remove the valve from the mount and then pump it.
Mr. We CVO, I believe it was your bike that I demonstrated this technique while in Maggie Valley.
One Guarranteed Fix (used by me)....440 Progressives!
/Bill
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One word of caution...if you had the dealer add the detachable tourpac to your 04 SEEG, you may not be adding air to the shocks with the Harley Pump. The reason, the thickness of the additional metal prevents the pin from being properly depressed. so when you pump the piston of the airpump you are only pressurizing the pump itself. You may have to remove the valve from the mount and then pump it.
Mr. We CVO, I believe it was your bike that I demonstrated this technique while in Maggie Valley.
One Guarranteed Fix (used by me)....440 Progressives!
/Bill
I had this problem with my 2005 SEEG when I picked it up (wonder how the dealer set the air pressure?) - the Harley pump as well as a regular air chuck and two different gauges would not depress the valve core pin before bottoming on the mounting nut. I fixed mine by replacing the valve core and not overtightening it like Harley did, and then reduced the thickness of the mounting nut slightly on the ol' grinder. Now it works fine. I also drilled a new hole higher on the mounting bracket so that I could access the fill valve with just the lid open on the saddlebag rather than tilting the entire bag out.
It's a real shame that these shocks are so lousy, because making one air pressure adjustment beats the heck out of releasing both bags to adjust the Progressives individually. I'm currently living with the stock parts, but I will probably change to the Progressives this winter.
Jerry
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Relocated air fill valve:
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I haven't had that issue with my air shocks, but they do ride like a bumper car. It is funny, because I was very happy with the stock air shocks on my '95 FLHT. Put 82K on it by the time I sold it. Can't figure why these are so rough. But am planning to change to Progressives also
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ive been running 10 lbs in rear shocks and they dont feel all that bad to me. the front end on the other hand is very harsh over the bumps and this will have to be changed soon somehow
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Related to the topic of air shocks and Progressive 440's, has anyone with a SEEG or bagger tried out Progressive's new AIRTAIL I.A.S. shocks that are based on the same technology as the 440's? They can come with an optional on-board Compressor Kit which includes compressor, switches and purge valves, integrated pressure gauge, and all necessary fittings, lines, and wiring. There's similar tech with maybe close performance quality to the 440's but with the convenience of remote air pressure adjustment. I like the concept, for sure.
Regards,
axe103
Sounds interesting but that backpack mounted air compressor and having to hook and unhook yourself every time you get on and off the bike would get old pretty quick [smiley=nixweiss.gif]
(ok, just kidding)
Three weekends ago a buddy with an Ultra came back from a business trip hauling some of that kit in his checked luggage. He'd got it at some shop or show in Los Angeles. He brought the bike over to my shop that Sunday and we were going to do the install but there was a problem. Apparently two versions of the "kit."
One version is a manual air shock kit only. The same shocks on both packages. But one comes with plumbing and manual fill valves like any other air shock. The other comes with the compressor kit and whatever else needs to be there to make the system complete.
He thought he'd bought the complete compressor package. He only had the shock package. I'll admit he picture on the box was a bit misleading but..... well, I was thinking the size might have been a give away.
Anyway.....
Apparently you can start out with just the shock kit and get the compressor kit as an accessory after the fact. That's what he's got coming. Though, of course, there's a backorder. So if anyone gets interested in the "whole thing" make sure you're getting the whole thing. For the two kits separately he's going to end up paying about $800.00.
For me personally, for that much new cost in a rear suspension, it would have to not just show a marked improvement in how well it suspended my butt it would have to massage it as well.
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The price is high but it may be worth it, especially if compares with the 440's and the fittings work out well enough. Could you post about your friend's comments on the completed installation or use of the system? I might have just hit it lucky on the timing of this question. I think alot of this forum's bikers would like to know some first-hand on this product.
Regards,
axe103
Sure Axe, no problem. Whenever he gets the other half of the kit in we'll be installing it here. The safest end of the wrench he'd dare handle would be the long neck of the beer bottle as he fetches it for you [smiley=beerchug.gif]
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So, I investigated it myself and found that the 05MY FL CVO manual was indeed incorrect. It should indeed say “50 psi (354 kPa)” for max and not “35 psi”. I’ve got access to all manuals in electronic form and the 05MY manual has a note identifying the mis-print. In looking at other manuals, the 35psi max applies for standard shocks but low-profile ones require more air pressure. Dealers got a bulletin on this though, and they should have notified customers – especially CVO customers. J
Again, sorry for the delay and even more sorry for the error in the manual. Hope this helps.
So take note, if your dealership hasn't contacted you yet.
Wow, thanks for this info!!!! I had been riding around with mines at somewhere near 25lbs PSI, went up to about 38lbs PSI today and me and better half went on a ride. What a difference it made (didn't hear as much "ouch" from the rear seat). It is a night and day difference with more air in the shocks it actually feels like there is a suspension back there. Don't get me wrong I will still eventually get the Progressive's but in the meantime this will sure make a difference. Thanks again [smiley=beerchug.gif].
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Related to the topic of air shocks and Progressive 440's, has anyone with a SEEG or bagger tried out Progressive's new AIRTAIL I.A.S. shocks that are based on the same technology as the 440's? They can come with an optional on-board Compressor Kit which includes compressor, switches and purge valves, integrated pressure gauge, and all necessary fittings, lines, and wiring. There's similar tech with maybe close performance quality to the 440's but with the convenience of remote air pressure adjustment. I like the concept, for sure.
Regards,
axe103
When I was in Laughlin in April I talked to the Progressive guys and they said that they were going to debut the Airtail I.A.S. shocks in Sturgis. I am waiting for them to come out also!
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Anyone else had this problem with their SEEG? I went to add air to my rear shocks the other day and screwed the air pump all the way down on the valve and did not get anything on the gadge. Then I realized they made the air valve too short to engage the vavle all the way. I had to unbolt the valve from the bracket to add air to my shocks....somebody FUBAR'd that one!
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Anyone else had this problem with their SEEG? I went to add air to my rear shocks the other day and screwed the air pump all the way down on the valve and did not get anything on the gadge. Then I realized they made the air valve too short to engage the vavle all the way. I had to unbolt the valve from the bracket to add air to my shocks....somebody FUBAR'd that one!
Never heard that one before.....on this page of the thread! [smiley=drink.gif]
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Maybe the people at Progressive helped HD with design of the air valve on your bike. $$$Cha--Ching$$$
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I had the same problem on my SEEG and my buddy's SEEG... I sanded .030 off the nut for mine, and I sanded .042" off of the screw-on-fitting of the pump for his. It only took a couple of minutes and boom!, no more problems!
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Anyone else had this problem with their SEEG? I went to add air to my rear shocks the other day and screwed the air pump all the way down on the valve and did not get anything on the gadge. Then I realized they made the air valve too short to engage the vavle all the way. I had to unbolt the valve from the bracket to add air to my shocks....somebody FUBAR'd that one!
Yes - see previous posts in this thread. You need a thinner mounting nut for the fitting, and perhaps a new valve core. It seems that the mounting bracket is thicker than the one the fitting was originally designed for.
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I had the same problem on the valve stem for each tire. Changed out the stems which corrected the problem and enabled me to add air.
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I had to relocated the valve also before deciding the shocks suck no matter how much air you put in them (my last excursion was at 50psi and they still bottomed out). I am also interested in the progressive air tail and tryed to purchase them months ago and a call to progressive directly told me they would not be available until Sturgis (may buy while I'm their) will keep you posted... [smiley=cool3.gif]