Bottoming out

Ok guys, ever since I did my wide tire kit I've had trouble with the bike bottoming out. the bleeder on the rear tire caliper hits the lip on the fender. I have HD progressive shocks on there, (the dealer put them on when i bought the bike back in 04), cranked all the way up to the highest setting, i didn't gain any weight to speak of, (still around 165lbs), so i don't know what is going on. i looked at everything and it all still seems to be the same (overall tire height, shock placement on swing arm, etc)(as original before the wide tire deal) but this is screwed up. what about just adding a set of air shocks, and if so, where can i get a set that won't cost me a ton of cash? (which by the way, ain't really abundant right now....) Any thoughts??

sorry, for those that don't know, 04 fxdwg, with progressive shocks in rear, 240 rear tire kit, that's about it...

thanks for the input

V,

I would ask the company you got the wide tire kit from about the right length of shock they recommend and if they have ever run across an interference with the fender and caliper. Then take your shock off and measure it from center of bolt hole to center of bolt hole, or measure it before you call them. You have to take a shock off to measure it correctly or jack up the bike. If it's not the right length then get the right one. If it is right there may be something wrong with the wide tire kit installation... maybe.

Progressive shocks are still the best shock for the money if you don't buy the top-of-the-line shock that they offer and in most cases are cheaper than HD.

The top-of-the-line shock from Progressive, from what I been told, are better, but, like you I'm tapped out too:angry:

Hey Chuck, Damn if you ain't got everything somewhere in that shop of yours!! I'm amazed at the stuff you come up with.... Are they air shocks or just plain dyna shocks? i was told that the stock length of a dyna shock is 12" but i never measured mine. Hmmm, that don't sound right does it!?!? You know what i mean.....Anyway, I'll go out now and look, and maybe you can PM me with a cost for those little babies.

Thx again Chuck, and of course all others who responded!!
ps. I'm also working on a "new" sissy bar because re-working the old one wasn't working out. I had to make a steel welding table first and now that it is complete, i can finish fabbing the bar.

ok Chuck, the length of my shocks (on the bike) are just under 12". I tried to pull the a** end of the bike up to extend the shock but it doesn't really come up any. i called the stealership to see if they could tell me the original length but of course he couldn't do that without alot of research??? I dunno, sounds like he didn't want to waste his time to be honest. thats all i got so far. i'll do some more research and post back.....

OK, the things that got changed with the wide tire kit were the swingarm and the fender. The shocks are the same as what you used previously, am I right? What changed to effect the caliper clearance? Is the fender radius smaller? Is the caliper locating flange set higher on the new swingarm? When modifying a bike there is always "some fabrication required". If you go to taller shocks you will change the sit of the bike and effect how it will corner and also lose the low/fat look. Sometimes just notching the fender will solve the problem.

Ok...well here i am now. i got a stock set of dyna shocks off craigslist, (30 bucks) and tried to install them. they are too long and when they force the swing arm down, hence lifting the back up, the pipes hit the acorn axle nuts. i got away with it before because the H-D lowering shocks that were on there were 11-3/4" long, thus lowering the rear and raising the swingarm above my pipes. (i have the shotgun style pipes that end just after the rear axle nut).

My H-D dealer parts guy want me to bring those shocks in so they can have a look at them. (i think they are blown and i need a new set, pretty simple i feel) I am going to bring them to him but what i will do is buy a set of Progressive 440HD shocks, the 12" ones, and install them on my bike. they will give me enough clearance over my pipes and still keep the bike about 5/8" lower than stock, and only 1/4" higher than what it was.

i have also contemplated buying a new fiberglass fender ($59) and cutting the sh*t out of it and installing that as well. it comes the exact width i need and would just need to be painted. my fender now would have to be cut and then sanded and re-painted, plus the bike would be down for a while...that is option number 2.

this bike rode fine when the shocks were not blown, it also never bottomed out. if for some reason these new progressives cant do the job, well then that fender gets chopped up!

Hey Vybr8er, i double checked all those measurements, and they all seem to be the same. original fender split and widened, shock bolt in same location, caliper, etc. Your "fender fabrication" idea is looking better all the time, but if i don't keep the suspension stiff the tire will rub on the underneath of the fender........

sorry for the long post.
ps. the new sissy bar is being fabbed as we speak. its on the bike for mock up now......pics to come soon

Well, i sucked it up and just ordered a set of progressive 430's for my bike. i got the 12" ones because that will give me and extra bit of clearance and still work with my pipes. i will report back when i get them. they will take 2 weeks to receive because i am getting the first pair made....luckily they have a lifetime warranty.