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

[MDF48]

Good question.

A question for those that have installed the Pro-Action 14" shocks. Did you used the red loctite per the instructions? Will the blue suffice? The red loctite will make them more difficult to break loose if you need to take them off.

I have wondered about that also. When I installed my first DK comfort lift (with stock shocks) about 2 years ago i used the blue and the bolts are still tight. I realize that a manufacturer like DK cannot tell anyone to use anything other than what the OM calls for and HD calls for red. Anybody that used the blue had any problems with them working loose?

 

[DK Custom Products]

A question for those that have installed the Pro-Action 14" shocks. Did you used the red loctite per the instructions? Will the blue suffice? The red loctite will make them more difficult to break loose if you need to take them off.

I have wondered about that also. When I installed my first DK comfort lift (with stock shocks) about 2 years ago i used the blue and the bolts are still tight. I realize that a manufacturer like DK cannot tell anyone to use anything other than what the OM calls for and HD calls for red. Anybody that used the blue had any problems with them working loose?

In our instructions it says to use red thread locker, which is what Harley says to use.

I am NOT recommending using blue. On my own bikes & Trikes I use a generous amount of blue thread locker and have never had a problem.

Kevin

 

[MDF48]

Date for 14 inch Pro Action

This thread was started in December of 2016 by Bill G. Am I correct that at that time the shocks were 12 or 13 inch? When did DK finish the testing and start selling the 14 inch Pro Action shocks. It is hard to keep up with all of the dates and changes. I installed my new 14 inch Pro Action shocks and new lift plate yesterday. My butt and back are still sore from crawling around and sitting on concrete. Took me 4.5 hours but I work slow. I cleaned all the old Loctite off all of the bolts and used a 40 and 45 caliber bore brush to clean out all the threads on the trike. Anyway, the hardest part of this entire install for me was getting the top shock bolt off and back on. The trike wasn't very far off the ground and reaching up in there with your arm is tough on the wrist when it is up against the fender.

Also for those that haven't done this yet, when you are taking the top shock bolt off or putting it back on, remember this. On the first one I did I broke it loose with a 1/2 inch drive ratchet and 3/4 socket. Well after many short turns of the ratchet I was up against the fender and couldn't get the ratchet and socket off the bolt. So, I had to screw it back in enough to get the ratchet off and then use a ratchet type thin box end wrench. Just a little heads up for others. I used a torque wrench on all the plate bolts, but no way to get to the shock bolts with it. I just got it as tight as I could with the 1/2 inch drive ratchet with the limited leverage area available.

 

[jc1300]

This thread was started in December of 2016 by Bill G. Am I correct that at that time the shocks were 12 or 13 inch? When did DK finish the testing and start selling the 14 inch Pro Action shocks. It is hard to keep up with all of the dates and changes. I installed my new 14 inch Pro Action shocks and new lift plate yesterday. My butt and back are still sore from crawling around and sitting on concrete. Took me 4.5 hours but I work slow. I cleaned all the old Loctite off all of the bolts and used a 40 and 45 caliber bore brush to clean out all the threads on the trike. Anyway, the hardest part of this entire install for me was getting the top shock bolt off and back on. The trike wasn't very far off the ground and reaching up in there with your arm is tough on the wrist when it is up against the fender. Also for those that haven't done this yet, when you are taking the top shock bolt off or putting it back on, remember this. On the first one I did I broke it loose with a 1/2 inch drive ratchet and 3/4 socket. Well after many short turns of the ratchet I was up against the fender and couldn't get the ratchet and socket off the bolt. So, I had to screw it back in enough to get the ratchet off and then use a ratchet type thin box end wrench. Just a little heads up for others. I used a torque wrench on all the plate bolts, but no way to get to the shock bolts with it. I just got it as tight as I could with the 1/2 inch drive ratchet with the limited leverage area available.

Way WAY too late, but it took about 15 minutes to take the entire back end off the trike {Fender/trunk/tour pak}.....made it real easy then....sorry for not mentioning that...but thought some where in this thread they had.....

 

[MDF48]

YEP.

Way WAY too late, but it took about 15 minutes to take the entire back end off the trike {Fender/trunk/tour pak}.....made it real easy then....sorry for not mentioning that...but thought some where in this thread they had.....

LOL, yeah I "started to" do that but I talked myself out of it because I needed to do it that day and couldn't get any help. I can assure you if I ever have to do it again I will do that. As a matter of fact this spring or summer I am going to do this just to clean and inspect everything.

 

[jc1300]

LOL, yeah I "started to" do that but I talked myself out of it because I needed to do it that day and couldn't get any help. I can assure you if I ever have to do it again I will do that. As a matter of fact this spring or summer I am going to do this just to clean and inspect everything.

No Help needed....Threw a couple of ropes over the garage rafters....just inched it up little by little. Even surprised me it worked so well!

 

[TriGlideSteve]

Also for those that haven't done this yet, when you are taking the top shock bolt off or putting it back on, remember this. On the first one I did I broke it loose with a 1/2 inch drive ratchet and 3/4 socket. Well after many short turns of the ratchet I was up against the fender and couldn't get the ratchet and socket off the bolt. So, I had to screw it back in enough to get the ratchet off and then use a ratchet type thin box end wrench. Just a little heads up for others. I used a torque wrench on all the plate bolts, but no way to get to the shock bolts with it. I just got it as tight as I could with the 1/2 inch drive ratchet with the limited leverage area available.

I just did this exact same thing this afternoon. I pulled a real rookie move, cranking away with the socket wrench on the top bolt and watching the bolt not the back of the socket wrench. The bolt was almost out, one or two threads more and it bound up against the fender. Instead of cranking it back in a little, I thought I was far enough to get the bolt out, so I cranked it harder and bound it hard against the fender, now I'm screwed. I spent 2 hours trying to get the socket off. I would have had the whole job done by now.

Finally just took a huge screwdriver and hammer and smashed at the socket (not recommended) but it worked.

Got the bolt out, but couldn't take anymore and gave up for the day. Neck back shoulders and arms are sore.

Hopefully I can get it back together tomorrow afternoon!

Great thread by the way, very helpful!

 

[mighty mike]

Mighty MIKE

Thanks for the information and pictures Bill as I want to do the same thing when the money allows.

Looks fairly easy.

Ride safe everybody.

 

[mighty mike]

Mighty MIKE

Well after reading all the comments I have now made a PED (personal executive decision) and are going

to let my Harley dealer install them. No smashed knuckles, to long bolts, jacking up in the wrong place,

I just want to RIDE, that's why I bought the Tri Glide in the first place. For those who like to wrench have

at it and enjoy.

 

[David792]

Looks great, Bill. I installed them on my 2018 and had no problems with the bolt lengths. Then again, I also installed the comfort lift brackets. Maybe it's got something to do with that. Just curios as to why you decided not to use the lift brackets. Thanks for posting the pics. I know what a PITA that can be.

 

[BKtrike]

One more pic Pro Action shock right side fender well.

Ride Safe All,

Bill G

How is the ride?

 

[Mykneesbehurtin]

I installed the 14 Pro Action shocks with the comfort lift kit and can say with out a doubt, the best money I have spent for a mod. Second would be the Khromwerks 2plus2 Widesweeper handlebars and running very close third is the S&S 465 cam, S&S premium lifters, TTS tuner and dyno tune.

 

[Fearless]

I installed the 14 Pro Action shocks with the comfort lift kit and can say with out a doubt, the best money I have spent for a mod. Second would be the Khromwerks 2plus2 Widesweeper handlebars and running very close third is the S&S 465 cam, S&S premium lifters, TTS tuner and dyno tune.

I can't speak to the cam job but the other two items I agree 100% amazing the smooth ride. The bars I did in 2014 and saved me selling g the trike. Travel safe Fred