Rear shocks

Shannon just posted that he put them on his bike today and he described how he did it but no pics.
Shannon has an 04.
We all know they fit 04s and 03s.
It's the K9 and Mastiff 05 and up that is at issue with claims that it only takes minor work to make them "Fit" but we're all just too stupid to figure it out.

I have a K9 frame on blocks here and I am going to walk through a 422 install on the left side with pictures. I can already see, as I have in the past, that it will take more than "Minor" modifications but I'm going to do it anyway, short of doing anything to the frame as only a registered qualified engineer should be doing that.

More to come.
 
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JoeHawkins

Member
Wouldn't they change the number if they changed design.
I suppose so lol.
I made a thread about mine because I didn’t want to get even more sidetracked over here but it got nowhere :(
Mine look like 422 but are slightly different. I can’t find numbers or info on them.
 

pknowles

RETIRED
I suppose so lol.
I made a thread about mine because I didn’t want to get even more sidetracked over here but it got nowhere :(
Mine look like 422 but are slightly different. I can’t find numbers or info on them.
If you can get some pictures maybe someone will know which ones you have
 

BWG56

Guru
Shannon has an 04.
We all know they fit 04s and 03s.
It's the K9 and Mastiff 05 and up that is at issue with claims that it only takes minor work to make them "Fit" but we're all just too stupid to figure it out.

I have a K9 frame on blocks here and I am going to walk through a 422 install on the left side with pictures. I can already see, as I have in the past, that it will take more than "Minor" modifications but I'm going to do it anyway, short of doing anything to the frame as only a registered qualified engineer should be doing that..
This is from post #21, I never made any claims:oldnono:
"First of all let me start off by saying all I said was I installed a set of Progressive Shocks on my 07' Mastiff and in no way did I mislead anyone by stating they should run out and buy a pair today and install them. I didn't disclose any information on how I did it, nor will I until I have extensively tested this and I'm satisfied with the results. "
 

BWG56

Guru
Come on Ker, show us some light.... I can’t believe you did some kind of faux installation just to stir the pot...
I didn't disclose any information on how I did it, nor will I until I have extensively tested this and I'm satisfied with the results.
 
Has anybody looked at the Ultima Softail adjustable shocks?

http://www.ultimaproducts.com/shocks.htm
They are a knock off of the 422s.
I have had a couple of customers go with the cheaper knock offs and within a couple of hundred miles change to the 422s and not look back. It just depends on what a person can afford really. If your already struggling to keep your ride rolling their a reasonable alternative but you can't expect 422 performance from them.
 

PAUL NOBBS

Member
That would be interesting to see what they come up with for air ride on your 04'. I don't know what the underside of an 04' looks like but when I was looking at the different types of shocks including air shocks most that I found actually increase the eyelet to eyelet dimension unlike my 07' Mastiff actually decreases the eyelet to eyelet dimension in order to lift the bike. Another area of concern I ran into was the oil line on the right rear shock. The OEM air shock has a clearance grove in the shock housing for clearance around this oil line. The reason for the shock being so large in diameter is because of the surface area of the shaft has to be removed from the total area of the piston needed to retract in order to provide the force needed to lift the Dog's ass end. The formula is a very simple one once the force required is known.

But I have to agree with Curtis on one thing, this is a good conversation to have and the NON-VALUE added comments should really be deleted so you don't have to go thru the garbage post's and worthless comments. Now I was guilty of this in the past but moving forward they are really uncalled for, unless you give me the word that this activity is acceptable again then hell put me down for a big bucket of Whoopass. LMAO
Hi I fitted 2 heavy duty 422 shocks on my 05 Bulldog after removing the leaking air ride and rode it for a couple hundred miles and was very pleased with the result.It was like a soft hardtail!!!! Then disaster....I found a patch of oil under the bike. On investigation the hard lip on the tail end of the right side 422 shock had worn a hole through the ride side oil line. The upper two lines had also made some scuffs on top of the shock. Now given that the narrow OEM shocks as a pair are weaker I am wondering if it is sensible to keep the left side 422 where it is and just insert one narrow OEM shock in place of the right side so as not to compromise any oil lines again. I thought it may give a ride half way between soft/hard - what are your thoughts on this idea?
 

PAUL NOBBS

Member
What is your opinion on putting a heavy duty 422 shock on left side and a stock narrow OEM shock on right side [so it clears oil lines] - It may sound crazy but It will give a firmer ride than standard ? am I going to create any other issue by doing this? My right side 422 had already chewed through one of the 3 lines....[that is reason for this question]
 
Hi I fitted 2 heavy duty 422 shocks on my 05 Bulldog after removing the leaking air ride and rode it for a couple hundred miles and was very pleased with the result.It was like a soft hardtail!!!! Then disaster....I found a patch of oil under the bike. On investigation the hard lip on the tail end of the right side 422 shock had worn a hole through the ride side oil line. The upper two lines had also made some scuffs on top of the shock. Now given that the narrow OEM shocks as a pair are weaker I am wondering if it is sensible to keep the left side 422 where it is and just insert one narrow OEM shock in place of the right side so as not to compromise any oil lines again. I thought it may give a ride half way between soft/hard - what are your thoughts on this idea?
Unfortunately the issue you will likely have is the broken shock bolt. With two different shocks you will put different stresses on the bolts. Ultimately the heavy shock is going to break bolts.
 

PAUL NOBBS

Member
Unfortunately the issue you will likely have is the broken shock bolt. With two different shocks you will put different stresses on the bolts. Ultimately the heavy shock is going to break bolts.
Appreciate your response - I did kind of think this..... then I thought how does the air ride work? I removed mine and saw one is the large diameter shock that pumps up and the smaller narrow one is like a shock damper?. So isnt that mechanism putting more strain on just the one side that takes the extra hydraulics. Or am I being a tad thick on this?
 
Appreciate your response - I did kind of think this..... then I thought how does the air ride work? I removed mine and saw one is the large diameter shock that pumps up and the smaller narrow one is like a shock damper?. So isnt that mechanism putting more strain on just the one side that takes the extra hydraulics. Or am I being a tad thick on this?
You are correct which is why I removed the Worx on my K9 and installed one of the chrome narrow body shocks we sell.
My ride suffered 3 broken shock bolts, all on the hydraulic shock side, within 20,000 miles before I made the change.
Since the change no more broken shock bolts and I have about 30,000 on the new "setup".
I am in no way advocating it will work the same for everyone only expressing personal; experience.
 
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