Rubbermount_EFI Road king shocks

[Txn]

So I went out and bought a pair of rk shocks today, put them on my nightster and hated the look. I found a website called bitchinbaggers.com that will tear them down and shorten them to whatever length you want for $175. I consider myself pretty mechanically inclined and my dad is and has been a machinist for 20+ yrs and can machine anything into what I want or need. So with all that said what is different or what is changed to give the shock a shorter length

[mxr33]

what lentgh did you get? you can run them with lowering blocks to get the hieght back where you want them. there was a how to shorten 13 to 12 that may apply but not sure. if i find it ill post a link.

[Txn]

Originally Posted by mxr33

what lentgh did you get? you can run them with lowering blocks to get the hieght back where you want them. there was a how to shorten 13 to 12 that may apply but not sure. if i find it ill post a link.

Ther are 13 inchers. And I'm weary about the angle a lowering block would put on those shocks

[Screw Loose Dan]

So which part number/length did you buy. Have you seen this thread with the various part numbers/lengths?

I've been under the impression there's been a couple of members that have shortened them. My understanding is that they just shorten the rod and rethread it. Look at this thread about how to disassemble the shock (and specifically rejeanprimeau's posts).

[Txn]

I got the 54565-09 13 inchers. And idea that write up on how to disassemble them I plan on using that to take them apart just trying to figure out which part to shorten once I get them apart

[rejeanprimeau]

The damper rods has to be cut to limit the lenght. They use an 11 mm. 1.25 thread. You have the 09 shock, the top has to be rotate 90 degrees for dissambly.

[Txn]

Originally Posted by rejeanprimeau

The damper rods has to be cut to limit the lenght. They use an 11 mm. 1.25 thread. You have the 09 shock, the top has to be rotate 90 degrees for dissambly.

So cutting the damper rod down by two inches should give me 11 in eye to eye correct? And is the dissasembly different than in the thread Dan referenced earlier?

[XLXR]

You need to be careful that the shocks bottom out before anything else hits. Nightsters have a reflector that hits the belt guard. Other bikes hit ECU, or wires under the fender.

[Gcram399]

Originally Posted by rejeanprimeau

The damper rods has to be cut to limit the lenght. They use an 11 mm. 1.25 thread. You have the 09 shock, the top has to be rotate 90 degrees for dissambly.

Originally Posted by XLXR

You need to be careful that the shocks bottom out before anything else hits. Nightsters have a reflector that hits the belt guard. Other bikes hit ECU, or wires under the fender.

Those are genuine HD shocks.

+ 1 on what both these gentlemen said. Also, if when you have the shock apart take the time to take pics of the shortening process. That would be a nice addition to the RK threads that others have on here.

One other note. Shortening the shock will make them stiffer.

[XLXR]

One other note. Shortening the shock will make them stiffer.

I am not sure what guys do to shorten RK air shocks. Cutting and shortening the springs does increase the spring rate and that should make it feel stiffer. But I am not sure if there is another way to shorten the RK air shocks.