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How to Lower the Front End of a Harley Heritage

Never lower the front end of any motorcycle without also lowering the rear of that motorcycle the same amount. Because of elements of frame geometry called "rake" and "trail" it is possible to safely lower just the rear end of a motorcycle, but lowering only the front end can make the bike dangerously unstable. Lowering a motorcycle also decreases the bikes ground clearance. Nevertheless, it remains a popular modification. Progressive Suspension sells a fork lowering kit that includes all the parts you will need. Harley sells a kit that includes everything except a couple of seals.

Instructions

Fork Disassembly

1

Remove the windshield from the Softail Heritage using the quick detach mechanism.

2

Raise the bike on a motorcycle jack until the front tire is off the floor and the forks are fully extended.

3

Remove the front brake caliper with a hex socket and a socket wrench. Support the caliper with a bungee cord attached to the caliper and the handlebars.

4

Remove the axle nut, lock washer and washer with a socket wrench and hex socket. Pull the axle free from the wheel. Remove the front wheel from the forks.

5

Remove the 4 front fender mounting screws and nuts with an Allen wrench and a hex socket and a socket wrench. Remove the front fender.

6

Remove both slider tube caps with a large adjustable wrench. Remove the slider tube cap washers and seals from both forks.

7

Remove the clamp bolts from both sides of the fork tube bracket with an Allen socket and socket wrench. Pull the forks from the bracket.

8

Remove the fork tube plugs and O-rings from both slider tubes using a large adjustable wrench. Pull the fork springs from both slider tubes.

9

Remove the drain screw and washer from one fork slider at a time with a Phillips head screwdriver. Drain the fork oil from one fork at a time into a drain pan.

Fork Reassembly

10

Reinstall the drain screws and washers into both fork sliders. Refill the forks with the type and quantity of fork oil specified in the owners manual for your year Heritage Softail.

11

Insert the new springs from the fork lowering kit into each slider tube with the more tightly wound portion of the spring on the bottom.

12

Replace the fork tube plugs and O-rings into both slider tubes and tighten securely with a large adjustable wrench. Ensure that one flat on each fork tube plug faces toward the inside of the fork.

13

Insert both fork slider assemblies up through the slider covers, the fork stem and bracket, and the upper fork bracket.

14

Install 2 new fork cap oil seals and the old spacers and slider tube caps onto the tops of the slider tubes with a large adjustable wrench.

15

Reinstall the clamp bots into both sides of the fork tube bracket and tighten with an Allen socket and torque wrench to 35 foot pounds of torque.

16

Replace the front fender. Replace the 4 front fender mounting screws and nuts with an Allen wrench and a hex socket and socket wrench.

Jiffy Stand

17

Retract the jiffy stand installed on the bike to the "up" position. Unhook the jiffy stand spring from the frame. Remove the jiffy stand bolt, washer, lock washer and leg stop from the threaded end of the jiffy stand with a hex socket and socket wrench.

18

Discard the old jiffy stand. Retain all hardware and other components.

19

Assemble the new jiffy stand leg assembly from the kit to the mounting bracket on the motorcycle. Open the jiffy stand to the "down" position.

20

Position the jiffy stand leg over the square end of the jiffy stand assembly. Ensure the "down side" text on the leg is facing down and that the longer side of the leg faces the rear of the bike.

21

Reinstall the flat washer, lock washer and bolt you removed with a socket wrench and hex socket.

22

Reattach the jiffy stand leg spring. Install the rubber from the kit into the hole on the raised tip of the jiffy stand leg. Extend and retract the jiffy stand leg several times to verify proper operation.

Final Reassembly

23

Put your foot under forks. Roll the front laced wheel into the forks atop your foot. Lift your foot.

24

Replace the axle. Replace the axle nut, lock washer and washer. Tighten the axle nut to 55 foot pounds of torque with a hex socket and torque wrench.

25

Replace the front brake caliper. Tighten the brake caliper mounting bolts to 38 pounds of torque with a hex socket and a torque wrench.

26

Lower the motorcycle jack and remove. Replace the front windshield.