Progressive 416 shocks

[kitesurfer805]

I have an 87 goldwing interstate project that started with removing the rear wheel and has morphed into change the rear shock so I am starting a new thread. The old thread is titled rear wheel change out and its a long story. After changing the tire one of my shocks blew a seal and I could not figure out how to rebuild it so I purchased used progressive 416 shocks that came off a 86. I read everything I could about them and lots of people have positive comments. Nobody actually talks about installing them so I assumed they would just bolt right up. I know they have to have a conversion kit to get the air hose to connect and I have ordered one. When it comes in I will post some photos since I could not find any. Right now my potential problem in the installation. Its funny that in all the post about these shocks nobody mentions this.

First is the top part of the shock is not as wide as the honda shock, do I need to make a custom spacer? See pic's. As I see it I need to make a spacer.

2nd question is the air hose connection. I am waiting on the conversion kit to install the hose but notice how the nipple is sitting right on top of the rear fender inner liner. Does anybody see a problem with that? I can see no other way to install

[julimike54]

Regarding the spacer, looks like you're missing the inside washer (couldn't attach 600x800 pic) and then you'll have a small gap left. Doesn't move around anyway.

The airline does hit the rubber part. Hasn't been an issue for about 30 years. That's the age of the shock in the not attached picture.

If you want a picture send me a pm with your email address

[kitesurfer805]

I got the air adapter kit 30-5082 in and now I understand how it all works. I was under the impression the conversion was to occur on the shock side but it does not and instead the conversion occurs on the manifold side. So now I have all parts except for the air hose. The 30-5082 kit does not include any of the black air hose. I think there was another kit that had air hose with it but I got mine from cyclemax and their kit does not. Can anyone tell me what size the polythene air hose is? 1/8" dia or maybe 4MM?

[julimike54]

Sorry I don't know, mine came with the kit. Suggest talking to Progressive or someone once advised going to a 'large truck' repair place as they use these type hoses. I don't know if it is true or not. If you can think of some place that deals in air suspension work, they should be a source.

[kitesurfer805]

I ended up going to NAPA and getting a air shock kit for $15 that had some hose in it and used that. The shocks did fit a lot tighter in the clevis fittings on the bike but that was probably because the old shocks were 30 years old. Anybody like me that is new to these old goldwings may be able to use this if they upgrade their shocks. I will add some pictures of the final install.

My original plan was to rebuild by old original Honda shocks. There are some you tubes about how to do it but my shock was a little bit different. The videos cover the earlier version of the shock where the snap ring is different and much easier to remove. My version of the shock had a cir-clip vs what I call a snap ring (use snap ring pliers to remove). I decided to go with some used progressive 416 shocks so I went ahead and destroyed the one leaking shock so I could figure it out. I now believe you can disassemble the shock. What you have to do is compress the shock then using a dowel tap down the retaining bushing and then you can remove the circlip. You have to build a compression tool but a rebuild will only cost you around $100 (that is with new progressive springs) vs several hundred dollars for a set of new progressive 416's.

[Rednaxs60]

Found these pictures over on the Classic GW forum. Well laid out so to speak.