Buell XB9R 2003, Service Manual, Page: 160 / 566

2003 Buell XB9R: Chassis 2-55
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REAR SHOCK ABSORBER 2.22
GENERAL
The rear suspension is controlled by the shock absorber. The
XB9R shock allows adjustment of rear compression and
rebound damping and spring preload.
The most important rear shock adjustment is the preload set-
ting. Before making any damping adjustments, set the proper
preload. See
1.11 SUSPENSION DAMPING ADJUST-
MENTS .
NOTE
The rear shock absorber contains no user serviceable parts.
REMOVAL
1. Remove seat. See 2.38 SEAT .
1 1
WARNING
1
WARNING
Always disconnect the negative battery cable first. If the
positive cable should contact ground with the negative
cable installed, the resulting sparks may cause a battery
explosion which could result in death or serious injury.
2. Disconnect and remove battery. See 1.4 BATTERY
MAINTENANCE.
3. Remove tail body work. See 2.36 TAIL FRAME AND
BODY WORK .
4. Place a scissor jack under jacking point and raise rear
wheel off ground. For location of jacking point see
Figure
2-98.
5. See Figure 2-85. Remove upper shock (5) and lower
shock mount fasteners (6 and 9) and lower shock mount
sleeve (8).
6. Remove rear shock reservoir clamp (2).
7. See Figure 2-84. Cut cable strap.
8. Feed rear shock reservoir through tail section.
9. Remove rear shock.
a. Raise motorcycle up approximately 2 more inches
(51 mm).
b. Remove shock through the top of the tail section
(opening underneath rider seat).
INSTALLATION
1. See Figure 2-85. Install upper shock mount and tighten
fastener (5) to 49-51 ft-lbs (66-69 Nm).
2. Install lower shock mount with fasteners (6, 9) and lower
shock mount sleeve (8) and tighten to 15-17 ft-lbs (20.3-
23 Nm).
3. Feed rear shock reservoir through tail section. D.1 HOSE
AND WIRE ROUTING for correct routing.
a. Loosely install reservoir in clamp.
b. See Figure 2-83. Temporarily place upper body work
onto tail section and adjust reservoir placement so
dial aligns with bodywork.
c. Tighten clamp on reservoir to 96-120 in-lbs
(11-14 Nm).
4. See Figure 2-84. Add cable strap.
NOTE
Verify compression dial is facing up. See Figure 2-85.
5. Install upper body work. See 2.36 TAIL FRAME AND
BODY WORK .
1 1
WARNING
1
WARNING
Always connect the positive battery cable first. If the pos-
itive cable should contact ground with the negative cable
installed, the resulting sparks may cause a battery explo-
sion which could result in death or serious injury.
6. Install battery by threading positive cable (red) into
threaded hole first tightening to 72-96 in-lbs (8-11 Nm).
See
1.4 BATTERY MAINTENANCE.
7. Install seat. See 2.38 SEAT .
Figure 2-83. Adjuster Screw Alignment
Figure 2-84. Cable Strap
1. Adjuster screw
2. Adjuster screw alignment hole
1
8354
2
8463