Found this on a VTX1800 site. I've been needing to change the HD springs to Std. on my new 12" Progressive 412's, but didn't want to ship them off to Progressive and invest another $50 with shipping and all. Started looking around on the net for ideas and found this, the instructions are just above the picture in case you want to make one yourself. Progressive sells one for $36 plus s&h, I have about $7 and maybe three hours total time invested. Mine uses some scrap I had in my junk box, had to buy the long bolts on the sides and the hook. Also ended up replacing my hole saw pilot drill bit....too old and dull so part of the $7 isn't actually in the compressor. Once assembled, it took less than 10 minutes for each shock to remove the HD spring and install the Std. one and have it back out laying on the bench. The main difference on mine compared to his....I cut the length at 4.5" instead of just 4" long. Plus mine isn't as pretty but the design is the same, made from scrap already on hand, and it works great. The other thing I did was cut about 3/8" off the end of the hooked section. That makes is just under 2" wide and you can insert it up through the bottom opening after hooking the top eye on the shock, easier to use that way. You can't run the bolts all the way through and put nuts on them unless you make the whole thing at least another 1.5" wider, possibly more. Reason.... not enough room between the nuts for the shock, so you're better off to drill and tap it, leaving the bottom clean.
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INSTRUCTIONS THAT WERE PART OF THE POST ON THE VTX SITE.
Used some aluminum that I had laying around the stock was 3" wide 1/2" thick and cut 4" long. For the bottom I cut a 2" hole with a hole saw and tapped a couple of threads. On the top I drilled 3 holes make the center one a lot larger than the hook threads (this helps in hooking the shock). For the center supports I just cut some 3/4 conduit 6" long and bolted her all up with a hook in the middle. (the length of the center supports will be determined by your hook) You will need about 3" of travel.
