Wildguzzi.com

General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: Gusable on May 26, 2019, 02:57:08 PM

Title: Adjusting my steering damper
Post by: Gusable on May 26, 2019, 02:57:08 PM
I wanted to check my steering damper and see if I could tighten it up for the highway rides.  The owners manual doesn’t say which way to go with it.  Loosen the locknut and make the outer body go “ in” towards the rear of the bike makes it tighter?
Title: Re: Adjusting my steering damper
Post by: Gliderjohn on May 26, 2019, 04:16:35 PM
I have an aftermarket one and if I am looking toward the nut from the rod end it is left turn to loosen and right to tighten. If you just put the bike on the center stand and play with the adjustment you should be able to tell by just moving the wheel back and forth in your hands when you tighten it.
GliderJohn
Title: Re: Adjusting my steering damper
Post by: Gusable on May 26, 2019, 05:23:46 PM
Ok sounds good. Thanks. I’ll play with it.  Can I rebuild it? The stick one
Title: Re: Adjusting my steering damper
Post by: Huzo on May 27, 2019, 12:17:21 AM
What function does the steering damper perform in theory ?
Title: Re: Adjusting my steering damper
Post by: JC85 on May 27, 2019, 12:58:20 AM
What function does the steering damper perform in theory ?

Other than making thing smoother overall, providing resistance to sudden, jerky changes, therefore preventing wobbles.
Title: Re: Adjusting my steering damper
Post by: lorazepam on May 27, 2019, 01:12:12 AM
What function does the steering damper perform in theory ?
Supposed to prevent or lessen tank slappers.
Title: Re: Adjusting my steering damper
Post by: Huzo on May 27, 2019, 01:24:05 AM
Supposed to prevent or lessen tank slappers.
ok.
Thanks.
Title: Re: Adjusting my steering damper
Post by: flower_king001 on May 27, 2019, 06:57:58 AM
place bike on center stand / front wheel off ground

turn damper rod one way and check for resistance
Title: Re: Adjusting my steering damper
Post by: LowRyter on May 27, 2019, 08:43:25 AM
The EV has a simple friction damper.  The only advantage I have noticed is the forks don't flop around easily when going at parking lot speeds and make the front feel a little smoother.

I don't consider it to be any device to help highway stability.   The bike is pretty stable on its own.
Title: Re: Adjusting my steering damper
Post by: Tom on May 27, 2019, 08:26:01 PM
Check and adjust steering neck bearings first.  Most times you won't need one except if the bike is loaded and you're doing a long sweeper or paved whooptee doo's.  Going up one and transferring the weight off the front wheel will get you a tank slapper.  A damper in both situations would help.  Don't hit the brakes in either situation.  Chop the throttle and straighten the bike up to recover.  Reminiscent of having a rear tire going flat on you at speed. 

You can build a oem friction one.  The friction material needs replacing.
Title: Re: Adjusting my steering damper
Post by: Bisbee on May 27, 2019, 10:42:13 PM
The damper died on my EV awhile ago. Probably croaked years ago without realizing it. Took it off - can’t tell any difference. Can’t see the reason for it . Bike handles great. Won’t replace it. More likely to get hit by a meteorite than encounter a severe tank slapper on a EV. My opinion.
Title: Re: Adjusting my steering damper
Post by: Tom on May 27, 2019, 11:29:01 PM
"Most times you won't need one except if the bike is loaded and you're doing a long sweeper or paved whooptee doo's."
Title: Re: Adjusting my steering damper
Post by: flower_king001 on May 28, 2019, 10:31:08 AM
tossed the one off my EV years ago..never missed it.
tossed the one on my 1986 Lemans years ago....never missed it
Title: Re: Adjusting my steering damper
Post by: JC85 on May 28, 2019, 03:44:59 PM
tossed the one off my EV years ago..never missed it.
tossed the one on my 1986 Lemans years ago....never missed it

I replaced the one on my Eldo, last year, and will always keep it, but that's just because of the old Eldos being prone to tank slappers.