Reference on correct assembly of steering damper V7 Sport?

[wicks]

Hi - googling and can't find a good reference (the workshop manual not very helpful) on correct assembly of the damper and damper plate, etc. 73 V7 Sport. Any refs thanks muchly.

[guzzista]

Ok , the  damper chrome plate that goes under the lower triple clamp has 2 holes which should fit  on  the  2 pointy nubs protruding  on/ under  the lower triple clamp. The chrome cylindrical  nubs on the ( chrome) plate should  be on the  top side . The tab that bolts to the damper should point backwards. That pretty much explains it. The knob used for  turning the damper on/ off can be clocked either across the bike or pointing front to rear. The pic on the MGCycle  site has the correct order of assembly. The spring , the black bushing/ spring guide  go on top . The white plastic bushing fits inside the steering stem at the bottom.http://www.mgcycle.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=197_199&products_id=548

[canuck750]

It looks like this when assembled











Cheers

Jim

[Cam3512]

I'm embarrased to admit this, but I've had my Sport for almost 5 years.  I know there's a hydrolic type damper (like the Eldo), but how does that play with the knob on the upper tree that I've never touched?  My BMW R75/5 only had the knob damper that tighten/loosened the steering. 

[canuck750]

Hi Cam

The knob rotates the plate on the underside of the lower triple clamp 90 degrees, thus lengthening or shortening the limit of the stroke on the damper.

A period road test of the V7 Sport complained the damper knob was stuck and would not turn to increase friction! I think a lot of people think the knob effects friction whereas it only alters the stroke length of the damper.

If the triple has been powder coated or if the chrome has been redone on the steel p[late then the 4 holes in the steel plate will need to be reamed out so the two pins on the underside of the triple can fit into the plate.

For what its worth I found no real difference in either of the two positions while riding the V7 Sport this summer.

[Cam3512]

Ah haaa.  My Beemer's knob used a friction plate to dampen the steering directly (no hydro damper). 

Interesting, and thanks!

[wicks]

Thanks so much, two questions though:

- Given the plate is installed with the tab pointed toward the rear of the bike with the shock in "off" position, is the plate meant to rotate to move the damper shaft toward the left side of the bike (to be put in the "longer stroke" position)?

- Is the body of the shock housing or the shaft end meant to be positioned toward the front of the bike?

I'm being careful installing the new one because the last new one I put on ceased up after 3 short rides.

 

[canuck750]

I guess I should pay attention to my own builds seeing I installed the damper differently on each of the V7 Sports

This is a picture of the V7 Sport in the Guzzi Museum



Looks like I need to reverse the damper on my Burgundy V7 Sport

[wicks]

And from the position in that picture, the handle would be rotated right to "turn on" the damper?

[canuck750]

And from the position in that picture, the handle would be rotated right to "turn on" the damper?

Yes I would believe so but technically the damper will move back and forth on its stroke regardless of position, just more so in the 'on' position. The green bike in the museum is, as far as I know original and one would assume the 'body' being attached to the moveable plate is in its original position.

Interesting that Guzzi eventually abandoned the steering damper, perhaps as a cost reduction or maybe as tire technology improved the need or effectiveness of the damper became mute.

Knowledgeable folks will probably have some insight into the effectiveness of the damper

[wicks]

Worked it out - it really only fits one way. While riding generally straight, the damper will barely move - while rotated to the right, the mount on the plate and the damper are on a 90 degree meeting which would make the damper most effective, so that seems like the right position.