Play in Steering damper

jondevos

jondevos

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Just bought a new cbr with a steering damper on it. I have never had a dampner before so wondering if it should have any play. It can swivel back and forth a bit at both the screws even though they are tight. Is this normal?

Also just wondering if you can switch oils in the damper? Right now I find it quite hard to turn stop to stop while pushing the bike around the garage. I haven't ridden the bike yet but that seams pretty thick.

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caboose483 said:
"both the screws". can you elaborate on this?
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In the picture you can see the one screw at the end of the ram. Underneath the ram there is a second screw which mounts to the tripple tree. Just wanted to make sure play was normal in there.
 
Not normal. Every slightest moment of the steering should cause the damper rod to slide in or out of the damper body. Movement in the mounting bolts will not allow this, so the play needs to be removed.
 
fastar1 said:
Not normal. Every slightest moment of the steering should cause the damper rod to slide in or out of the damper body. Movement in the mounting bolts will not allow this, so the play needs to be removed.
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Step away from the crackpipe...

Its mounted on heim joints... its MEANT to move!!

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OK well I went out and had a look at it again. As far as adjustability goes, just figured that out so no longer an issue. As for the play it only has play up and down. I can rock it back and forth towards windshield and tank but has no play left and right. Also if i turn bars left and right there is no play in that direction. I think it might be normal
 
mmmnaked said:
Step away from the crackpipe...

Its mounted on heim joints... its MEANT to move!!

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4076.jpg
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Thanks mmmnaked. Looks like I have nothing to worry about. Just going over my new bike with a fine tooth cone. Cant ride it, might as well go over it.
 
jondevos said:
OK well I went out and had a look at it again. As far as adjustability goes, just figured that out so no longer an issue. As for the play it only has play up and down. I can rock it back and forth towards windshield and tank but has no play left and right. Also if i turn bars left and right there is no play in that direction. I think it might be normal
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Ok now I understand what you mean. Up and down play is natural with those type of connections but there should not be any side-to-side play.
 
fastar1 said:
Not normal. Every slightest moment of the steering should cause the damper rod to slide in or out of the damper body. Movement in the mounting bolts will not allow this, so the play needs to be removed.
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The words "not normal" are incorrect. While the statement that follows is correct, what isn't correct is that it's quite normal for these to be able to pivot freely up and down within the limits of travel of the ball joints at each end, and that's what the original poster was talking about. The last phrase "so the play needs to be removed" is not correct because, in fact the situation is normal, and no action whatsoever needs to be taken.
 
SURE, HERE'S YOUR ERROR:

fastar1 said:
Not normal.
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Yes, the movement is indeed perfectly normal. It's part of the design and basic function of a damper. If it didn't have this movement, it would bind up when the chassis and suspension flex.

Go away now.
 
mmmnaked said:
Go away now.
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Oh look, I'm breaking your will. So sorry.

My reply was based on the OP's description of the loose bolt being under the one "at the end of the ram". Given that description of the problem, there was no error.

If you want to play again I can spare you a token.
 
:lol: I love it when people desperately try to justify blatantly wrong posts
 
N3WMAN said:
I think fastar1 interpreted the initial poster's problem as loose mounting bolts(holding the brackets to the frame/triple). In which case his post is correct, the mounts should not have any play. At least that's what I took away from his post.
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LOL yes the mounts SHOULD have play that's why they're fastened through heim joints :lol: awesome
 
The only thing "hard mounted" to the motorcycle is the heim joint. The damper does NOT have heim joints, the MOUNTS do, thus allowing the damper free play.

Step away from the keyboards, folks.

*EDIT* See the above-posted pictures for clarification.
 
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