I have a 93 Tour Glide with a 96 HD sidecar. Anybody know how I can test my steering damper to see if it is actually working? How much force should it take to extend and compress the damper? I get a little shake somewhere between 20 and 30 MPH. I was riding one handed the other day and hit a bump and got a pretty major oscillation going so I'm wondering if my steering damper is worn out. I bought the sidecar and put it on the bike recently so I don't know how old the damper is.
Take one end loose and operate it. If there is initial slack when you extend or compress it, or it works without much resistance replace it. This is the speeds where a Harley with stock rake and no damper will wiggle it's nose.
If you replace it don't get ripped off by getting a $100. plus Harley one. Go to NAPA and get an early Volkswagen damper. It's the same damper for about 1/5th the price. Tale your damper along for an example since the VWs used two different lengths of travel on the dampers. One had about 6 3/4", the other 7" plus.
Lonnie
Thanks for the information. I rode the rig a few times without the damper but not very far. The shake seems about the same after installing the damper so that's why I suspect it is worn out.
NAPA PN1133425021 is what I use. About 20% of the Motor Company price.
Lonnie
Thanks, I found it on the NAPA website. I saw some old threads here with this number in them as well (113425021). They have an angled end of arm unit and a straight one (J part number suffix). I currently have the straight one with a rod end threaded into it 90 degrees to the shaft of the damper. Which one do you have? Thanks again for the info. The NAPA price is $33 for the angled end and $37 for the straight one.
Yeah,
One has the angled metric threaded bolt end and the other has a right angle threaded hole for a heim joint. I/ve used both kinds in different applications. The one with the threaded bolt end is 19 1/2" extended. The one with the hole is 17 1/4" (C to C) extended. It has a shorter barrel and less stroke.
I have one of each in stock.
Lonnie
