You won't get much help from CSC or Champion regarding sidecars these days. They're geared toward trike sales.(more $$ there).
I doubt your refill idea would work out for you.
The bell crank setup would allow resistance adjustment by changing length on either arm to increase or decrease leverage and travel of the shock piston.
Lonnie
Man, Lonnie, I just cant picture in my mind how to set the damper up with the bellcrank, maybe one of you guys can show me a picture, or make a diagram or something. It sounds like the solution I seek. I agree , re; CSC and Champion, they are no help at all to us guys putting together an older rig, Thanks alot, Rick.
Sorry....I should but don't have a picture of the bell crank setup. It would be different for different rigs anyhow. Why not just convert over to a VW damper? They are not expensive. You'll need a heim end for the shaft to go through. Note that mounting the damper 90 degrees to the fork tube angle is a good thing as far as cutailing bump steer induced by damper resistance but you can also mount the damper at various positions out from the side of the fork tube as well. Lots damper movement can be had or damper movement can be reduced dependant upon how it is mounted. Funny people so many times say 'just slap a damper on it' but to do this right it take a littl emore thought than just slapping onne on. Persoanlly I hate the darn things and we try to do all we can to keep from using one when poissible. Nine oput of ten thime this is possible. Tire pressure , steering head bearing tightness etc etc may be th ekey.
I spoke to a couple of friends that have more mechanical knowledge than me, building race cars, tube chassis etc, and they explained the bellcrank idea to me, seems a bit complicated, but very adjustable when set up. The VW damper sounds interesting, do you have any photos of how that would be set up? also I am looking for soft damping, about half of what my current stock CSC shock delivers ,to help with low speed parking lot steering steering maneuvers, u turns, etc. what year /type of VW car damper works best,? also what clamp do you use to mount the "fat" end of the VW damper? Thanks Rick.
They make 3 styles of VW dampers ....
http://www.chircoestore.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=186_189_227
The "fat" end has a rubber bushing like most shocks. A 3/8" bolt will secure it.
The early Beetle dampar has the longest stroke , over 7", the latrer ones are a bit over 6".
Lonnie
Thanks, Man, I wonder which damper is the softest? I would think the early VW bug, not the bus one...... also I wonder if these are softer than the truck shock made by Gabriel? BTW just put a pair of HD air shocks on the bike, they are great for $30. ! those would fit the rear of the magna perfect I think I am going to grab another pair, and try them instead of the progressive 412's I have on there now..Rick
Wow...cant believe I have not posted on here in awhile :/ .... Well between building bikes, honey do's at home and about 100 hrs labor on the fiberglass tub itself on the Friendship 1 it is done, mounted and wired, carpet done,seat done..... I am figuring out a windshield set up... the stock one is just to bubbly and to far back for the 85 lbs Pitbull to get in and out.........Here is what I did to the trashed and cracked tub that had ill body work and 4 coats of paint.......... Sand blast the whole damn thing, dremel so many cracks my hands hurt, Glass and mesh weak and cracked areas hidden from bondo and paint, fill all holes for snaps and so on, 2 gallons of Vette Panel Adhesive on whole body, full block and block and block and more block.....then airfile and DA ..... Then sprayed 4 coats (gallon) of White Wax Gel Coat .......Block and block all orange peel........then old school buff with rubbing compound and 7" buffer..........Lay Purple 3M rally stripes,cut rear tail light holes to accept run/Brake Red 4" LED lighs,then sand and prep bottom and spray Rattle can bed liner......I cannot believe the labor I have in this between building the subframe, and restoring the Sidecar chassis and suspension..........I will post up pics in the next few days after Iget her new saddlebags hardmounted..... I took the dog for a ride today and she just loves it......
