I am interested in buying a steering damper
Can anyone provide a lead for me to follow?
Tried Google but the sites suggested don't publish the specs that I seek.
This is what I am looking for:
26 inches eye to eye maximum.
6.25 inches of rod inward travel.
Ball joint eyes could be 3/8 to 1/2 diameter.
Rod could be 3/8 to 1/2 inch diameter.
Tried the VW damper Napa 113425021 but it is too short.
I could add extensions but it will then look like a Rube Goldberg.
It is for a custom application.
I made a damper between the frame tube and fork leg but it does fully arrest the slow speed wobble.
Here is a picture of my rig needing a new damper.
It is dedicated to my riding buddy who passed away.
But his spirit and image still rides with me
Thanks for any help.
Jay.
Try Jay at DMC. Nice looking rig.
I would start by rather then covering up a front end shake, fix the problem. First the sidecar mounts must not flex. From what I can see the lower rear mount looks almost like you went with two upper rear mounts rather then an upper and a lower rear mount. The 4 mounts should be as far apart as possible. With the upper rear mount set as high as you have it, when you go to fine tune the aligment which might help with a front end shake. When you adjust lean out, you change your toe settings. With the upper rear mount as high as it is, when you lean the bike out to fix a pull to the right, you end up at the same time decreasing your toe setting causing more of a pull to the right. Also springer front ends tend to not be the most solid front ends. Make sure that the springer front end is in good order, You can lower your steering effort by changing the lenght of the rockers on the springer front end.
If you do end up adding a damper, Clamp it to the non moving part of the springer front end, near the top. The other end can go to either side and attach to the top of the engine. Go with the VW damper. We make a kit for Sportsters done this way. It works well.
Jay G
DMC sidecars
www.dmcsidecars.com
866-638-1793
Many thanks for your valued comments.
For whatever reasons, in most times I wear a belt and suspenders...lol lol lol...so---that being said----the rig has 3 rigid mounts at the bottom, 2 at the bottom frame rail and 1 from the lower down tube.
What are seen in the pictures are the 3 lean out adjusters, 1 at the frame back bone under the tank and 2 at the rear frame top wishbone.
The rigid bottom mounts were not able to be spread out to agree with the length of the sidecar because of interference of bike components...hence the 3rd lean out/rigid mount at the top wishbone of the bike frame.
It was pulling to the left and I adjusted to bring the bike towards upright--but--I haven't test ridden it yet--will check the toe in as you noted. Will also rethink the VW damper per your suggestion. I prefer to leave the rockers as is.
I'm thinking of installing a front fork brace...I have a brace and the fork legs have provisions for it.
Thanks again to all.
Jay.
Farley and Ace makes an old school style dampner ,these work, I have 2 and both work excellent. Your rig is too clean to have some donkey looking shock hanging off the front end.Their web is Farley and Ace Inc.
Harley sidecars came from the factory with a steering dampener and as far as I know always did. On old stock springers they came from the factory with one and was used clear up till the rubber mounted frames. They where all friction dampeners that went through the neck tube on the trees.
I'm new to to sidcaring. I have a 1989 Kawasaki 454 LTD with a new Velorex 562 sidecar. What would be a good steering damper to cut down on the slow speed wobble? Thanks for your help
Start by reading my above post and try and fix the real issue. If you can not I would go with a VW beetle not super beetle damper.
Jay G
DMC sidecars
www.dmcsidecars.com
866-638-1793
