Steering damper pictures

[TexasBulldogger]

Afternoon, anyone have pictures of GL1100 and Terraplane with steering damper? Need a little help to get VW damper mounted. Previous owner included a box of extras. VW damper question. Never had one in my hand before. I can slowly move the rod without restriction, which I think would be normal. And only a slight damp when pushing as fast as I can. Doesn't seem to really be doing anything.
Thanks in advance.

 

[Scott-E]

Afternoon, anyone have pictures of GL1100 and Terraplane with steering damper? Need a little help to get VW damper mounted. Previous owner included a box of extras. VW damper question. Never had one in my hand before. I can slowly move the rod without restriction, which I think would be normal. And only a slight damp when pushing as fast as I can. Doesn't seem to really be doing anything.
Thanks in advance.

That's normal. It only dampens rapid motion which is a lot faster than you can push and pull it by hand. It would take care of rapid oscillation of the handlebars ( tank slap) or a VW steering wheel but still allows normal steering action without resistance. Years ago when my hobby was air cooled VW's I took one apart that leaked and was headed to the trash bin because it was made not to be rebuilt. All it consisted of inside was a piston in a cylinder with a small hole in the piston to allow oil to flow from one side to the other as the piston moved back and fourth. Unless the oil has leaked out through the shaft seal there is nothing else that can go bad.

 

[turbodog]

Interesting. Mine is from a VW Thing, IIRC, and it is pretty stiff, even moving slow. Maybe stiffer than is really needed. I'll have to look at some pics of bug dampers to see if they'll mount up without major modifications.

 

[TexasBulldogger]

Thanks, turbodog and Scott-E

I got my new damper over the week end. Old one was definitely blown out and went in the trash. Air moves through the orifice alot easier than oil. I can barely move the shaft of the new one bare handed, but once installed only noticed a slight extra effort to steer. And the good news is it has taken all of the shake out of the handle bars.

Here's a couple of pictures of the first mounting. I'm glad I had the blown out damper to easily move steering back and forth to get the proper mounting position, so it wouldn't bottom out or over stroke the damper. I have another beefier fork clamp coming, so I can use heim joints on both ends to allow for the bit of angle movement when steering lock to lock. Will send updated pictures next weekend.



Went for a couple hour ride yesterday and can't believe how well it handles. Still keep both hands on the bars, but don't need a death grip anymore. I know there's the discussion that the damper is only masking a problem, but until I can find a leading link or raked tree it sure feel like it's been fixed.

 

[turbodog]

Looks good. I have a leading leg modification to reduce steering effort, and at low speeds the damper definitely is the dominant factor in steering effort. At anything above 1st gear (and with the exception of emergency full lock steering input at low speeds), it is not noticeable.