LCGB Forums

does anyone know if standard type front dampers have a maximum working length.Reason I ask is when I extend a new set,before I reach the length I want the resistance in the damper disappears.so I,m thinking when fitted will it actually do any damping .I know my fork brackets are about 15mm higher than recommended but the damper loses suction/resistance before this point anyway.so will fitting them be a waste of time?

buy some BGM fron dampers.
they are the business and look cool

Post by bluebob » Fri Nov 04, 2016 11:08 pm

does anyone know if standard type front dampers have a maximum working length.Reason I ask is when I extend a new set,before I reach the length I want the resistance in the damper disappears.so I,m thinking when fitted will it actually do any damping .I know my fork brackets are about 15mm higher than recommended but the damper loses suction/resistance before this point anyway.so will fitting them be a waste of time?

What you say makes sense, though I’ve never had any that lose their damping @ the last stretch as you say yours do.

However, you are very unlikely to ever be in a position while riding where they are fully extended, unless you’re the ‘Wheelie King’ of the neighbourhood.

I suppose you could tape something to top & bottom parts (that will break) in the maximum damping position & take a test ride to see if the test shows ‘pass’ or ‘fail’

BlueBob,

A traditional damper should have no resistance when compressed, but be hard to pull apart. If your brackets are too high, and the dampers have no pull-apart resistance for the last 15mm, then you might be wasting your time. I agree that the dampers will not be fully extended all the time, but you need to work this out as suggested by WT1.

I would also be careful in case your top brackets foul the front mudguard if they are not in the best place.

Is your scooter on its wheels yet? Is the bodywork fitted? I suspect the answer is no, which is why you are asking this question.

thanks for the replies.been back in the garage to compare with another scooter and thinking about checking as you suggested.turns out that the brackets are actually 30mm too high and not 15 as I said.So to fit, the dampers have to be about 10to 15 mm off max extension . If the brackets were set correctly the dampers would be ok, as the "pull apart" resistance only decreases towards full extension. the scooter is built,the brackets easily clear the gp mudguard.i rebuilt the forks with uprated springs and the handling is very good,the only fault is if I hit a pothole it feels very stiff so I thought fitting dampers might soften the impact a bit.and I,v only just got round to replacing the rusty ones which came on it.the best option would be if slightly longer(standard type)are available rather than reweld on the newly painted forks.does anyone know if different sizes are available?the ones I took off were the fatter type,i don't know if they were the Spanish version and if so does anyone know if they are slightly longer?
thanks again for replies.

Oooer!

You have a dilemma there.

Doubtful you have Spanish dampers as they are HUGE by comparison to others & the forks have a different top & bottom mountings. They also have a plastic sleeve to the top part.

I also doubt that ‘over-stroked’ dampers exist.

You could modify standard dampers by cutting off the top eye c/w sleeve & then attaching a swivel type rod mount (as used in kart racing, often called rose joints)

When I have done this in the dim, distant past, I managed to drill & tap the damper piston rod to allow a stud to be screwed in & then the swivel type rod mount screwed on.

You might be tempted by Kawasaki type steering dampers. Gawd help you if you are....

cheers warkton.was hoping someone made an oversize version but as that's not the case I will get the brackets moved .

Unread postby bluebob » Tue Nov 08, 2016 5:31 pm

cheers warkton.was hoping someone made an oversize version but as that's not the case I will get the brackets moved .

You might be happier doing that, but another 'fix' would be a block similar to those that are used to fit the (horrible!) steering dampers...

What's horrible about them?

Post by dickie » Tue Nov 08, 2016 6:10 pm

What's horrible about them?

They 'damp' equally both ways. The damping needs to be predominantly for rebound with very little for compression.

If they were any good, you'd see them on the machines that need the best handling possible.

However, some people persevere with them as a kind of retro fashion statement I think.....