How to Service Universal Motorcycle Steering Damper Change Oil

[@erichogarth4786]

Thanks for making this, my electric kick scooter does 85km/hrs and without a damper I would die from death wobble and today my damper cap came out and leaked all over the sidewalk ...now with this I can fix it myself

[@ScottElliott152]

Good luck fixing it. 85kph is fast for an ES with those small wheels.

[@petehuskins]

Thanks for posting this video. Ive got a chinese damper i paid £30 19 months ago that's beginning to loose it's power. It looks exactly like the one you're working on, so a perfect guide for what i should expect when i service it tomorrow. Cheers!

[@ScottElliott152]

Peter make sure you replace all the o-rings. Let us know how you go. Scott

[@petehuskins]

Hi Scott, thanks for the reply. I did the service on a whim so didn't get any o-rings in first. Also, it looks like the actual seals that run against the damping rod would be more likely to fail as they are in constant contact with a moving part? I did it twice, first time it worked better than it had been but i thought maybe i could do better. 2nd time i seem to have got a load of air in, so will have to do it again. I don't have a decent bench vice at home so was doing it on my lap which definately made it trickier! I will buy a selection of o-rings and do it at a mates whos got a vice!

[@Charlieman.]

Was looking for this - thanks! Explains how it works and key steps.

[@ScottElliott152]

Thanks Ned. Mine is still going well after several desert crossings since I made this video. Regards, Scott

[@WhiteHawk77]

Hey, thanks for the video, but I can’t depress the floating piston as it just bounces back, seems there’s a load of pressure in that part.

[@stewartknight7464]

Great video and thanks for sharing

[@ScottElliott152]

Thanks Stewart

[@trebor4460]

very helpful vid, thank you.

[@ScottElliott152]

Thanks

[@tomb375]

Hi Scott, Great Video as always. Nice KTM, Great O' Ring kit where can I get one like that? I could use some quality O' Rings. I will be changing the Differential fluid on the MB GL450 soon. I believe the differential plugs have O rings on them. Thanks for your help.

[@ScottElliott152]

Tom B Thanks Tom. My wife calls the KTM "the wrist breaker". It's a fantastic Enduro bike and such a great work out for the brain and the body riding the forestry trails. I buy stuff from here including the o-ring kit: www.ebay.com.au/itm/270-Pcs-18-Sizes-Assortment-Kit-Air-Conditioning-HNBR-O-Rings-Set-Car-GREEN-/310931117750?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_15&hash=item4864f056b6 Also open an account with Aliexpress. I just bought some automotive electrical connectors for future use. I try to plan ahead being a self funded retired person. 20 connectors in a packet for the price of one at the local auto accessories shop. Regards, Scott

[@tomb375]

Thanks for getting back to me right away. I miss my KTM I used to have a 495 Moto x bored 50 over. Crazy!! Before the kids, long ago. This bike was heavy and Always controlled the rider no matter how big you were. One of my friends has a new KTM and it's like half the weight and is a dream to ride and can be ridden on the street here in the US. I'm here in NY. on Long Island. Thanks again. Sincerely, Tom

[@ScottElliott152]

Tom B Tom the latest KTM's are a dream to work on. Best engineered off road bike out there. You can have the head off and piston on the bench in less than 15 minutes. They're designed for quick repairs in the mud in between motos. All based on feedback from their mechanics. If you ever get back into riding the trails the KTM is the one to get. About 75% of the components between models are interchangeable. I turn 60 next week and I ride better now and more often than in my 20's. The trick is to stay fit and keep doing it. You never know what's going to happen tomorrow. We have such a short time on this planet. I've been to the US several times including NY. Regards, Scott

[@tomb375]

Well, next trip to NY let me know. Maybe we can get together and hang out.

[@ScottElliott152]

Tom B No problem will do.

[@dimacus15]

Thanks For the Video! Very Informative. Can you please tell. what to do if the main oil seal (not the o-ring) is leaking? is it possible to replace it?

[@ScottElliott152]

I have replaced the main crankshaft seal on a Honda CBX750F many years ago. It was straight forward. I prised the old one out, smeared a non hardening sealant on the new one and tapped it in with a nylon hammer.

[@JaimeFordham]

Loved the video, its taken the mystery out of servicing steering dampers! Where did you get your O-Ring kit from? I live in the UK and there are so many O-Ring kits available so I don't know what the correct size is.

[@ScottElliott152]

Thanks Jamie. I bought a universal o-ring kit from the local auto parts store for $AUD7.00. Once I pulled the damper apart I selected the same sizes. You need a kit with smaller sizes up to about 20mm. Last August I did an epic 1700km desert crossing and the damper never missed a beat. I haven't touched it since making this video.

[@AwareWolfOnWheels]

Awesome, just what I was looking for. 1800th subscriber!

[@ScottElliott152]

I put the newly serviced damper to the test with a 150km ride on forestry trails. Using the automatic transmission fluid inside was a good choice. The conditions were mixed from quite steep single trails with gullies, rocks and washouts to fast sections of ball bearing gravel roads where I was getting up to about 90km/hr. The steering felt very stable with no hint of wobbles or tank slappers. This is the type I bought. They're quite cheap and easy to upgrade. I don't know what the original oil was inside but I don't think it was that good ... it smelt like whale or sardine oil. www.aliexpress.com/item/Motorcycle-Accessories-Universal-Adjustable-Motorcycle-Steering-Damper-Stabilizer-black-color-High-Quality-free-shipping/1952469907.html?aff_platform=aaf&sk=VnYZvQVf%3AYbeAEIURN&cpt=1432997623280&af=173033&cv=47843&dp=48a4505ad6350ec80700e2ac29a656ca&dl_target_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aliexpress.com%2Fitem%2FMotorcycle-Accessories-Universal-Adjustable-Motorcycle-Steering-Damper-Stabilizer-black-color-High-Quality-free-shipping%2F1952469907.html&aff_trace_key=31636175536769888#df5793b5e70f

[@Wronghandleupperfoot]

Hi scott, any idea what to do if the first bush has been pushed before refilling with oil? Accidentally popped it back in and now have no pressure to push it back out!

[@ScottElliott152]

Usually if you give the shaft a sharp hit the air pressure will pop it out.

[@Wronghandleupperfoot]

@@ScottElliott152 that was spot on, thanks!

[@wtfusrnameisntusd]

Hi Scott, I've been considering purchasing this same damper, but in a different color for my 06 GSXR street bike which comes stock with a non-adjustable linear damper. My question is every time I come across this damper it states it doesn't come with any mounting brackets. Did yours or did you order that center bracket separately elsewhere? My stock damper mounts the same way you have yours but just under the top yoke/directly on top of the bottom triple, but the stock damper has that center "gold" bracket built into it (if my description sounds strange just Google "2006 Suzuki GSXR 600 steering damper" and you should see the part itself and the mount location). So removing it and replacing it with this model I would need that bracket to compensate fitment. I'm not sure if the sites listing these dampers are just describing the mounting accessories wrong and by saying it doesn't come with a mounting bracket, could possibly mean it doesn't come with anything else EXCEPT the center bracket. Any info would help me out, before I purchase. Thanks.

[@ScottElliott152]

Shane Toben Hi Shane. I bought the bare basic damper with the universal sliding bracket and that's all. As I'm quite handy with my mini lathe, mig welder and hacksaw I made the other brackets myself except the one that clamped around the top of the left fork. I bought that separately off eBay but had to machine it slightly larger. You can buy the same damper with a mounting kit from Aliexpress: @1443570231 The construction and machining of the damper appears to be good but the end o-rings did fail rather quickly. The original oil smelled like sardine or whale oil so I'm not convinced that was much good either. I do think the name brand dampers are way over priced. So don't be deterred in buying one but I'd recommend dismantling and replacing the O-rings and oil. Since I've done mine it's been working famously with the ATF inside and the dirt gives it more of a work out than the road. I've done quite a bit of riding in sand and that really flicks the front wheel side to side and there's no hint of any oil leaking. I bought this o-ring kit off eBay. @270

[@wtfusrnameisntusd]

Thanks for the quick reply, Scott, really appreciate it. The sliding bracket is the only piece I would need but from the descriptions I see on almost every retailer selling these dampers say that it includes no mounting items and I figured it meant that slide bracket. Those brackets that you made, which by the way look great and shows you know what you're doing, I thankfully wouldn't need as long as I mount in the same place as the stock damper. The ball pivot end on the damper bolts directly into my lower triple on a section of the fork leg clamp and then the only other mount location would be where that slide bracket comes into place. It mounts directly in the center of the lower triple and just kinda "floats" around from there. My concern was just with ordering one and not receiving that slide bracket. I wouldn't be able to use it at that point because it would only mount on the fork leg but nothing else, thus rendering it useless and not functional. Living in the States, I would probably order from Amazon or possibly eBay, but I know it'll likely be imported either way, it's just easier for me using those 2 retailers. I wish the stock damper had a slide bracket that was separate and not built directly into the tube itself. If that were the case I could just bolt this on with no issues whether they send an additional slide bracket like shown in the pictures or not. The stock one is shaped sort of like a triangle or a "coat hanger," if that makes any sense. Basically take the aftermarket damper and weld the slide bracket to it and that's essentially how the stock one is. Good if you plan to keep the stock damper, but bad if you plan to upgrade to a universal adjustable version. Of course, an Ohlins or similar would come with bike specific brackets but at a ridiculous price tag. And right now my bike isn't strictly a track bike and is mostly street use, so I have no use for a very high-end model at this point. When and if it becomes a track only bike, then I'd maybe spend the cash on a highly adjustable model like a Scotts, GPR, etc.

[@ScottElliott152]

Shane Toben www.aliexpress.com/item/Steering-Damper-Stabilizer-Full-Set-With-Bracket-For-Suzuki-2006-2007-2008-2009-GSXR-600-750/1443570231.html www.ebay.com.au/itm/270-Pcs-18-Sizes-Assortment-Kit-Air-Conditioning-HNBR-O-Rings-Set-Car-Seal-GREEN-/371377949018?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_15&hash=item5677d9c95a These are the links I tried to paste.

[@wtfusrnameisntusd]

Oh wow, that model looks even easier to mount. I technically don't need all those brackets, but it would allow me to move it from the stock area and have much more range of installation, use and adjustment. A little bit more pricey than the other model, but I assume that's because of the brackets which I'd be fine with spending the extra cash on. Thanks a lot, Scott. Appreciate the help and links. Once I order, flush it with new ATF and rebuild the O-rings, I'll let ya' know how it works out. Thanks again. Oh, almost forgot one last question. I know air needs to be bled out, but when refilling with ATF should I leave a small gap of empty space so it's not theoretically 100% filled with oil to the max causing a possible hydro-lock? I know these stock dampers only have a few ounces of oil in them and a good section of at least 40% air. I see a lot of people take these stock dampers, drain them and force new oil in but fill it to the max, which I kind of question whether that's a safe thing to do or not. I don't want tank slappers, but I also don't want it bursting or locking up due to being over-pressurized.

[@ScottElliott152]

Shane Toben Shane happy to help out. In the video at 6:46 you see me push the floating piston to the bottom and then position the end plug at the end of it's range (7:20). Fill the body of the damper so that the level is just above where the bottom of the end bush will be. When you push that bushing in you'll feel the pressure which is pushing the floating piston up a bit and creates a pressurised zone in that side chamber. There's a tapered needle that goes into hole for adjustment but there's a secondary small bypass hole to that chamber. It works well because you can't get any hydraulic lock. A sudden twitch of the bars will force oil through the bypass hole against the floating piston to compress the air more and thus eliminate any sudden lock. Once you get it apart and do a bit of experimenting you'll get the hang of it. I can say ATF works well but a 10wt fork oil would also be suitable. As long as it's a good hydraulic fluid with seal conditioner at about 10wt. You could easily try different weights and see what you think. Definitely gives us all report as to how it goes. Regards, Scott

[@KhanGirey]

I've followed this but when I finally assemble it the damper squishes like there is air trapped inside. If I fill it too much, I can't insert the bushing all the way.

[@ScottElliott152]

Yes that sounds about right. You have to fiddle with the fill level a bit to get it to be full once the bushing is pushed in.

[@KhanGirey]

@@ScottElliott152 Thanks, I gave that a go and it is still a bit squishy, but not too terrible. The hardest thing was actually depressing the bushing far enough that the cap threads would engage. Just to verify, if I underfill it to where the inner sleeve is poking out, it seems to suck air in. That's normal, right?

[@ScottElliott152]

@@KhanGirey yes under filling can suck air. It's a bit of trial and error but eventually you'll get a feel for the right level. Let us know how you go. Regards, Scott.

[@019208237]

Mines lost its tension it’s become much loser even when I adjust it to full tension which has 21 settings and can become very stiff. I rode with it on the highest setting because of a nasty tank slapper with my stock damper which I replaced with the universal one. I bought mine only a couple of months ago brand new. it’s a universal one similar to yours. any idea why mines lost its tension? I see no oil leaks

[@ScottElliott152]

Perhaps the adjustable fluid orifice inside has broken and it's stuck in the open position. You'll have to dismantle and investigate. I've not had any problems with mine and it's still going strong.

[@019208237]

@@ScottElliott152 ok. If the fluid inside was low could this also cause it to lose tension?

[@ScottElliott152]

@@019208237 Yes as it would be flowing air through the damping orifice however you'd notice as it would be hit and miss unless it was completely devoid of oil.

[@019208237]

@Scott Elliott ok thanks I’ll have to open it up and check👍

[@019208237]

@Scott Elliott if it was the oil that’s odd because it’s only been on the bike 6-8 weeks from new and I only ride it twice a week. I thought maybe I’ve done damage inside it from having it so tight.

[@yamaheart85]

Hello, I have a question: is there a seal between the cylinder you removed (the one with the green o-ring) and the rod piston of the damper? Can it be replaced or not? Sorry for my english, i'm italian.

[@ScottElliott152]

Once you dismantle you will see how many seals.

[@yamaheart85]

Scott Elliott Is it difficult to replace the seals? Does your damper still work well?

[@yamaheart85]

Scott Elliott Hi, is your damper still ok? Do you recommend it?

[@ScottElliott152]

Yes the damper is fine and has done a lot of work in heavy sand. The original seals aren't very good. Once you put decent o rings in you won't have any problems.

[@NeutralMachine]

What about the seal between the piston and the bushing?

[@ScottElliott152]

Not sure what the question is. I only replaced the seals that keep the oil inside the damper. The rest looked ok. It's still working well. I'm about to do an 1800km enduro through the desert so we'll see how it performs.

[@vlatkopiljek2653]

Hi Scoot, I would just like to ask maybe you have an authorized workshop, if you send it by mail to change the oil in the steering wheel amortization, because I have the same thing, and nobody works in authorized service in Croatia, thanks anyway for help

[@ScottElliott152]

Hi Vlatko. I don't have an authorised workshop. I encourage people to do this work themselves. It's an easy job. Scott

[@alejandrougarte760]

Hi. I have an ohlins sterring damper. What kind of oil does it take?

[@ScottElliott152]

Sorry I don't know. Any quality suspension or hydraulic oil is good but I don't know what weight. Google it as the information will be out there. Scott

[@MrBCRC]

Real calculators have enter keys.