I think my damper is shot...

[Supplicate]

when we were out riding last week, it seemed like the damper was actually "pulling" my steering left and right slowly while riding on some really smooth dirt roads.

Could this be because it spent its first cold weather not in a heated shop this fall and has messed up the oil in it? Or could it be that it finally needs to be rebuilt since its been on my piggy for going on two and a half years now? :worthy:

Anyone know where I can send it for a rebuild?

[husky123]

Is it a Scotts? If so, you can send it back to them for a rebuild. Most of the manufacturers rebuild their own units. Don't know of any 3rd party?

[scalejockey]

hows the steering head bearings? take the damper off and put the bike on a crate to see how easy it goes from side to side.When they go bad or stiff it will feel like the bike wants to fall over.

[Supplicate]

Yeah, its a scotts. The bearings should still be good unless they went bad in the last two weeks. But I'll double check em when I get a chance.

edit: guess I should aread the scotts page first. They suggest you service your damper every 50-70 hours of operation just like your suspension.

[dezracerE]

The steering head bearings will do this on the 650 if you do not lube them.

They will cause a slow steering, pulling feel.

They are probably worn out.

If the dampener is worn, it will develop dead spots (no resistence) and require a harder setting, much like a shock as the fluid loses its viscosity.

[Denn10]

It should be easy to change the oil yourself, my GPR is and if you wanna do it yourself you can mess with different weight oils and get it to your liking. Id say to that as its kinda hard for them to go bad and actually pull your wheel around.

[JackAttack]

The steering head bearings will do this on the 650 if you do not lube them.

They will cause a slow steering, pulling feel.

They are probably worn out.

Steering bearings.

Mine just went out, and I lube them every year.

[dezracerE]

Steering bearings.

Mine just went out, and I lube them every year.

Jack Attack- do you unweight your bike when storing?

Or just leave it on the side-stand?

I wonder if this would have a difference on wear.

If you lube them every season- I see no reason why they would wear at all.

They should last for many years- I would think.

I have seen them wear on bikes with poor maintenance.

[JackAttack]

Jack Attack- do you unweight your bike when storing?

Or just leave it on the side-stand?

I wonder if this would have a difference on wear.

If you lube them every season- I see no reason why they would wear at all.

They should last for many years- I would think.

I have seen them wear on bikes with poor maintenance.

I store on a stand 50% of the time.

They wore out on my 2007 after one season, along with the clutch and countershaft seal.(Countershaft seal showed indications of being installed incorrectly at the factory.

My 2003 has 20,000 miles of tight single-track on the same clutch and OE seals(including fork seals).

I believe the cause is a loose headset nut. After a few races and some pre-running it has continued to hammer a small gap in the bearing race.

I have had to tighten the headset nut several times over the last few months.

I will tear it down in the next week or so and take a visual look at the damage.