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lower damper rod "end plug" (gland nut)

1K views 5 replies 4 participants last post by  TR7RVMan 
#1 ·
Hi, Taking a break from the bonnie & resealing my front forks ('73 Tiger 750) using Leak Proof seals & BelRay 10w fork oil. Let you know how it works out in a few days. (This is the 4th or 5th reseal. All the normal seals didn't last for hoot).

I also wanted to replace the damper piston o-rings 97-4003. Turns out the old ones were not worn at all.

I also examined what Triumph calls the end plug 97-4076. I'd call it a damper rod gland. On mine the inner bushing looks like a graphite type material?? Not smooth plastic like the new ones. Did the material change over time? Or.. has mine deteriorated?

I has a fair amount of end play, about .050" & lots of side play in the nut housing, (not on rod). Forks seem to dampen fine, just leaked at fork seals.

Is there a wear limit to these? How does this play compare to new ones? Mine are an easy sliding fit over damper rod. Not friction at all, but don't seem to have much play on rod.

Are the new ones a snug slip fit or an easy sliding fit on rod.
Don
 
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#2 ·
Hi Don,

I also wanted to replace the damper piston o-rings 97-4003. Turns out the old ones were not worn at all.
Wear is not the issue here. The issue is incorrect choice of material causing stiction excessive enough to affect the reaction of the forks to small but sharp changes in road surface. The ideal change is to seals made of a low-friction material.

This is the 4th or 5th reseal. All the normal seals didn't last for hoot
On the T160's, when I fitted super seals over the winter of '82/'83, super or standard seals were the only alternatives. Standard seals never lasted much beyond about 3,000 miles with the original single disc, the twin-disc kit I was fitting had a super seal in the new right-hand slider so I put a super seal in the left-hand slider. I also fitted gaiters. Never changed the seals since, I lift the bottom of each gaiter to check for leaks just before each MoT (annual safety inspection).

Hth.

Regards,
 
#3 ·
I finally found some good fork seals about 5 years ago and now have gaiters fitted.Use of a 10w oil will suit this bike for good condition roads.I would not use a higher number on mine now.The heavier oils just felt too hard on average bumps.i would be surprised if other riders her had roads like the lanes of Devon with patches and holes every few feet,so a 7.5 works best here.
 
#5 ·
Hi, I got "leak proof classic" seals installed today. As well as original type damper valve O-rings. Used BelRay 10w fork oil.

With springs removed & fender, wheel off the lower slider moved quite freely. Less sticktion than the normal Emgo seals I removed.

With spring installed I tried to feel but I could not compress spring by hand as might be expected.

Installing wheel I loosened all triple clamps & tried to align tubes as good as possible. I'd done this at every reseal. Looks like was good & didn't change one way or the other.

Only had time for a brief 9 mile road test today. On road it maybe felt a little rougher. Sticktion on road is about the same as Emgos were. Keep in mind I replace damper rings which indeed are often root cause of sticktion.

Over large bumps & potholes fork feels really good & smooth. As before over smaller bumps felt rough.

I don't think this is in the damping, but... may be wrong. This small bump motion looks like fork is moving slowly so I don't know if it's really in a damping mode so to speak. Would 7.5 oil have been better?? I don't know. Was watching the front wheel shadow on road compared to frame shadow. I know, should keep eyes on road...

If I was on my mountain bicycle I would say without question it was sticktion causing this.

They make a low friction leak proof seal. I debated on that. More $ but I'm not sure it would seal better so I opted for the classic original model.

Spring sag is about 2" which is spot on for my weight. 160 dressed. Using original springs.

I plan a 75 mile ride tomorrow. Maybe seals/o'rings will free up a bit?? I'll report back.

Next time I will install LF Harris low friction seals on damper piston & low friction leak proof fork seals.
Don
 
#6 ·
Took the bike out today to test fork seal job. Covered 102 miles. Some observations. Sticktion was dramatically improved after 50-60 miles. Now has way less sticktion than with the Emgo seals with 11k miles on them.

Prior fork would stay partly compressed at a stop light unless I lifted bars slightly to raise them. Then would settle to normal sag. Now fork rises to normal sag on it's own.

Did many miles freeway & country & mountain roads. Canyon carving on rough roads compression & damping was spot on. This is after the sticktion freed up. However on normal slow riding like I do was too stiff. Compression was way too hard. Rebound was not too bad at all. On concrete freeways with rough joints was very very harsh. Awful!

In the next several weeks I'll change to BelRay 7.5w oil (BelRay 10w in now). See if that changes things... I even wonder if 5w would be better? Still I'll do 7.5 1st. No other changes so I'll know the difference. Will road test same route.,

It could be leak proof seals have sticktion on compression from the way they work, but very free on rebound.

On a good note they seem to be sealing quite well. Much better than any seal I've had prior.
Don
 
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