- May 14, 2000
- 1,082
- 6
I removed handlebars, forks, ect. to change fork oil,...I re-assembled everything correctly, (so I thought), took it out this morning, started rippin into some trails, and almost killed myself when the steering head locked-up!! I didnt know what the hell was going on, I looked it over the best I could on the trail but couldnt see anything that would cause this, luckily I was close to the truck. I went back and started retracing my steps, and found this;
Apparently,...the first time I installed the Scotts damper I must have tightened the upper bolts first, then the bottom ones. This time when I assembled it, I tightened the bottom ones first.
This caused just enough of an angle difference in the damper so that the damper arm was bottoming out on the shaft, (where the flat sides of the shaft end), and binding the whole steering head. Always make sure there is clearance between the bottom of the damper arm, and the part of the shaft that is round, (where the flat sides of the shaft end).
I learnt the hard way :eek:
Apparently,...the first time I installed the Scotts damper I must have tightened the upper bolts first, then the bottom ones. This time when I assembled it, I tightened the bottom ones first.
This caused just enough of an angle difference in the damper so that the damper arm was bottoming out on the shaft, (where the flat sides of the shaft end), and binding the whole steering head. Always make sure there is clearance between the bottom of the damper arm, and the part of the shaft that is round, (where the flat sides of the shaft end).
I learnt the hard way :eek: