Author Topic: CB750F Steering Damper with an Oil Cooler (Read 3075 times)

madScientist · « **on:** May 10, 2014, 02:35:35 PM »

I would like to put a steering damper on my 78 750F. However I have an Earls oil cooler mounted on it as well that looks like it would interfere with the operation of a damper.

Has anyone mounted a damper on a 750 that had an oil cooler installed as well?
Anyone have ideas as to how I'd mount this thing without welding a mount point on the down tubes?

I've googled the hell out of this subject and cant find anything solid that doesn't involve welding a mount point to the down tubes. I've been studying Mike's Million Dollar CB and that looks like it has a mount welded to the frame as well (could be wrong).

My initial thought is that I would have to forgo using the threaded mount in the lower tree and clamp directly on to the fork as well as clamp to the downtube. I "think" that would give me enough clearance from the cooler without interference.

However if anyone else has some ideas I'm open. Thanks in advance guys!

This is a picture of the front of the bike where I'd likely be putting the damper:

madScientist · « **Reply #1 on:** May 10, 2014, 03:52:45 PM »

Ha thanks man! The full build is in my signature.

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=113293.0

It was a labor of love for me. I think it turned out pretty good and am pretty proud of it!

754 · « **Reply #2 on:** May 10, 2014, 05:46:14 PM »

I have made a weldless mount..don't think I can produce it cheaply, will post a pic later.

Retro Rocket · « **Reply #3 on:** May 10, 2014, 05:54:14 PM »

I usually had a mount welded to the left side downtube for mounting a damper...

madScientist · « **Reply #4 on:** May 10, 2014, 07:24:23 PM »

Staring and thinking about it while I was painting the "HONDA" letters in the 350 stator cover I "think" I can use the fast from the past fork tube bracket and mount the damper to the fork and then get a smaller bracket (fast from the past) to mount to the downtube. It looks like I just need to get the tail end of the damper away from the frame about 2-3" to ensure there's clearance.

Another option I have been kicking around is getting an exhaust C clamp and welding the mount point to that. Then mounting it to the frame. It would be fairly inexpensive and give me some flexibility in function.

The other question is...does the damper need to be mounted to that center-ish hole in the lower tree or is mounting directly to the fork okay? And is the ODM2000 the one to go with? From some of my searches that seems to be the preferred?

Retro Rocket · « **Reply #5 on:** May 10, 2014, 08:20:27 PM »

Some come with a clamp that actually mounts to the fork just at the base of the lower clamp or between the top and bottom clamp, it works better further away from the center as its meant to restrict sideways movement which is harder if the front of the damper is mounted nearer the center, If that makes sense......

750K · « **Reply #6 on:** May 10, 2014, 08:30:59 PM »

That's what I did on my 77, FFTP billet clamps and ODM2000 damper. If you have two mounting clamps you can adjust the angle of the damper as well as how far away or tight to the bike you want it. I was able to get it in a comfortable spot I can reach with my left hand while riding that still gives me room to pull the plugs without removing it.

750K · « **Reply #7 on:** May 10, 2014, 08:49:29 PM »

Take a look through this thread, pics of my setup are on page 10 and I list the clamp sizes on page 11. Lots of good info in that thread, helped me decide which way to go about mounting or measuring and determining the right stroke length of damper to order.

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=90969.225

754 · « **Reply #8 on:** May 10, 2014, 09:42:39 PM »

Main frame 1 inch, reinforced. Area 1 1/4 inch...forgot to take. Pic of clamp.

madScientist · « **Reply #9 on:** May 11, 2014, 12:36:37 PM »

I looked through that thread. Looking at my bike I dont think going from the left downtube to the right fork is going to be an option since the oil cooler is blocking some of the mobility.

Would there be any hindrance in usability if I went from the left downtube to the left fork? In my minds eye the mobility is there. I just want to ensure I'm not going to cause a dangerous condition by doing so. If there's no issue doing it that way then I think I might be in business.

Either way I'll be ordering the damper and a couple of brackets to start test fitting. I appreciate the input fellas.

Retro Rocket · « **Reply #10 on:** May 11, 2014, 02:30:34 PM »

Doesn't matter which side its on as long as it doesn't foul on anything and you are staying within the stroke length of the damper...

754 · « **Reply #11 on:** May 11, 2014, 07:56:35 PM »

I made this one for me.

madScientist · « **Reply #12 on:** May 12, 2014, 05:55:15 AM »

That's a nice bracket 754!

I have elected to try the brackets from FFTP (Fast from the Past). I have ordered 35mm (forks) and a 32mm (down tubes). I measured the stroke from where I'm planning on mounting the damper. It looks like I'm going to need a stroke of about 5" so I went with the 130mm stroke damper as that comes to about a 5 1/8 stroke. Model ODM3000E. Hopefully I'll have things in a few days and can start putting it together.

If the clamp doesn't give me enough clearance i'm going to fall back to the exhaust clamp idea.

Stilltime · « **Reply #13 on:** May 12, 2014, 06:50:03 AM »

I have temporarily used a 1" conduit clamp to mount mine. Been looking for a more solid clamp, though.

754 - Estimated cost on a clamp like that? I would waterjet the profiles of both pieces to get finish machined if that would cut down on cost??

I don't have a great pic of how it was mounted, but used a billet bracket from Fast from the Past on the fork and the conduit clamp on the frame...

754 · « **Reply #14 on:** May 12, 2014, 07:44:45 AM »

Waterjet would help a lot..but..
Hinge is only about 1/8 thick. On one side., forked on other....2 x 1/8.
Part is 3/8, would. Have to be thicker to be stronger..
Massive liability problem if I sold them and one ever broke....

Retro Rocket · « **Reply #15 on:** May 12, 2014, 03:16:11 PM »

Quote from: 754 on May 12, 2014, 07:44:45 AM

Waterjet would help a lot..but..
Hinge is only about 1/8 thick. On one side., forked on other....2 x 1/8.
Part is 3/8, would. Have to be thicker to be stronger..
Massive liability problem if I sold them and one ever broke....

Theres not much force on them Frank, just the damping pressure, the ones on this page link are almost identical...

http://www.motorcycle-parts.com.au/Steering_Dampers.htm

754 · « **Reply #16 on:** May 12, 2014, 03:21:28 PM »

Hey never seen their. Stuff before.. Very trick looking damper setup.
Yeah the clamps could be made for less than they want.

Retro Rocket · « **Reply #17 on:** May 12, 2014, 03:35:12 PM »

Quote from: 754 on May 12, 2014, 03:21:28 PM

Hey never seen their. Stuff before.. Very trick looking damper setup.
Yeah the clamps could be made for less than they want.

How much cheaper....

madScientist · « **Reply #18 on:** May 16, 2014, 05:29:38 AM »

Posting a status...I received the dampener and the clamps from FFTP. Sadly, the 32mm clamp that i was mounting to the downtube did not have enough extension to get the dampener past the engine. After 2 hours or so of trying to find a usable angle I said "f it" and made an extension bracket out of some square stock I had.

I dont like it aesthetically but it works for now. Let me know what you guys think of the angle and safety concerns so I can rethink and address them. Clearance to the jugs is TIGHT. Like...2-3mm tight but it clears. I'll probably get it out this evening and take it for a test.

Here are some pictures for evaluation:

sorry for this blurry one...it was dark and my flash stopped working

I'm probably going to take a shot at the exhaust clamp idea this weekend if I can find the right diameter. I might use it as an opportunity to elevate the dampener a little to get it more clearance from the jugs.

madScientist · « **Reply #19 on:** May 16, 2014, 05:45:33 AM »

I tried it under the lower tree but then I ran into clearance issues on the oil cooler and the clamp. It was all very frustrating.

The new bracket that I'm going to build is going to extend and elevate the mount point hopefully rectifying all the clearance woes.

754 · « **Reply #20 on:** May 16, 2014, 07:46:59 AM »

Be very carefull. With the exhaust clamp, bad choice, many frames have been scarred up by using them on crash bars and highway pegs. If you use it on the 1 1/4 part, may be a bit more crush resistant, than on the 1 inch part.

madScientist · « **Reply #21 on:** May 16, 2014, 08:14:35 AM »

Excellent intput 754! I had questioned the use of exhaust clamps in my head since they are designed to manipulate metal...albeit thin metal but regardless.

I might just stick with the FFTP clamp as it's already mounted (and was a pain in the a$$ to get to that point) and make a variation of the bracket I have in my head. Might be simpler anyhow. Knowing me I'm probably going to over-engineer this thing.

750K · « **Reply #22 on:** May 16, 2014, 09:15:19 AM »

Tough one, clearing the oil cooler and still having a comfortable astetic fit would be tricky. If you get crafty I'm sure you can come up with some kind of extension off the frame clamp that looks nice and solves clearance issues. At least that side is the least seen as its under the tank edge a bit, worst case scenario you could mount it on the right side, although you'd have to figure out what setting you like in the city or highway and leave it there a lot of the time. Pain in the ass to drop your throttle hand while on the highway sometimes, might explain why the petcock changed from the right to the left after a certain year.

MRieck · « **Reply #23 on:** May 16, 2014, 01:22:21 PM »

I have an Earl's and a steering damper. Damper is mounted on the right side. It is very tight but nothing touches. My cooler looks like a few less rows but I'll get some pics up in a day or so.

madScientist · « **Reply #24 on:** May 16, 2014, 02:05:52 PM »

Many thanks to everyone who's chimed in!

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Author Topic: CB750F Steering Damper with an Oil Cooler (Read 3075 times)