Rubber dampner

Pete · March 01, 2018, 11:12:30 AM

I'm just putting my Mr. Pedantic hat on here:
Damper - a device that controls mechanical rebound or other movement - it forms a part of the suspension of our motorcycles.
Dampner - a device for controlling unwanted pressure pulses in a hydraulic system (like water-hammer, for example) - not a part of your motorcycle suspension.
Dampener - a thing for making things damp; a sponge is a dampener - it may be connected to your motorcycle if you wash it with said sponge.

rob f · January 30, 2018, 22:20:39 PM

Yup..... Can never have too many bikes.

CDNRatMan · January 30, 2018, 15:56:35 PM

Rob you have a ranch so you should be able to stable both bikes.....

Tfrank59 · January 30, 2018, 11:37:50 AM

Quote from: CDNRatMan on January 30, 2018, 00:20:28 AM
Yes remember that and I told you I had a Roadhouse exhaust system and that I had rubber mounted it. Then I guess I never looked at Pearl but it has a stock system and it had a couple of rubber grommets on it. I know that some of the 1500 people had theirs hard mounted, and had issues and some people that used aftermarket exhausts on their 800's also had issues when they hard mounted them. not so much cracking but more a vibration issue.

What system are you running?

My 800's pipes are aftermarket and hard mounted. no problems thus far. my other bike's pipes are stock and they are also hard mounted (Honda). I recall my dirt bike pipes all being rubber mounted, and also on several bikes the handlebars and other items (signals, etc.), so to me it seems a bit arbitrary which things are rubber mounted and which aren't.

rob f · January 30, 2018, 08:43:48 AM

I have a stock pipe but info from the previous owner says that it had after markets on prior to my purchase and was changed back due to the rusty after markets. Glad for that because that fishtail was the first thing that caught my eye when I spotted my first drifter. I don't really like loud mufflers but rather something in between a sewing machine and a turbo Cummins with headers.
Haven't ridden this bike yet so don't know what the loaded sound is like but am pretty sure it's not that great. Am thinking about the de-baffling thing as long as it's a reversible procedure. Kinda worried about loss of back pressure and running it to lean along with the K&N and grampsizing the air box. Toying with the thought of finding another stock fishtail and somehow mounting it on the other side. Just for looks not functionalbility. Maybe next year if I like and keep the bike.
Just got a heads up on an older guy that may be selling his 1500 so may have one of those after this riding season.

CDNRatMan · January 30, 2018, 00:20:28 AM

Yes remember that and I told you I had a Roadhouse exhaust system and that I had rubber mounted it. Then I guess I never looked at Pearl but it has a stock system and it had a couple of rubber grommets on it. I know that some of the 1500 people had theirs hard mounted, and had issues and some people that used aftermarket exhausts on their 800's also had issues when they hard mounted them. not so much cracking but more a vibration issue.

What system are you running?

rob f · January 29, 2018, 22:58:22 PM

Speaking of rubbers, Ratman..........
Back on Dec 13th I had an inquiry regarding the mounting of the muffler to the frame. The bike I had purchased had the muffler hard bolted to the frame and I thought that it was unusual that on a rubber mounted engine that the muffler should also be mounted this way.
I am here to tell you that I just received my Kawi OEM order and there is indeed 3 large rubber grommets and 3 flanged grommet spacers that hold the muffler onto the frame. Anyone with thiers mounted hard is looking for cracking problems IMHO.
R

greenbarn · January 28, 2018, 09:03:49 AM

Quote from: CDNRatMan on January 27, 2018, 19:55:51 PM
Sorry Pilgrim never looked about the 1500, but Troll or GreenBarn can tell you if they have them. But like I said for the cost, and your already in this far worth the extra few bucks to buy new ones......purpose is to dampen the transition of power from the chain or drive shaft to the rear hub ............

I remember having mine out before on the 1500 and the 800- they both looked OK at the time. Knowing what I know now, I would look closer at them next time I have them out, and maybe just replace them due to age.

Tfrank59 · January 28, 2018, 00:31:15 AM

Yeah my Triumph Bonneville had it too I think the only motorcycles maybe that don't have dampeners would be little dirt bikes or something. I have a 175 Yamaha that doesn't have dampeners. It's very hard on the tranny counter shaft if there's no cushion in the final drive.

CDNRatMan · January 27, 2018, 22:46:57 PM

good to know as I only have a pair of Drifter I do not want to say what does or does not have them......

Tfrank59 · January 27, 2018, 20:50:30 PM

Well my other bike which is a 1500 Honda shaft drive has dampeners pretty much all motorcycles have them

CDNRatMan · January 27, 2018, 19:55:51 PM

Sorry Pilgrim never looked about the 1500, but Troll or GreenBarn can tell you if they have them. But like I said for the cost, and your already in this far worth the extra few bucks to buy new ones......purpose is to dampen the transition of power from the chain or drive shaft to the rear hub ............

Pilgrim · January 27, 2018, 17:39:19 PM

Thanks, getting ready to pull my rear wheel to lube drive shaft and swing arm. I will inspect them. Looks like one set for 1500 and 4 each for 800.

Vulcanpunch · January 27, 2018, 17:25:33 PM

Quote from: Pilgrim on January 27, 2018, 16:59:30 PM
Never seen them before..what are their purpose? Are they on the 1500?

Yes the 1500 has them also, https://www.partzilla.com/catalog/kawasaki/motorcycle/2000/vulcan-1500-drifter-vn1500-j2/rear-wheel-chain part number 92075 at $74. I'm not sure if that is just one assembly.

Vulcanpunch · January 27, 2018, 17:06:50 PM

12 bucks each, not a bad deal. Buying them now.
https://www.partzilla.com/catalog/kawasaki/motorcycle/2000/vulcan-800-drifter-vn800-c2/rear-wheel-chain

Pilgrim · January 27, 2018, 16:59:30 PM

Never seen them before..what are their purpose? Are they on the 1500?

CDNRatMan · January 27, 2018, 16:45:04 PM

Hello, some of you actuaries will have something to say of my numbers but I did this my way and I understand it. I took the rubber damper from the rear hub and measured from A to B and from C to D, I used digital calipers so we at least know the numbers are correct. Now I was told by a couple of kawasaki mechanics, if you lean the wheel over and the hub falls out the rubber needs to be replaced. The hub should have to be gently persuaded to go back into place. If you have torn your rear end to this level then spend the extra $50.00 to replace the rubber and then no more clunking or thunking noises from the hubs.......
Ok so here is my results and feel free to correct my numbers and if I made a mistake let me know. So I took the measurements from A to B and then C to D. then I just added them up and subtracted the sums to see if there was a difference and how much....
here are the results.......

A to B
New Old
39.20 38.12
39.26 38.14
39.26 38.28
39.26 38.09
39.30 39.00
39.30 38.08
39.30 39.07
39.30 37.91
------- -------
353.48 306.65

C to D
New Old
35.60 35.77
35.55 35.48
35.67 35.21
35.54 35.43
35.17 35.66
35.22 35.18
35.81 35.42
35.85 35.52
-------- --------
284.41 283.67

then the results are like this between the A and B classes it is 46.83mm then between C and D is about 0.74mm.
You can also see in the extension in the second picture that thf ends had wear and gouges on them. So like I said if you are this far into the bike this should be done,46.83 mm might not seem large but you can still get movement and this can cause a lot of noise as I found out with Red. I wish I had done this with Red.......