Broken Steering Damper Knob Bolt

[bikertucker]

Hello Everyone my name is Tim from Pelzer, S.C. Have been lurking about the site for
some time learning about these great old bikes and ended up buying a 1966 CA77
305 Dream about a month ago. Have ridden it aprox. 200 miles while working
out a number of engine issues. Last night after a ride noticed the componets
under the Steering Damper Knob were loose. The parts list names them Lock
part 19, Lock steering knob part 18, and Spring part 17. When I began to turn
the Dampener knob clockwise to see if I could put a little tension on the componets
so they were not loose the Knob broke free, not what I was going for!!
Seems the bolt shaft had been rusted in place and the knob bolt almost sheared off,
untill I completed the shearing off part. Question is can I ride Safe untill I can put
everything right. Realized this was the state of things during all my time I was
going down the road and who knows how many miles before me. Steering has been
fine, noted nothing strange. By looking at Cross section view of of the steering
damper system looks like only the dampening is locked in place and all is ok.
But this type of system is new to me and would rather not learn the hard way I
was wrong. Thanks all.

[48lesco]

Hi Tim - Those parts have nothing to do with the steering head bearings and only provide a little friction to damp any instability that might develop. I've ridden the few I've owned with the damper about all the way unscrewed and it sounds like you have been too, so you should be OK. I tend to wrench more than ride though, so I'd like to hear what other members who ride more have to say...
-48

[bikertucker]

Thanks for your thoughts and reply. Looks like all the parts under the Damper knob are to keep the knob from moving on it's own,no chance of that happening. For now just drilled and tapped each part to accept a one inch section of 6/32 All Thread and screwed them together.
Amazing how much better things look with that gapping hole looking normal again. Once again, thanks, it's always good to get another eye on things.

[brewsky]

At least it seems you got it apart with no drama.

Mine was broken off flush, and I proceeded to break off an EZ out in the stud during the removal process.....then had to drill out the EZ out!

[bikertucker]

OUCH!! Please tell... How did you drill out an EZ out?

[brewsky]

Well, I ended up drilling down the sides with several smaller bits until I could punch it out the bottom of the hole.

[bikertucker]

Ahh.... Very good. Should have been able to imagine that, but did not. Now I have a picture in my mind for next time I do the same.