RD350 Steering Damper overhaul

[SmellingCastor61]

Just finished putting steering head bearings (All Balls tapered roller bottom, captured balls top) into my '73 RD350.  Found the steering damper covered in oil and dirt (who knows how long it's been leaking)!

Ordered a seal kit from a guy on Ebay, but curious what kind of oil should be used??  It had a clear oil inside almost like fork oil.  Somebody on another site said they used 80W - 90 Gear oil.  I think that might be too heavy!

Any thoughts on this??

[m in sc]

ive used fork oil in the past

[SmellingCastor61]

OK Great!  I've got some Bel-Ray 15W fork oil that I'll use.

[KANDY]

I was thiking aboout getting more damping on this, can we try grease in there(easy on me). Used 20W50 before

[SmellingCastor61]

I had that thought at first also, but upon inspection of the wiper, seems to have small orifice holes and I don't know if the grease would flow thru them like oil.

Maybe some others will chime in with their experiences.

[m in sc]

i mean, its whatever you think will squeeze thru that hole in the paddle. imho to get effective danping, a linear one is better. the sock ones work ok but they get sloppy, fast, due to wear at the ears and even the splines