Head steady rubbers

Looking for recommendations for replacing the head steady rubbers # 06-0622 on a 70 Commando. Not all have the same density therefore vibration could vary.
thanks

Yes if head steady not set - bashed bent shimmed- to about neutral in resting sag then it can transmit some buzz on wind or road loading. It should not be carrying engine mass so I've taken to waisting the cushions on bench grinder to get earlier and better isolation in my factory set up Trixie Combat with bent under tube and maybe other area too that make assembly a bugger but wonderful handling and riding as any un-tammed Cdo can be. This also tends to preserve the stamped plate headsteady from fracturing if that matters in your case.

I'm hardly an engineer but that won't stop me from adding my two cents. Softer rubber may transmit less vibration, but will probably allow more lateral movement. That is not a good trade off as I see it. That is why different headsteadies have been developed to minimize the lateral movement while still allowing the motor to bump away in its natural orbit.

Russ

I can assure you'all that soft compliant sideways rubbers with waist-ed centers does not induce any more wiggle jiggles than already innate in un-tammed isolastics, just smoother sailing within sane rates for conditions. Easy enough to see if hobot is blowing smoke out ass or giving tested advice to enjoy your Commando all the more, short of trying to take on balloon tire rigid corner cripples, which means there is hardly a more dangerous motorcycle to play hard on that a real corner crashing hinging floppy fish off deck Commando.

I'm hardly an engineer but that won't stop me from adding my two cents. Softer rubber may transmit less vibration, but will probably allow more lateral movement. That is not a good trade off as I see it. That is why different headsteadies have been developed to minimize the lateral movement while still allowing the motor to bump away in its natural orbit.

Russ

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I agree with Russ on this, having had the stock, the Dave Taylor, and now the CNW head steadies

Replace them with one of the off the shelf proddy racer or heim joint type or Taglieri home made variety. Add the MK3 spring and you will reduce the low end vibrations. I know it's more $, but worth it to me.

Dave
69S

I found an MKIII head steady with the spring and trunion setup for about $50 total and refurbished the head steady ( spring and trunion were already re cad ) works great if properly setup, I believe an inch and a half of preload on the spring.
As for the rubbers, I picked up the in stock stainless ones at Walridge Motors and they have been great, I don't notice any high frequency vibration, and my combat shakes a lot less at idol than some others I ride with.
This setup neutralizes the load on the iso's and head steady.

I found the the rubbers from "racingnorton", a very good ebay seller, are quite fresh and well made. I am not using them on my headsteady, I have PR unit, but are on my exhaust mounts.

I thing "fresh" is key. Stay away from NOS, of course.

Commando Specialities has the "oem" type and are also reputable ebay people.

I have use both these sellers many many times.

I found that pre-loading my early style head steady produced horrible vibrations. In other words, jacking up the engine and tightening the rubbers so the head steady takes some of the weight of the engine. Of course it's worth a try, nothing ventured, nothing gained. Your bike may be completely different.

Dave
69S

DogT said:

I found that pre-loading my early style head steady produced horrible vibrations. In other words, jacking up the engine and tightening the rubbers so the head steady takes some of the weight of the engine. Of course it's worth a try, nothing ventured, nothing gained. Your bike may be completely different.

Dave
69S

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Hey Dave.

I was riding with a guy earlier this year, I was on my combat and he was on an MKIII. I had replaced my stock headsteady ( because it cracked) with the 850 MKIII headsteady and spring trunion setup ( on reccomendation from a member here ). When we stopped at traffic lights or stops his bike would shake like the dickens, where as mine was nothing major. So half way through the day we stopped at Timmies for TEA and I had a peak under his tank, ( curious as I thought he would have the same headsteady setup as I as his bike was stock ). His bike had the same headsteady but the trunion was backed off all the way.
After the ride we went back to my place he adjusted his iso's ( I was jelous as he has the MKIII vernier adjustables and I have the standard ) and put the proper preload on the spring and trunion, VOLIA! it did not idol quite as smooth as mine but it did make a major improvment over the how it was earlier.

Yeah, I've got that spring as tight as I can get it and it still does not pull the front isos up to center. It still sags maybe 1/8" or less. Without the spring it sags at least 1/4". I'm sure the isos work better if they are not already pre-loaded rather more centered. Yes, I got rid of the huge vibration at idle with installing the spring. It helps a certain amount up to about 2500, but beyond that I can't tell the difference.

Dave
69S