Motion Aero 

(803) 249-1023

MaNning, South Carolina, USA

hydraulic shimmy damper

Nothing is more frightening on the ground, when the nose of the aircraft is shaking so violently, it feels like the plane is coming apart and potentially doing real damage. 

While we don't sell this item, you may contact us directly for free access to the CAD drawings, more photos, and diagrams.  The 100 mm hydraulic unit we used is made by "Shindy Pro", but we haven't seen it on the web for a long time.  It includes an extension we made so it would reach far enough through the fram. 

A problem to research before jumping on this one is availability of a suitable damper so it fits within the confines of the Tornado as shown, but also adjustability.  If the unit has too much dampening resistance, the steering response will be slow, so make sure you use an adjustable unit.  The nose of a Tornado is a fraction the weight of a street or sport motorcycle.

The video below, shows the installed unit being cycled by hand, demonstrating how all the parts work together.

The hydraulic damper is visible, protruding immediately below the nose ballast box.  The new and down-sized weight box needed a little massaging (with a ball-peen hammer).  Remember, if you have added nose weight, you'll want to remove the amount you are adding with new accessories.

Perpendicular angles are critical to a balanced dampening system, and having it provide symmetrical dampening in both directions.  This required a 'dog-leg' shaped bellcrank to correct the angles so the damper could be connected to the nosewheel steering arm. 

Notice the custom upper clamp, helping to hold the mount for the large end of the damper.  The lower mount has been relieved to precisely locate it on the frame, as well raising it up for the nosecone to clear below it.  There are 4 rivets holding it tightly in place to the frame.

The 3 recessed-head bolts are threaded into the upper bracket, to make sure clamping it in place.  The upper bracket a pair of saddles machined into it, so it fits tightly around the tubes.  It also has a channel machined into to allow the damper to pass over it.  This keeps the mechanical alignments square, and points the moving shaft into the void of the nosecone.

Below, is an installation by one of our friends in South Africa on his own Titan Tornado 2SS.

In a Tornado there's little clearance under the battery for anything, so you have to be smart about the placement of everything.  Notice in photos above and below how the dampening pushrods slither through the tiny spaces like a snake.  Our 2S shown here includes the spring nose fork.