I design and engineer the parts. Their hardness is tested and QC'd. There is an internet expert on every subject under the sun.
All kinds of things are made of polyurethane, including the shock bushings currently made by Honda for the VTX. They copied my design and durometer. Sems pretty high prainse, if the biggest M/C maker in the world copies your parts.
If anyone wants to cite their credentials and test data, please go right ahead.
His dampers are rock hard. Put them on my first 98 and was concerned about the near metal hardness compared to stock. How can they "dampen" if they allow no absorbtion of drivetrain lash? Seems to me there is undue stress on other parts.
I thought the purpose of the dampers was to minimize the harshness in the drivetrain.
I just went to VTX shock bushings (part no. 52489-HNO-671) based on the VTX board comments.
This is purely my opinion.
I also used the VTX shock bushings on my Valk. They are a bit harder than the Valk bushings and a bit less expensive. The Honda dealer out here does not even stock the Valk bushings but used the VTX bushings instead.
What you say about the hardness of the dampers makes sense. I found that out when I changed the bushings on a Camaro some years ago to polyurethane and while it did handle better, I felt every little bump through the suspension as if it was welded together. By the way, the guy who bought that car from me had to replace all those bushings after 20K miles because they cracked. No more polyurethane for me. I'll stick with the rubber components. They were designed that way to absorb the shock for a reason.
Maybe the VTX shock bushings (part # in my other quoted post) are polyurethane, but they do not feel at all like yours, Gary.
So, all you can go on is the "feel"? Thank you for that. Your comments from the beginning have shown no scientific basis or perception that you use anything but "seat of the pants" for your comments. That would make your posts opinions, not to be mistaken as facts. "Hard as a rock" also bears that out. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that polyurethane parts are not "hard as a rock"
I ,too, would be flattered if a huge manufacturing company in the Far East (with hundreds of engineers and product development staff) copied the "design and durometer" of something dreamed up in Washington by an enthusiast as a sideline to his normal vocation.
I am indeed flattered that Honda chose to replicate my bushings, tho they certainly have taken a cut of my sales. But if you think that I just "dreamed" it up, you know nothing at all of the time and effort that went into making the product what it is now. And I certainly will not respond with all the details, making your insult my platform for self-aggrandizement.
I am not "citing test data" anymore than you are.
Thanks for that. I know you haven't tested this part or from your general demeanor, any part, at least in a scientific, objective manner.
I don't need to cite my test data. I wanted to establish that what was said was opinion and nothing more. That's been done here.
Nor do I purport to be an "internet expert".
I've never seen anyone make the claim. If the shoe doesn't fit, you don't need to try it on.
I'm sure your credentials in the field of mechanical engineering are much more strongly based in education and vocation and application.
So am I. Glad to see it's easy for you to recognize.
Many people read these threads. I feel it necessary to defend my honor and product. From time to time it (and I) get maligned by idle tongues (OK, fingers on keyboards)
As long as the truth is made clear by thread's end, I am delighted. I find that when folk malign my product, sales soar. I think most can see right thru the smoke.
So thanks for the word here. I am packing another batch of dampers now.
