Modified 5 star and Dampers

[97BLKVALK]

Was helping a fellow member with a Valk rear end service and came across a modified 5 star and dampers to fit.

If you know why this would have been done please leave a message.

We have installed new OEM dampers and have a new 5 star being shipped.


https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=14GOF0bzzjSSlzR6GGaxuDu4kQxa01cLA


Michael

[Chrisj CMA]

I don’t think it’s modified. It looks like the metal inserts stuck to the flange pins. I bet they will come off of you grab them with vice grips anwork them back and forth. Maybe some penetrating oil.

[97BLKVALK]

Never thought that could be what happened but we tried to use a punch and hammer to see if they would come off.  The odd thing , well 2 odd things

1.  The nuts on backside and the pins themselves don't look like they are a grade 8 bolt quality as the stock 5 stars look.

2. Who ever did this also drilled out the new bushings in the dampers to fit the expanded 5 star pins.

Michael

[Chrisj CMA]

I compared your picture to one of my spare flanges. The pins are absolutely stock and in your picture the parts that appear to be the metal sleeves from the dampeners are not all on at the same level. One in the picture is well above the end of the pin. This is strange but I still say you have a stock flange with extra metal tube like sleeves stuck on the pins. Use a heat gun on them with some penetrating oil and they will most certainly come off

[WintrSol]

Maybe a small gear puller will slide them off, after a soak in the penetrating oil.

[bikerboy1951]

Why would someone add a bushing to each arm.  On the wheel itself the rubber dampers contained a metal bushing that was imbedded in the rubber.  The bushing in the rubbers were machined as each was an even height. At least the damper and bushing mounted in the wheel must have been some sort of aftermarket as Honda only made one size flange drive and the only difference in the rubbers mounted in the wheels was that the early ones had removable bushings.
Has anyone else seen anything like this before or know anything about it.
These parts were on a 1999 Tourer.

[bentwrench]

just a little bit of heat will probably get them right off.

[gordonv]

Didn't the pre 1999 bikes come with the rubber dampener and the metal insert where 2 pieces? Then the 99' models came out as a one piece.

[Chrisj CMA]

Didn't the pre 1999 bikes come with the rubber dampener and the metal insert where 2 pieces? Then the 99' models came out as a one piece.

The older loose ones sure didn't look like that though

[Daniel Meyer]

Didn't the pre 1999 bikes come with the rubber dampener and the metal insert where 2 pieces? Then the 99' models came out as a one piece.

The older loose ones sure didn't look like that though

Correct. The stock bushings are an oblong, oddly shaped do-dad. This is definitely modified. I'd replace it all with new oem. As to why? Heh...lord only knows. Same reason folks rip off brand new parts and install crappy aftermarket stuff sometimes. "Because".