New Steering Damper for Scarlett

All the trail riding riding in the Moab, UT area last week and before highlighted the fact that Scarlett's third stock steering damper had bit the dust.

I'd been feeling a bit of a head shake from her front wheel sporadically but maybe because it was so sporadic, maybe because it happened over a long enough period that I adapted to it or maybe because I'm just cheap....I'd delayed replacing it.

I wrote third, yep, the original and one more had been replaced (under warranty) by Ural.  Now that Scarlett's out of warranty coverage, options open up.

At Moab, I tried fellow Uralista Russ' rig which was equipped with "Sean's R3W" Steering Damper.  It turned and rode very nice I must say.  He rode Scarlett and was quite disturbed by the effect of the failed steering damper on her steering.

I got back from Moab and ordered the kit from Sean0262 (on sovietsteeds) and it arrived today.  Very nice communication (email), very fast delivery and great instructions.  Worth every penny of the $150 that this kit costs.  The replacement steering damper is north of $100+ I think so it's not much more.

The bonus is that the damper itself is a readily available Gabriel Steering Damper, not expensive at all ( less than $30 on amazon link below), if or when it should fail.

The kit though, with its brackets and hardware, are what make the kit a good buy...strong components, well made and designed, make the installation a true bolt-on job.

 Gabriel 14004 Steering Damper

The kit fits the older Ural rigs along with the newer ones starting with 2014.  If you are having issues with the stock steering damper, consider this alternative!  Tell Sean I sent you!  :)

I went for a ride with the new steering damper, and could not induce headshake no matter what pothole or edge trap I hit.  No headshake when coming off the raised edge of the driveway either!  Yep, the expected initial resistance when going from a standing stop or real slow.  I'll have to find me some rough dirt trails to ride her on but I am confident Sean's R3W Steering Damper will do fine; after all, it's Moab-tested and proven!

Back in Colorado

Back in Colorado, the Stoner State....back to reality.  I hope its not too long till I can go boondocking again.

Been cleaning up UMA, the URRV and Scarlett from their travels.  Lots of Utah dirt on my driveway to be washed away.

And now, we resume the presentation of Colorado Sunsets.....

 Denver Skyline

 Clouds illuminated by the sunset

One last look at the Denver Skyline

UTB: Moab - Spring Bottom Canyon Uraling

Today's ride was down to the bottom of Spring Bottom Canyon road, one of my favorite rides here in the Moab, Utah area due to the scenery.

 I wanted to show how crowded the BLM area we

were boondocking in was getting.  

First though, there's a long ride on pavement along UT 313 to the turn off for Spring Bottom Canyon.  This is then a long dirt road with some bumps and dips that eventually leads the group of rigs to the top of the canyon walls.

We descended slowly as the going is quite steep and eventually we all were at the bottom of the canyon and uraling our way to a stand of cottonwood trees for a brief lunch break

Once ready and rested, we rode our ay back to the steep hill climb road and one by one made it all the way back to the top.

 Russ and Katherine

John

At the top of the canyon we posed the rigs in a line along the edge of the cliff:

After resting and pictures we rode back the way we came, ending back on UT 313 where folks split off on their own.  All the rigs and riders made it back to their campsites safely.  It was quite hot by now, in the mid to high 80s so the rest of the afternoon was spent by me resting in the shade at the campsite.

Updated the video to add material from fellow Uralista: Dan Kearney, photos and changed the music.

A good day of riding to end a good week's worth of riding.  I head home tomorrow.

UTB: Moab - Uraling to see the Merrimac and the Monitor Buttes

UTB: Utah Boondocking

Today was a down day, time to pull a little maintenance on our rigs.  Some, like John C. and Tim L. decided to go hiking to Delicate Arch within the Arches National Park.

One of our fellow Uralisti, Ed aka Mundo Bravo experienced catastrophic engine engines the day before.  His rig had been burning oil and finally the engine made unhealthy noises as he was nearing a U-Haul rental center.

So today, he rode home.  Hopefully it won't be too expensive an engine fix!

Ed's rig in the back of the U-Haul truck of shame.

I checked over the components involving air into the engine on Scarlett; hunting for a still elusive air leak which I suspect is causing a high idle when the engine is warm.  Found the left compliance fitting bolts a little loose, so tightened them but failed to find an air leak; at least the high idle is down from a high of 1320 rpm to just 1200 rmp....still high but its progress!

After doing the maintenance, I climbed the boulder-strewn hillside next to the campsite for this pic:

Noon came and I headed over to the Archview Campground as there were plans for a ride to Onion Creek.  However, as I headed to fuel up, I saw Dana, the usual organizer of these Ural gatherings, pulling in with his van and trailer!

No room at the inn within the campground so he decided to boondock and I led him to my campsite. 

Dana's camper van and trailer with his 2003 Patrol and Rokkon

Another fellow Uralista, Dan K., showed up near 3PM and parked his year 2000 Gulfstream Cavalier in back of Uma the URRV.

We has us our own little enclave now.  We didn't use the word compound, too negative a connotation it seems.

By the time they were settled in and setup, it was late afternoon and so we headed over to Archview to find out what was going on if anything.

Turns out, Tim L. and John C. did go to Onion creek (pics to follow soon hopefully).  No sign of the "jersey boys", Rich and Dave so they were probably off doing some riding. 

Dana visited with folks, went into town with Dan K. to say hello to the girls at the Quesadilla Truck while I chose to ride towards the Merrimac and Monitor Butte Scenic Overlook area for pictures:

 These rock piles caught my eye first, so I included them

in the shot of the Merrimac (left) and Monitor (right) buttes.

No way to really pose one's rig in the parking lot above, but a short ride down the UT 313 and I found a sandy trail that allowed this angle on the buttes.

Did I mention it was sandy?  Although you can see the spot was nice and scenic:

I also got Scarlett slightly stuck and buried in the loose sand where I'd chosen to park her.  Out came the shovel, some digging, some smoking of the clutch later, Scarlett was free and I started heading back to camp.

Here's rocky ridge with some cool looking rock formations formed by erosion.

Across the street there's something for the eye as well in terms of another rock formation.

Finally, a closer look at part of the rock formations across the highway:

Back at the Archview Campground, while Dana dealt with a flat pusher tire, I chatted with Tim L. and John C. who'd successfully returned from riding to Onion Creek (pics from Tim to follow as soon as he can process and uploaded them).

6PM came and went, we (Dana, Dan K. Tim L. and yours truly) to ride over to the boondocking site for dinner.

After dinner we sat in the cool evening temperature, discussing and solving the problems of the world, swapping ride tales and having a good time.

We'll see where we end up riding tomorrow, there remain perhaps 5 rigs in the campground.  The other group of Ural riders (from California) are leaving tomorrow; they chose to do their own riding as we tend to go down trails they prefer to not do.

Dan K. gave me a small bottle of fuel injector cleaner, I dumped about 3 ounces into my almost full gas tank, hoping it might help clear the high idle issue.