SMB-135 – Steering Damper Inspection Interval & Criteria – New Flyer Xcelsior

SEOCONTENT-START
SMB-135 1 of 3
SERVICE MANUAL BULLETIN
This Service Manual Bulletin is prepared by the Publications Department of New Flyer Industries
Canada ULC. Refer to details below.
The New Flyer vehicles described in this manual may be protected by one or more
patents and design applications or registrations in the United States and Canada,
and in other countries. Refer to “Vehicle Patent Information” in this manual.
Copyright © 2014 New Flyer Industries Canada ULC
ISSUE DATE: Aug 20 2014
SMB-135
APPLICABILITY
VEHICLE LENGTH  30ft.  35ft.  40ft.  60ft.  ALL
VEHICLE TYPE  High Floor  Low Floor  Invero®  Xcelsior®  ALL
FUEL TYPE
 Diesel  Electric  CNG  LNG
 ALL
 Diesel/Electric  Gas/Electric  Fuel Cell
SUBJECT Steering Damper Inspection Interval & Criteria
SECTION TITLE PM – Preventive Maintenance
DETAILS This bulletin provides a new inspection interval and criteria for the steering
damper assembly installed on your New Flyer vehicle.
This bulletin supersedes all prior information on this subject already provided
in your New Flyer Service Manuals. Make this Service Bulletin available
to service personnel to inform them of changed information.
2 of 3 SMB-135
SERVICE MANUAL BULLETIN
SMB-135
The New Flyer vehicles described in this manual may be protected by one or more
patents and design applications or registrations in the United States and Canada,
and in other countries. Refer to “Vehicle Patent Information” in this manual.
Copyright © 2014 New Flyer Industries Canada ULC
1. Steering Damper
Inspect the steering damper every 6,000
miles (9,600 km) as follows:
❒ Check for excessive play at ball joints
ends. See “Fig. 1: Steering Damper
Inspection” on page 2.
❒ Inspect for any external damage to cylinder
or piston rod. Replace damper if bent or
damaged.
❒ Check for evidence of leakage. Replace
damper if leaking.
❒ Inspect condition of protective sleeve on
cylinder and ensure it can move freely and
extend 2 to 3 inches from cylinder.
❒ Inspect exterior surfaces for evidence of
corrosion. Clean light surface rust, otherwise
replace damper if badly corroded.
☞NOTE:
If maintenance records indicate that the
vehicle is experiencing front end steering
shimmy, then a cylinder damping inspection
should be performed.
Fig. 1: Steering Damper Inspection
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SMB-135 3 of 3
SERVICE MANUAL BULLETIN
SMB-135
The New Flyer vehicles described in this manual may be protected by one or more
patents and design applications or registrations in the United States and Canada,
and in other countries. Refer to “Vehicle Patent Information” in this manual.
Copyright © 2014 New Flyer Industries Canada ULC
1.1. Cylinder Damping Inspection
1. Remove steering damper from vehicle.
Refer to Section 3 of your New Flyer Service
Manual for procedure.
2. Hold the steering damper in a vertical position
with the oil chamber at the bottom.
3. Extend the piston rod fully by hand.
4. Operate the steering damper twice through
its full range of travel in both compression
and extension strokes.
5. Hold the steering damper fully extended in
the vertical position for at least one minute.
☞NOTE:
Ensure that no pressure is applied to the
piston rod while it is in the extended vertical
position. The plastic protective sleeve
should also be in the fully extended position.
6. Slowly compress the piston rod into the
cylinder while noting both the resistance
and distance travelled. Stop compressing
the piston once resistance is felt.
7. Mark the position of resistance by scribing
a line on the plastic protective sleeve that
coincides with the position of the metal
protective sleeve.
8. Retract the piston upwards until the plastic
protective sleeve is fully extended. Measure
the distance between the edge of the
metal protective sleeve and the mark
scribed on the plastic protective sleeve.
See “Fig. 2: Damper Measurement” on
page 3.
9. The piston rod must not travel more than
0.118 in. (3.0 mm) before damping resistance
is felt. Replace steering damper if
free travel (slip) exceeds these limits.
10.Reinstall steering damper on vehicle.
Refer to Section 3 of your New Flyer Service
Manual for procedure.
Fig. 2: Damper Measurement
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