Fork tube diameters

[eroellig]

Guys,

I finally got my Tkat forkbrace. Went to put it on last night and it is loose on the left side fork tube. I simply cannot get either side of the brace to lock on tight on that left tube. I measured Tkat's work, and both sides of the brace are pretty close in diameter (57.5x mm).

HOWEVER, my fork tubes differ.

Left side averages 57.5x mm.
Right side averages 57.9x mm.



Does this indicate that my bike as a darker past than I thought? Do I have a replacement fork tube that belongs on a different bike?

I should have time to work on the bike again, so I'll be looking into my brake issue to clear that up soon.

Eric

[xschop]

tube dia.

since the factory did'nt plan on putting a brace on the alloy tubes. I can see why the machining isn't perfect since there is just a rubber shield that slips over it. I think this is the case with many bikes, not just the xs11. That's why I installed a custom one that clamps onto the rubber dust shield itself and it does a great job and is simple to remove....

[Dennyz]

There are two flavors of the Tkat fork brace for XS. Standard and Special. If my memory serves me, the Special has slightly larger shock housings diameters than the Standard.

The Standard shock housing mounts are flat, while the Special has risers on the shock housing mounts to get the brace over the fender.

[fredintoon]

But you want to fix it, right?

Hi Eric,
as has been said, it's likely that the left side slider was machined a tad small though big enough that the rubber thing still fits even if Tkat's brace won't grip on it.
There's sticky-backed aluminum foil that body shops use to patch rust holes before smearing the Bondo on. Cut a ribbon of that and stick it around the slider to build up the diameter a little.

[TopCatGr58]

OR...you could take a sanding belt, or flap disc grinder and remove a small amount from the clamping contact flats on the inside of the too large clamp, so that the outer clamping piece would then have more distance to cover and should tighten up around it! JAT!
T.C.

[eroellig]

Originally posted by TopCatGr58
OR...you could take a sanding belt, or flap disc grinder and remove a small amount from the clamping contact flats on the inside of the too large clamp, so that the outer clamping piece would then have more distance to cover and should tighten up around it! JAT!
T.C.

I >was< thinking along the shim lines that Fred mentioned, but I think I like TC's idea better. As far as I am concerned, the less "stuff" introduced into a system, the better.

Thanks guys! I'll let you know how it turns out.


Eric

[eroellig]

I was working from home today and thought I might have time during lunch to grind off a bit of the brace and fit it on the bike. Didn't take long at at all. Now I'll take 'er out this evening and see what kind of a difference you guys have been talking about.

Eric

[eroellig]

Ok, I have the fork brace on the bike. Rode it into the office this morning and out for lunch. I can't say that I really notice the difference. 3 thoughts about that.....

1) Being a new biker (got a whole whopping 300 or so miles under my belt now), I don't have enough experience to really notice. All I know is "This is how The Stead handles".

2) Being a new biker, I'm rather ginger in how I handle the bike. Perhaps I just hadn't performed the manuvers that show the fork tubes weaknesses before/after installing the FB.

3) Perhaps I need to shave a little more off the one brace clamp so it hangs on tigher....

Eric

[TopCatGr58]

Well Eric,

The mishandling shows up more with more aggressive riding, and making turns, changing directions in sweepers, etc.! So...you may be right in that with your inexperience you possibly haven't put it to the paces that a more experienced rider would/could have. And having that full Windjammer on there can actually help stabilize the frame at speed due to it's aerodynamics. As long as the brace isn't loose/sliding around, then you probably have it tight enough to serve it's purpose, which is to keep the lower slider tubes linked together, so you don't experience the twisting /flexing of the axle and upper tubes under the stresses of turns and such!
T.C.

[fredintoon]

Hi Eric,
don't expect too much from the XS11 front fork even with a TKAT brace on it. By modern standards it's a frail and whippy thing.
And now for a nagging. Your sign-off line says:-
Current condition: Riding!!!! s$#% eating grin installed!!! TODO: Trouble shoot & fix front brakes.
Bad Eric! Riding with your sh*t-eating grin and front brakes that need fixing can be hazardous to your health. The first thing to know when operating ANY machine is how to stop it. Fix your brakes FIRST.

[eroellig]

Originally posted by fredintoon
[...]
Bad Eric! Riding with your sh*t-eating grin and front brakes that need fixing can be hazardous to your health. [...]

Well, I am limiting it to low in-town speeds for now. The grin is just that it runs at all.... Seems like a warped rotor. I should have time to test it out this weekend and order the correct parts & get the brakes perfect. I haven't been home much lately....

Eric