Triple Tree/Headlight Ear?

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  • natemoen
    Master of XSology
    • May 2010
    • 8640
    • Fargo
    #1

    Triple Tree/Headlight Ear?

    I was going to put the forks on this morning before work and went to put the special headlight ears (putting a special headlight on a standard) in and found that they don't fit. The tube that the forks slide through is about a half inch linger on these ears than the standard ears that were on it.

    So my question is, is the distance between the upper and lower triple tree different between the standard and the specials?
    Nathan
    KD9ARL

    μολὼν λαβέ

    1978 XS1100E
    K&N Filter
    #45 pilot Jet, #137.5 Main Jet
    OEM Exhaust
    ATK Fork Brace
    LED Dash lights
    Ammeter, Oil Pressure, Oil Temp, and Volt Meters
    Green Monster Coils
    SS Brake Lines
    Vision 550 Auto Tensioner

    In any moment of decision the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing.

    Theodore Roosevelt
    Tags: None
    • crazy steve
      XS-XJ Guru MODERATOR
      • Jan 2009
      • 7932
      • Beautiful outer Yelm, WA
      #2
      Yep, they are... another one of those little surprises you find when swapping parts.
      Fast, Cheap, Reliable... Pick any two

      '78E original owner - resto project
      '78E ???? owner - Modder project FJ forks, 4-piston calipers F/R, 160/80-16 rear tire
      '82 XJ rebuild project
      '80SG restified, red SOLD
      '79F parts...
      '81H more parts...

      Other current bikes:
      '93 XL1200 Anniversary Sportster 85RWHP
      '86 XL883/1200 Chopper
      '82 XL1000 w/1450cc Buell, Baker 6-speed, in-progress project
      Cage: '13 Mustang GT/CS with a few 'custom' touches
      Yep, can't leave nuthin' alone...

        Comment

        • natemoen
          Master of XSology
          • May 2010
          • 8640
          • Fargo
          #3
          No one has ever said anything about that, or at least that I have read. I have always seen people sat that the headlight swap was just a straight up parts swap. Interesting...
          Nathan
          KD9ARL

          μολὼν λαβέ

          1978 XS1100E
          K&N Filter
          #45 pilot Jet, #137.5 Main Jet
          OEM Exhaust
          ATK Fork Brace
          LED Dash lights
          Ammeter, Oil Pressure, Oil Temp, and Volt Meters
          Green Monster Coils
          SS Brake Lines
          Vision 550 Auto Tensioner

          In any moment of decision the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing.

          Theodore Roosevelt

            Comment

            • fredintoon
              Master of XSology
              • Mar 2004
              • 6795
              • Saskatoon SK
              #4
              Originally posted by natemoen
              - - - my question is, is the distance between the upper and lower triple tree different between the standard and the specials?
              Hi Nate,
              sure is.
              Standard upper 'tree dekes down while the Special upper 'tree goes straight across.
              No biggie to fix it, crop ~1/2" off the Special headlight ear tubes with a hacksaw.
              Fred Hill, S'toon
              XS11SG with Spirit of America sidecar
              "The Flying Pumpkin"

                Comment

                • crazy steve
                  XS-XJ Guru MODERATOR
                  • Jan 2009
                  • 7932
                  • Beautiful outer Yelm, WA
                  #5
                  I suspect the reason for this is when they installed the shorter 16" rear tire on the special (lowering the rear of the bike a bit), the special tree design lowers the front to match.
                  Fast, Cheap, Reliable... Pick any two

                  '78E original owner - resto project
                  '78E ???? owner - Modder project FJ forks, 4-piston calipers F/R, 160/80-16 rear tire
                  '82 XJ rebuild project
                  '80SG restified, red SOLD
                  '79F parts...
                  '81H more parts...

                  Other current bikes:
                  '93 XL1200 Anniversary Sportster 85RWHP
                  '86 XL883/1200 Chopper
                  '82 XL1000 w/1450cc Buell, Baker 6-speed, in-progress project
                  Cage: '13 Mustang GT/CS with a few 'custom' touches
                  Yep, can't leave nuthin' alone...

                    Comment

                    • XS1100 Newbie
                      XS-XJ Guru
                      • Jun 2009
                      • 1106
                      • Battle Ground, Washington
                      #6
                      Nate
                      Mine were like that when i got it apart to put the correct triple tree on. I do have the set of black ones that are cut. They are yours if you want them. Also keep in mind that the front name plate may be different mounting as mine was. I had to get a new one of those as well. The Special, and Standard lower tree bolts on different.
                      1980 XS1100LG Midnight
                      1991 Honda CBR1000F Hurricane


                      "The hand is almost valueless at one end of the arm if there be not a brain at the other"

                      Here's to a long life and a happy one.
                      A quick death and an easy one.
                      A pretty girl and an honest one.
                      A cold beer and another one!

                        Comment

                        • fredintoon
                          Master of XSology
                          • Mar 2004
                          • 6795
                          • Saskatoon SK
                          #7
                          Originally posted by XS1100 Newbie
                          - - - Also keep in mind that the front name plate may be different mounting as mine was. I had to get a new one of those as well. The Special, and Standard lower tree bolts on different.
                          Hi Newbie,
                          yeah, amazing how those little details slip one's mind, eh?
                          You gotta take the tinsnips to the Special's chromething so it'll fit the Standard's lower tree because they moved the clamping bolts.
                          WTF they do that, eh? Dumbfux!
                          I later had to reduce the chromething into individual cups in order to install the WER steering damper.
                          Fred Hill, S'toon
                          XS11SG with Spirit of America sidecar
                          "The Flying Pumpkin"

                            Comment

                            • crazy steve
                              XS-XJ Guru MODERATOR
                              • Jan 2009
                              • 7932
                              • Beautiful outer Yelm, WA
                              #8
                              The next question is, is it better to cut the extra off the top or the bottom of the ears?
                              Fast, Cheap, Reliable... Pick any two

                              '78E original owner - resto project
                              '78E ???? owner - Modder project FJ forks, 4-piston calipers F/R, 160/80-16 rear tire
                              '82 XJ rebuild project
                              '80SG restified, red SOLD
                              '79F parts...
                              '81H more parts...

                              Other current bikes:
                              '93 XL1200 Anniversary Sportster 85RWHP
                              '86 XL883/1200 Chopper
                              '82 XL1000 w/1450cc Buell, Baker 6-speed, in-progress project
                              Cage: '13 Mustang GT/CS with a few 'custom' touches
                              Yep, can't leave nuthin' alone...

                                Comment

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