How to keep the forks from hitting the tank

Questions and comments about converting to beefier forks..
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wanaride
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How to keep the forks from hitting the tank

Post by wanaride »

Concerning preventing the forks from hitting the gas tank, a review of previous threads shows the following methods:
- gas tank shape changed with heat gun.
- small piece of steel/aluminum attached to steering stops on lower triple clamp.

Am I missing any other useful method?

Since I don't know how to tap new threads, I'm interested in using an adhesive for the steel/aluminum on the stops. What's the best thing to use? JB Weld? Silicone?

Thanks for any help!
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Post by IdahoCharley »

You can put a small weld the frame tabs and then grind them down until you have just the clearance you desire. (What I did anyway)
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Post by wanaride »

I don't know how to weld anything, so I just bought some 1/8"x1/2" flat steel and JB Weld. That should do it.
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Post by Colorado Mike »

that's not going to work. the glue will fail, and you won't know it till it's too late and you damage your steering damper if you have one. either find someone to weld it for you, or learn to drill and tap (easy) or drill and pop rivet the thing on.
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Post by IdahoCharley »

CM is correct - wrong application for JB Weld. Riveting the spacer is also an excellent idea.
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Post by KDXer »

Rivet, nut and bolt anything but not JB weld.
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Post by FRYSPEED »

I drilled the stops on the lower clamps and screwed in small headed 4mm screws.Gave me enough clearence on my 90 kdx.
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Post by AZRickD »

My headlight faring rubbers do a dandy job.

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Post by m0rie »

>|<>QBB<
AZRickD wrote:My headlight faring rubbers do a dandy job.
Strangely enough so do mine...
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Post by wanaride »

OK, my bro-in-law is a welder so I'll ask him to help me with this.

How did you get the headlight "faring rubbers" to attach to the steering stops??
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Post by m0rie »

They don't. But the rubbers hit the tank instead of the fork tubes.
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Post by KDXer »

I actually sorted mine out for good yesterday. As some may recall I heated and moulded my tank (about 2mm on each side) to clear the top clamp. Well it basically kept taking it original shape so I had to do something else. I used a strip of aluminium (2.5mm thick), drilled a hole through the aluminium strip and frame stop centres, pop rivited the strip on top of the frame stop and used a hammer to massage it into shape to wrap around and under the stop. Works a treat.
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Post by krazyinski »

heres a twist I marked the spot on the triple that hits the tank and filed the edge off so it would not cut the tank when it hit. so it hits a little as long as no damage happens from the hit the tank just gets bumped now.
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Post by canyncarvr »

Well??? How did this come out?

My forks just touch, so I'm not too worried about it, but probably should do something.

FWIW...I figured I'd do the rivet job to 'add' to the stop width. But...I'd bend the stock FIRST (before riveting) to ensure a tight fit to the existing stop. Seems that any bending AFTER the fact would leave a bit of space...and that space is going to be pounding on the rivet.

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Post by wanaride »

Haven't gotten back to it yet. Everyone around the house has been sick and my welder brother in law is sick too, so it may be a while...
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