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front tire installation... first time

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Old Dec 30, 2009 | 05:44 PM
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Question front tire installation... first time

took off my front tire for some lower fork painting. and all went well.
Wen't to put it back on today and have some questions.. I did use my manual used right torque specs, but it doesn't look right. I see a pretty noticeable gap between the lower fork and the cap. Is this right?

Also, there is some space between the inside of the fork and the spacer... is this normal? I followed the manual's procedure for where to tighten the lower fork on the axle.

Take a look at the attached pic to see what I mean.

And a random question... I took off my battery band.. What have u all used to fill the four holes left?

Thanks in advance.. I won't be riding until I am sure it's safe to i'm looking forward to what you all got for me.
Thanks
J.
 
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Old Dec 30, 2009 | 05:53 PM
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The lower cap looks like mine retightened at the dealer. The spacer is concerning. Did you use the correct size bit as suggested in the manual to put through the hole for proper spacing? Is the left side of the axle tight enough? ( axle pulled to the left enough)
 
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Old Dec 30, 2009 | 05:59 PM
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yes I tighted left side of the axle to 55 ft lbs per manual... and I used the 7/16ths drill bit to measure the other side for fork placement... ??? any ideas?
J>
 
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Old Dec 30, 2009 | 06:44 PM
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Did you make sure you put the right spacer on the right side? If I remember right they were different sizes for each side!!
 
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Old Dec 30, 2009 | 08:57 PM
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Originally Posted by jousley
.

took off my front tire for some lower fork painting. and all went well.
Wen't to put it back on today and have some questions.. I did use my manual used right torque specs, but it doesn't look right.


I see a pretty noticeable gap between the lower fork and the cap. Is this right?

Also, there is some space between the inside of the fork and the spacer... is this normal? I followed the manual's procedure for where to tighten the lower fork on the axle.
.
.
Looks fine from here J.

As you said, you torqued to spec.

Yellow arrow - the spacer stops against a shoulder on the axle, so the small gap.
.
.
.
 
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Old Dec 30, 2009 | 08:57 PM
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yes.. spacers on right sides.
J.

what now?
 
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Old Dec 30, 2009 | 09:32 PM
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The answer from Mud says it looks fine... good enough for me.
 
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Old Dec 30, 2009 | 10:06 PM
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Originally Posted by mud
.
.
Looks fine from here J.

As you said, you torqued to spec.

Yellow arrow - the spacer stops against a shoulder on the axle, so the small gap.
.
.
.
MUD,

Not to question your expertise, but I just double checked my bike and my spacers are up against the fork tubes with no yellow arrow gap. It was that way before I pulled my front wheel and I made sure it was aligned the same when I put it back together. It's been that way for a couple thousand miles and it is solid. I even tried wiggling it tonight and it's good. But could I have it wrong?? I know I'll find out for sure in a couple weeks cause I got my 21" wheel, just waiting for my spokes and I'll double check then, but I just want to make sure now through our resident expert. I don't remember any shoulder on the axle, it was just a straight "pipe" basically.

Thanks, Jaron
 
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Old Dec 31, 2009 | 06:12 AM
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Originally Posted by jousley
And a random question... I took off my battery band.. What have u all used to fill the four holes left?
J.
I used the four hex bolts left over from when I pulled the front fender. You'll have to cut at least two of them a little shorter to clear the battery. I really like the look. It matches the how the bolts stand out against the transmission's wrinkle black powder coating. I think it looks pretty good on my black Fat Bob.
 
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Old Dec 31, 2009 | 08:20 AM
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Originally Posted by jousley
took off my front tire for some lower fork painting. and all went well.
Wen't to put it back on today and have some questions.. I did use my manual used right torque specs, but it doesn't look right. I see a pretty noticeable gap between the lower fork and the cap. Is this right?

Also, there is some space between the inside of the fork and the spacer... is this normal? I followed the manual's procedure for where to tighten the lower fork on the axle.

Take a look at the attached pic to see what I mean.

And a random question... I took off my battery band.. What have u all used to fill the four holes left?

Thanks in advance.. I won't be riding until I am sure it's safe to i'm looking forward to what you all got for me.
Thanks
J.

Looks like mine when I put mine back together. With the 7/16 drill bit in the hole then you pull the fork leg over to touch the drill bit is gonna open a small gap between the leg and spacer, just like you got. The gap between the front and back of the axle / fork mount plate, well, I thought it was kind of odd when I put mine back together too, but the bolts don't suck it up any more at the specified torque. I even looked at a couple of other bikes not long ago at the dealer while I was picking up some parts, and brand new they are how you have in this pic. If the torque is clicky,clicky, then good to go.
 
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