Ape hangers grip on risers
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Tourer
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 394
Likes: 0
From: Brooklyn, NY
Ape hangers grip on risers
hey, I installed my apes a couple months ago they werent knurled and didnt hold tight in the risers so I wrapped a piece of duct tape around the bar and they held very nicely. unfortunately they are coming loose. Anyone know a good alternative to duct tape? thanks for any help
Road Warrior
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,688
Likes: 4
From: Crisfield, MD
Take em off and sand them and the riser contact points and take a file and scrore some criss-cross marks on the bars and they should hold (also torque the clamp to the proper 14-18 foot pounds).
Road Captain
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 599
Likes: 1
From: Arkansas
Aluminum can doesnt work. I have the same trouble. I havent tried the sanding though. I'll do that this week. Thakns for the info.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,112
Likes: 40
From: Boise Idaho
I've used a center punch before and made several rows of indensions around the bar and also make certian your riser clamp is tighten evenly, there should be a visible gap on both sides of the clamp.
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Tourer
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 394
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From: Brooklyn, NY
well i broke out the dremmel and tried sanding and I even carved a waffle pattern into both the bars and the riser. no luck still loose. so i just went back to the good old duct tape. this just might become my 3 month routine. hopefully it will hold better and last longer this time around
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 11,068
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From: Texas! Ya mean there's someplace else?
+1 on the dimples. Used to use this trick on electric motor bearing races to keep a motor in service 'til we hit port or the tender. You can also slightly deform the bar where it contacts the riser clamp area. Whack it judiciously with a ball pein hammer to make it slightly oval shaped. That allows the clamps to squeeze-hold it, sorta like a square peg in a round hole. Gotta be careful not to get it too far out or you can strip the risers/riser bolts tightening it back down.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 2,228
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From: New Port Richey FL
i just recently had this same issue, tried the duct tape...no good, tried the beer can shims....no good, i went back to the tried and true way i did it a couple a years ago... i pulled the risers compleatly off the bike, borrowed my buds welder and threw some tac's into the tops and bottoms of the risers, this made an abrassive surface, didn't mess up my chrome, was off the bike so i didn't have to worry about wires or the gas tank or paint, and its workin just as good as it always has 