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I'm replacing my bars with some 14" mini apes and while I've got it torn apart I'm replacing the stock riser bushings with some Alloy Art Gooden Tite Polyurethane bushings.
I've got the bushings pressed in as far as they will go, however I've got a small gap between the wider part of the bushing and the (top) surface of the upper tree as depicted by the photos below.
When I've replaced the bushing on other bikes (with other brands) I've never had this issue.
Is this actually a problem? or will the bushing "squish" down against the tree plate when the bolts are tightened? Anyone else use the Alloy Art Gooden Tite and experience the same thing?
They need to be fully seated and should squeeze into place when you tighten the riser bolts. Install just the top clamp without the handlebar (stops them from rotating) and try drawing them down with the riser bolts 30-40 ft/lbs final torque. If you can still easily remove them you could place them in your freezer for an hour and they should easily push into place also or knock in with a plastic face hammer or rubber mallet
I think I had got my poly bushings from Drag and noticed that they were longer than the stock ones, similar fit to those. I tried compressing them in by themselves to make sure they’d fit prior to getting the bars mounted but it took quite a bit of torque to get them flush. I took them out and just sanded off some of the stem on the bushing so they would fit better.
I ran into the same issue when installing Arlen Ness poly bushings. Rechecked the part number twice thinking I ordered the wrong part. I ended up using a c-clamp to press them flush and worked like a charm.
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Riser Bushings Question
