Dave Taylor unit woes....

acadian · Apr 28, 2010

Happenstance forced me to remove the tank this evening for an unrelated item and, much to my chagrin, I discovered the frame clamp bolt had apparently decided to venture off to greener pastures. Now, what did I do to cause this? Any idea what the replacement bolt size would be? The post rubbed it's way into the frame clamp itself but it does not look too damaged...

pelican · Apr 28, 2010

May have just worked itself out from the vibes since it already has gravity working on it? Don't know the size, but you could take the other side out, and match it at a hardware store.

swooshdave · Apr 28, 2010

It's British, it's got vibes. Bolts come loose. Do what ever you can to secure nuts and bolts.

Don Tovey · Apr 29, 2010

Hi there,
I suggest you e mail the lads at RGM & ask them for the size of bolt & suggestions of how to reduce the chance of it happening again.
E-m@il: info@rgmmotors.co.uk

Ive always found them really helpful.
Now you have had trouble I will check mine out just in case, but mine was really tight to screw in when I fitted it.
Ive found the DT head steady really improves the handling on my commando compared to the original 1972 effort fitted to it.
I,m lucky as I only live a 2.5 hour ride from beckermet
Best of luck.
Cheers Don

Lucky · Apr 29, 2010

Hi

Have you "shimmed" the part clamping on the tube with rubber, lookes so on the photo.
If so I think thats the problem, you will never get a proper torque on the bolt then,
you need to use something made of metal or file down the face of the clamp.

Regards
Henrik

travelerjerry · Apr 29, 2010

I've heard the clamp to the tube are notorious for getting loose. one of the reasons I won't buy one.

B+Bogus · Apr 29, 2010

Agree with Henrik on this - the as-delivered clamp won't clamp properly until material is removed from the mating faces. I didn't have to take off too much to get the thing to clamp properly on mine.

I don't know why they're delivered like this (must be a 'British' thing), but shimming the internal bore of the clamp certainly isn't the answer - the internal diameter of the clamp is a very good fit for 1" frames, so additional packing material in between will just place all the loads onto 2 points on each half, with the inevitable working loose - as experienced.

The bolts look to be UNC, but RGM would have the definitive answer - might also be worth asking them why the clamp doesen't :roll:

acadian · Apr 29, 2010

Thanks for the replies. I did experience fitment issues with the frame clamp and did indeed file the surfaces down, I was still unable to get a proper fit.. hence the shim. I'll continue to file the surfaces until I get a good fit for sure but the frame clamp is not what came loose, the rose joint bolt did. I think I'll match the bolt at the hardware store, get an additional inch or so of length and add locknut on to it for additional measure.

Ron L · Apr 29, 2010

I'll match the bolt at the hardware store, get an additional inch or so of length

:shock: ... that might be a bit too much.

swooshdave · Apr 29, 2010

acadian said:
I'll continue to file the surfaces until I get a good fit for sure but the frame clamp is not what came loose, the rose joint bolt did.

acadian said:
Happenstance forced me to remove the tank this evening for an unrelated item and, much to my chagrin, I discovered the frame clamp bolt had apparently decided to venture off to greener pastures.

Your first post said frame clamp bolt. You'll pardon our confusion. The picture was also a wee blurry but now I can see in the first photo the missing bolt. Just get a replacement bolt and loctite.

bpatton · Apr 29, 2010

The missing bolt is 8mm by 40mm. Don't forget to get a half a dozen washers because they are used to get the arm perpendicular to the centerline. Loctite.

acadian · Apr 29, 2010

bpatton said:
The missing bolt is 8mm by 40mm. Don't forget to get a half a dozen washers because they are used to get the arm perpendicular to the centerline. Loctite.

It's metric? Hmmm, surprising. Thanks for the info, I didn;t seem to need any washers as the arm laid pretty much perpendicular in its bare state.

bpatton · Apr 29, 2010

acadian said:
bpatton said:

The missing bolt is 8mm by 40mm. Don't forget to get a half a dozen washers because they are used to get the arm perpendicular to the centerline. Loctite.

Click to expand...

It's metric? Hmmm, surprising. Thanks for the info, I didn;t seem to need any washers as the arm laid pretty much perpendicular in its bare state.

It's in the Instructions and Contents List.

"1x 0502481 40 x 8mm Bolt, Rose Joint to Frame Clamp"

acadian · Apr 29, 2010

bpatton said:
It's in the Instructions and Contents List.

"1x 0502481 40 x 8mm Bolt, Rose Joint to Frame Clamp"

I'm sorry, I'm unfamiliar with this thing you refer to as "instructions"... please elaborate :wink:

B+Bogus · Apr 30, 2010

acadian said:
bpatton said:

It's in the Instructions and Contents List.

"1x 0502481 40 x 8mm Bolt, Rose Joint to Frame Clamp"

Click to expand...

I'm sorry, I'm unfamiliar with this thing you refer to as "instructions"... please elaborate :wink:

Absolutely! This is predominantly a blokes' forum after all (with sincere apologies to Debby

)

Don Tovey · Apr 30, 2010

Hi Acadian,
my wife says while your at the hardware store can you get me somthing with with an extra couple of inches on it.
I dont know what she means.
Maybe she wants taking for a ride later (on the Norton of course).
Hopefully you can get back on the road now.
This site is very handy somtimes with great advice from people.
cheers Don

bpatton · Apr 30, 2010

This is a testament to how little loading there is on the headsteady when you can ride around with it disconnected without any noticeable effect on handling. But there are gains to be had from getting it locked down.

acadian · Apr 30, 2010

bpatton said:
This is a testament to how little loading there is on the headsteady when you can ride around with it disconnected without any noticeable effect on handling. But there are gains to be had from getting it locked down.

Agreed, my solution was to replace to 40mm bolt with a 50mm bolt and add a nylon lock nut to the protruding end (towards the headlamp) rather than then spring washer. I don't think she's going anywhere now...

swooshdave · Apr 30, 2010

bpatton said:
This is a testament to how little loading there is on the headsteady when you can ride around with it disconnected without any noticeable effect on handling. But there are gains to be had from getting it locked down.

You think those guys with the giant iso headsteadys and 1/2 rod ends might be in the overkill territory?

bpatton · Apr 30, 2010

swooshdave said:
You think those guys with the giant iso headsteadys and 1/2 rod ends might be in the overkill territory?

I think it may be an issue of fatigue and wear more than peak loads. It's a unique situation because if the engine is running it's hammering away at the parts. You can break something with one big smack or a few million little ones.

Dave Taylor unit woes....

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