RGM Dave Taylor head stead thread size

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Richard Tool

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Can anyone tell me diameter/thread pitch for the two Allen screws that join the frame clamp on my Taylor type head steady as supplied by RGM ? I checked their site and the components list (2) 1/4 UNC - I have tried these and they don’t fit - nor does 1/4 UNF . I have reached out to RGM but have yet to receive an answer. I had my tank off for maintenance and discovered the clamp screws have gone away !
 
I repaired one of these, they were 1/4 UNC but the clamp had been used on a metric frame and over tightened in an attempt to get it to grip and the threads in the clamp distorted. The 1/4 UNC bolts would not thread in. So I retapped the threads in the clamps to 1/4 UNC and milled 1mm off one one of the clamps so that it clamped on the 25mm tube without needing gorilla like torque.
 
Mine are metric but I did not get it from RGM. Perhaps not all of them are the same?
 
With the puzzle solved.........


I think I asked on FB and it might have been GT who answered regarding the origin of the DT head steady.
From the UK and perhaps a member here.

I wonder if this Dave Taylor chap got any kudos (even if unwanted) or some form of royalty for designing one of the major ongoing contributions to the betterment of the Commando (given near every link version is a copy of it in some form)

If the threads vary in metric and imperial that might suggest there are multiple sources for his idea.

Nice one Dave Taylor.
 
The one that's on mine originates from 2003, after I saw a similar setup on a Buell Firebolt, to control lateral movement on their rubber-mounted driveline set up. At that point, I had never seen such a thing on a Norton, nor had I ever heard of a chap called Dave Taylor :)

Erik Buell patented it in 1988 (US Patent # US4776423A), which has now expired.
 
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For a stock set up, maybe the triangular plates could be doubled up two per side, back to back to minimise bending as they do.
 

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For a stock set up, maybe the triangular plates could be doubled up two per side, back to back to minimise bending as they do.
As a kid I had a bad experience of these plates bending
I bought a mk2a interstate from the pub landlord from across the road from me
He let me pay for it weekly, I had no clue what isolastics were back then!
One night I was on a dual carriageway on the inside lane going way to fast
I may have hit a bump or a drain cover or something but the bike bucked and twisted and I ended up in the right hand lane!
In daylight the next day I was looking over the bike
I noticed a bit of movement on the back wheel/swing arm (probably wallowed out gearbox cradle tube thinking of it now) but when I got hold of the at the top and bottom I was surprised to see the engine move from side to side!
I took the tank off and found both those triangular plates bent outwards , the bobbins were still attached and the threads ripped out the frame along with the remains of the araldite glue that'd been holding them in
I re made the plates from 1/4" steel and rode it like that for many years
 
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