keeping the shield up

[greenbaron]

Has anyone come up with a better "shim" than the gluey rubber things that came with the brackets which hold the shield and fog lights on the forks? About once a year I have to talk all that crap off, clean the goo, and reinstall, for over time they slip down the forks. Problem is the brackets bottom out and so are not tight enough to stay put. Guess the rubber has broken down somewhat and compresses too much. Tried this last time to double up on the rubber, which didn't even last a ride. Tried to put a piece of thin leather on top of the rubber, but the brackets are still bottoming out. It's a fine line between getting something thick enough in there to prevent the bottoming out of the brackets while still being able to get the brackets to come together enough to get the short bolts in there that hold 'em together. In short, this is a royal pain in the ass!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and I would like to not have to do it again!

 

[HeR3tic]

Sure sounds as though the rubber surround have chemically deteriorated. I hadn't noticed the downward slip until you mentioned it. Just checked it. Mine have moved down almost a quarter inch. If in fact they were installed at the upper most extent to begin with. I'm curious to know what has caused the deterioration and the resultant goo-iness you speak of.

This is the first time I've heard of the ailment. I'm curious to know what, other than OEM replacement part, could be substituted. Leather and silicone sealant???

 

[greenbaron]

I tried a combination of leather and duct tape
I left the one side that looked acceptable alone, it took me all morning to come up with the right thickness of duct tape with strips of leather where the bracket halves come together (because that is where they'll hit the forks), very very frustrating. I doubt it's going to work for long, but it's good enough for now, and it's time to move on: I want to get my brake line clamps installed... so...
I'll be still waiting to hear, but next time I'm in a hardware store I'm going to be looking for a slightly thicker piece of rubber. Unless somebody comes up with a better idea, that is...

 

[goodfellow]

i'd be inclined to use tire tube material. fold over and layer thickness as needed. then glue last layer together.

greg

 

[HeR3tic]

I tried a combination of leather and duct tape

Duck tape...that's got to be a first Did you hear the one about the duck tape leading to chicken wire and then onto *****willow..."hold on there young fellow, I'm going with you".

You mention having done this operation a time or two...how long has this ailment been an issue? What year model is your FBG?

 

[greenbaron]

Yes, it's done this since the beginning. When I first got the bike I hung around another forum and I remember this being a topic, I just couldn't recall what people came up with as a cure. I have an 05, purchased in AUG 04. I'd say I've done this operation about 3 or 4 times since new. Not so much because it would slip down too far, but it would slip enough to reveal the black rubber / glue crap underneath the brackets, and that would just drive me nuts. Back together now, but as I said I will probably do this ONE TIME MORE, when I come up with the perfect underlayment...

 

[greenbaron]

duct tape a first? really?
frankly, i'm surprised to hear you say that.
duct tape, wd40, a set of metric sockets and box wrenches, a few allens, and a screwdriver ... what else is there?

 

[Baggage1]

All above and EB-Green instead of Duct tape. That stuff holds submarines together!

 

[Sidecar Flip]

You guys must be washing your bikes with some nasty ****te. Mine have never moved, at all and the rubba isn't 'gooey'. Quit pissin in the wash bucket and use some good suds.

I've removed gooey residue before with naptha. Works good and leaves the finish.

If you guys are using S100, that's probably part of the problem. That stuff is hell on electrical connectors so it's probably hell on rubba too. I got a bottle for Christmas. Gave it to the neighbor to wash his car with.

If you really want a rubba shim under there that won't turn gooey (Mine don't but I don't pee in the wash bucket either.....

Get some silicone radiator hose in the same inside diameter as the fork tubes. You can get silicone hose at a truck dealer by the foot. Comes in neat colors like blue and red too. It's impervious to everythying and should outlast your bike, maybe you too. It ain't cheap but these bike aren't cheap to begin with.

 

[greenbaron]

safe solvents

>>If you guys are using S100, that's probably part of the problem. That stuff is hell on electrical connectors so it's probably hell on rubba too. I got a bottle for Christmas. Gave it to the neighbor to wash his car with.

I use TopoftheLine Bubble Bath foaming, baby! But after every shampoo, s100 Detail and Wax, which I love. Also been saved by their finish restorer, most recently after my 20K service where a mechanic much taller than me apparently couldn't clear the rear fender when straddling the machine confused. Great stuff! And once a year, a true carabuba wax job with their wax. But, the problem isn't the rubber disintegrating... it was too thin to begin with. The bracket halves bottom out when tightening, and it's not a tight enough fit, so they don't hold. The goo is whatever sticky stuff they applied to the back of the rubber to keep it stuck on the inside of the bracket halves while you're fumbling to get them installed. The brackets slip down on that goo interface and the rubber stays put, so you start to see the rubber and goo exposed at the top. I wouldn't be surprised if Triumph went to a thicker 'pad' on later models... probably should've asked when I was at the dealer last week... although I like your idea, and will give that a try:

>>Get some silicone radiator hose in the same inside diameter as the fork tubes.

But, you've brought to mind another question I'll bet you'll have a good answer for.

>>I've removed gooey residue before with naptha. Works good and leaves the finish.

What is the best thing to use to remove leftover stick'em from those little weights used to balance wheels? Got a new tyre at my service last week, they pulled off the old weights naturally, but left behind the glue residue- looks rather sloppy! Don't have any naptha, but have kerosene? Just not sure about the finish...