Fender eliminator ideas needed...please help

4131 Views 27 Replies 10 Participants Last post by Domiken, May 3, 2011

Chrome

Discussion Starter · Mar 11, 2009

Okay, so I'm in the middle of a fender eliminator and have discovered the back mounting point (plastic tab on tail section) is broken. The shifter side is still there to mount to, but the brake side is gone.

Who's got an idea on how to mount this thing?

Later,
Chrome...

1 - 20 of 28 Posts

kjkrow

· #2 · Mar 11, 2009

Hey Chrome, can you post up any pictures?

Are you making your own, or using a kit? I'm not quite sure which tabs you're referring to, so pictures would help us to help you.

Chrome

Discussion Starter · #3 · Mar 11, 2009

Unfortunately, no pictures.

I'm using the template that is floating around. I've got the shape cut out, but no holes drilled yet, only marked.

The tabs I'm talking about are on the plastic tail section, not the fender. The old fender that I cut off mounted to them. The original owner has broken the brake side tab which is a mounting point on the template.

Later,
Chrome...

kjkrow

· #4 · Mar 11, 2009

2

I feel like the red circled areas might be what you're talking about:

If they aren't, feel free to take point out on these what you are trying to reference.

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Chrome

Discussion Starter · #5 · Mar 11, 2009

No, those aren't it. The tabs are located on the tail section (plastics) If you were to find that point under your bike, about two inches to the rear are the tabs I'm referring to. Again, they are on the painted tail section of the bike.

You can see the tab if you look closely in this borrowed picture from Roadkill33.

Later,
Chrome...

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kjkrow

· #6 · Mar 11, 2009

Ok, I see what you're talking about now, sorry about my confusion. Here's another pic of my completed undertail (and you're just missing the spot for the right side screw that you can see in the pic above the plate).

Since it's broken, I would try to come up with something to take its place. Those screws hold the back of the undertail to the plastics, and don't attach to the subframe anyways. What you might try is epoxying in a small metal tab with a hole in the correct location for the undertray. You also need to be able to run a screw/bolt through the hole, so maybe try to find a quickclip (if that's what they are called) to put on the tab. I'm thinking of the little clips that hold the left/right rear plastics together between the seats.

I suppose an easier option would be to place a bolt in the tab with the threads facing downward, and have the nut on the exposed part of the undertray. Might be a bit easier.

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Chrome

Discussion Starter · #7 · Mar 11, 2009

I did find the original tab and clip. It's split right through the hole. JB Welding it may work, but I worry it won't last and the tab will break again.

Later,
Chrome...

kjkrow

· #8 · Mar 11, 2009

Well, good luck with whatever route you end up taking. Let me know if you have any more questions.

arthursc2

· #9 · Mar 12, 2009

where is this template you all speak of?

Chrome

Discussion Starter · #10 · Mar 12, 2009

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/junej.hendry/scottishsv650site/images/rearfendereliminator.jpg

Be sure it prints to scale.

Later,
Chrome...

arthursc2

· #11 · Mar 12, 2009

Awesome! Thanks

Mandalorian

· #12 · Mar 12, 2009

kjkrow said:
Since it's broken, I would try to come up with something to take its place. Those screws hold the back of the undertail to the plastics, and don't attach to the subframe anyways. What you might try is epoxying in a small metal tab with a hole in the correct location for the undertray. You also need to be able to run a screw/bolt through the hole, so maybe try to find a quickclip (if that's what they are called) to put on the tab. I'm thinking of the little clips that hold the left/right rear plastics together between the seats.

I suppose an easier option would be to place a bolt in the tab with the threads facing downward, and have the nut on the exposed part of the undertray. Might be a bit easier.

Agreed. Those two screws were a pain, I had to flip one of the tabs over just to get the screw to attach. Since it worked, I didnt end up in your position.

My recomendation is to take the parts and head over to either Lowes or Home Depot. I discovered they have a pretty extensive screw/fastener selection and ideas just come as I look around. Maybe try connecting the FE through the hole, through the broken fender hole and attach it to the frame. I am sure there could be a fastener for that type of application.

Inspiration is 90% imagination and 10% perspiration.

Good luck.

RK

kjkrow

· #13 · Mar 12, 2009

I just got lucky then I guess. I didn't have any trouble with either of those screws for mine

Mandalorian

· #14 · Mar 12, 2009

Yea, the holes didnt line up as well as I had hoped. I had to go in with the screw on an angle so the clip didnt catch as well as it should have. I just flipped it over so it would catch sooner and it worked.

Next time, I will do a mock up a little more diligently. I did mock it up, but didnt try it with the plastics.

Oh well, works for now...

RK

Chrome

Discussion Starter · #15 · Mar 13, 2009

Update: A big thanks to you guys for helping out.

Epoxying the tab did not work. Just too small an area for the adhesive with no way to distribute the stress.

Roadkill's comment about inspiration got me looking at the problem again. 30 minutes later I had fabbed an L bracket that mounts to the old fender retaining tab seen below courtesy of kjkrow. The fender eliminator has the recommended mounting points, but one just mounts to the frame. little bit of work and I've got it looking very nice. Still not finished, but getting much closer. Should be done this weekend if work doesn't bother me.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3548/3346717505_24b7b91065_b.jpg

Later,
Chrome...

Chrome

Discussion Starter · #16 · Mar 13, 2009

Also, did you guys attempt to keep water out of the trunk or was it a non-issue? I'm a little concerned about water getting to the electrical system in the tail. Not concerned about the trunk items getting wet, next to nothing goes in there, just the electrical items.

Later,
Chrome...

kjkrow

· #17 · Mar 13, 2009

I didn't worry about it too much at this point. I did apply some adhesive weather stripping between the undertray and the taillight, so that should help some). The two signal wires and the two LED wires for mine run up through a hole slightly larger than 3/8 inch behind the plate. I put a few pieces of electrical tape over it, and called it good.

I can't imagine that much water makings it's way up there.

Good work on making a tab work off that existing mounting point. Does the body work (right rear plastic) attach at all in that location now?

Chrome

Discussion Starter · #18 · Mar 13, 2009

No, and it never did. That tab was only for the plastic fender that I removed. All the stock mounting points for the fender are intact.

Later,
Chrome...

jack_spyder

· #19 · Mar 13, 2009

Happy to see you got that worked out. Sorry again that I couldnt stop by and help. BTW, where did you get that 24 gauge steel to make the eliminator?

Mandalorian

· #20 · Mar 14, 2009

Nice Job! Good to see it worked out.

Regarding water, I try not to ride in the rain and the holes and mismatched areas are small enough that minimal water will get in. I might try some electrical tape to seal it up a little better.

Lookin good, keep going, more pics...

RK

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