Subject: Re: sideciver repair
Author: Jay Williams
Date: Jul 16, 2001, 3:29 PM
Post ID: 1707515261
When I got my '71 Ambo, (large side covers) they were loosely held on by
pieces of welding rod JB welded in place. They started coming loose soon
after I got the bike, so I knew the JB weld route wouldn't work. I was
afraid that welding/brazing, even if successful, would ruin the paint on the
covers, so I started looking for alternatives.
After a couple of false starts, what I finally did was take a length of
heavy wire. (from a clothes hanger, I think) and double it over to form a
very tight "U" shape. The closed end of the "U" I bent down so that I had an
"L" approximating the shape of the original pin.
I drilled a hole in the bottom of the sidecover for a short #10 bolt. I put
a fender washer on the bolt and inserted the bolt, from the underside,
through the hole in the bottom of the cover. The open end of the bent "U"
was placed over the bolt, against the sidecover, and another fender washer,
lock washer and nut were used to clamp it down.
Anyway, its harder to describe than actually do, but I hope that makes
sense. I sounds kinda cheesy, but it is invisible with the cover installed
and has worked on my bike for over four years.
A design innovation I thought of afterwards would be putting two holes or
notches in the upper fender washer, and turning the ends of the wire up
through them, so the wire "L" can't spread out from under the washer. Hasn't
proven necessary in my case though.
Jay Williams
One of my sidecover has cracked along the bottom where the locating pin is.
I've already tries JB Weld and (with a[pologies to JB) it lasted about 5
minutes before giving way. My question is, should I have the place welded
(and therefore have to repaint) or should I go with a fiberglass reinforced
body repair product. I'm a bit leery of having it welded since the metal is
so thin anyway...not sure I trust someone to not leave a big melted hole
there. Also, I really don't want to repaint. Damnable decisions!
Thanks for the input!
Chris in NC
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