Unofficial Royal Enfield Community Forum
Royal Enfield Motorcycles => Bullet with the UCE engine => Topic started by: britishbyproxy on June 07, 2011, 09:36:34 am
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So I've been noticing a worrying trend on my B5.
There seem to be some clearance issues between the front mudguard and the fork tube covers, and the rear shocks and the rear fender supports. I've had sufficient friction to have gotten down to bare metal on the fork tubes and the gas reservoirs on the rear shocks.
I don't know why this is happening, but at first I thought it may have had something to do with the front fork legs being pinched too closely together on the wheel spindle. I addressed that issue, and gave the mudguard a good knock or two with a rubber mallet to make sure that there was no friction, but obviously I haven't corrected the cause of the problem.
Any thoughts? ???
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The upper fork covers are likely not concentric with the lower legs A.K.A. sliders.
Loosening the hardware and re tightening after "adjusting" the bits for clearance should take care of the front.
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I had the same issue on my C5. Loosening, aligning, then retightening all the hardware fixed my problem. I later went back and installed nylon locking nuts on the entire front fender. Those screws were always coming loose.
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Same problem with my B-5. Losened and tightend.
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RE does that intentionally. They are trying to give your bike a patina of age so people won't think it is brand new or a fully restored trailer queen. The only way you can get wear marks is if you ride.
Ok, I'm just lazy. I haven't adjusted mine yet. They still rub.
Oh wait! Ever see an OLD springer fork? They had adjustable friction plates to damp the suspension. This is the RE equivalent. I'll just leave them at the factory setting.
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Check my C5 fork tutorial towards the end. Basically it's two steps:
1) Loosen the pinch bolt by the turn signal and align the fork covers so they don't scrape on the lower sliders as they move up.
2) loosen the 6 fender bolts including the two that hold the brake caliper and center the divots in the fender with the fork covers.
Just a 10 minute job. Mine scraped when new too. It takes a little finesse, that's all.
Scott
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Your'e gonna make me go out and work on it aren't you? This week was dedicated to home improvement.
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A well maintained RE in the garage improves any home....... ;)
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Oh wait! Ever see an OLD springer fork? They had adjustable friction plates to damp the suspension. This is the RE equivalent. I'll just leave them at the factory setting.
Hmmm....
Most of those were star shaped, very American. The scrape on my cover is kinda teardrop shaped. Maybe it's the eye of Shiva. A bike with the mechanical history of the RE should hold 'the destroyer' in high regard. ;)
Scott
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A well maintained RE in the garage improves any home....... ;)
now THAT's funny!!!
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Thanks for the input. I'll have another excuse to be in the shed this weekend!