Top triple-clamps on the cheap?

[David Beard]

Don,

    I think you've got the right idea already. I'd drill them out and 
put a couple of quality bolts and nuts on there. You would be able to 
torque them down better than the stock aluminum thread setup, and it 
sounds like you're a man who likes to torque nuts ;-)

Just my 2 cents...

Dave B

Don Wilcox wrote:
> Hi Guys,
> Been dinking with my steering head bearings (likely soon to replace again
> since I think I may have fouled up the last install, D'oh!). Going through
> my routine monthly tightening jag. Here's the problem...
>
> The pinch bolts that hold the top of the fork tubes are in fine shape. The
> aluminum triple clamps that they thread in... meh... not so much. See
> attached pic. For some time, the left was rather stripped (legacy of the
> previous owner), but with enough threads to bite ok. Now the right has done
> the same, probably by me. Steel bolt has chewed off the aluminum threads
> inside the clamp itself, so I'm thinking that unless I just want to hog it
> out and put a seperate bolt and nut on it, there's really no fixing it.
> Don't get me wrong, they're both tight, but I feel it's only a matter of
> time until they won't be. I'm afeared each time I loosen them to adjust the
> steering head, and I know one of these days I'll pull them apart, tighten,
> and they won't pinch again.
>
> =
>