Chrome Rear Rack -- Doh!

Post by **ericalm** » Sun Jan 21, 2007 1:14 am

I rode on down to Noho Scooters this afternoon to be the first to get one of the chrome rear racks before they were gone. Snagged it, strapped to the seat of the Vespa and headed for home. Saw an orange Buddy on Vineland on the way back (MB member, maybe?) and exchanged a nod. He was probably headed to NoHo.

Got home, looked at Buddy. Realized that I don't have the right socket to remove buddy bar and mount rack. Since I'm on a tight work deadline it'll be several days before I have time to head to the hardware store.

Fortunately, GatsbyGirl's not too crestfallen about having to wait a few days to get it on her scoot. She was just happy I got one before they sold out... unlike Christmas... heh.

brat · Post by **brat** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 7:27 pm

I have had a back chrome rack for a while now. I have a givi case on it, not a large case, just large enough for my helmet.

Well I went out to my buddy this AM to find the center metal support GONE!! Does anyone know the warrenty on the racks? I kind of feel they should last at lest a year. And I have never put more than 5 to 7 lbs in my case.

I need my case! I don't want to carry my helmet around campus all day!

Susan

Keys · Post by **Keys** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 11:45 pm

Susan,

Lou76 (Isaac) and Scootermonkey (Tryg) both had that happen to their racks...one black, the other chrome. In fact, Tryg's (the chrome one) had the piece completely gone. Just like yours. I took them (and mine for reinforcement) up the the shop where I work. One of the mechanics welded reinforcement bars from the sides to where the bolt comes through the rack bracket. Since Tryg's was gone, Eric used some washers welded together to form the bracket. I'll TRY to post some pics of the fix, but I'm not good at accomplishing photo posting. Perhaps Tryg or Isaac will post pics.

Keys

brat · Post by **brat** » Tue Jan 23, 2007 12:48 am

Thanks Keys.

Sounds like I need to locate a welder. Or learn how to use one very fast. lol Oh yeah and a chromer.

I would love to see you pictures.
Susan

Keys · Post by **Keys** » Tue Jan 23, 2007 1:15 am

Well, I took the pics. Now it'll prob'ly take me the rest of the night to figure out how to post 'em. By the way, Susan, I covet your Rally...

--Keys

brat · Post by **brat** » Tue Jan 23, 2007 3:49 am

Keys,
I have a way to make you want my Rally even more!!

I bought it waith 112 orignal miles on it... Now it has just over 300 miles on it. AKA it is a brand new scooter.

Susan

Keys · Post by **Keys** » Tue Jan 23, 2007 6:48 pm

Okay. It just boils down to "I ain't got the game" to upload photos. I did it once and that must have just burn out my "photo-loading" sysnapses. Sorry. However, here is a link to my pic; http://www.frappr.com/?a=viewphoto&id=2 ... myphotos=1

Hope it works.

--Keys

vitaminC · Post by **vitaminC** » Tue Jan 23, 2007 8:10 pm

Keys wrote:Okay. It just boils down to "I ain't got the game" to upload photos. I did it once and that must have just burn out my "photo-loading" sysnapses. Sorry. However, here is a link to my pic; http://www.frappr.com/?a=viewphoto&id=2 ... myphotos=1

Hope it works.

--Keys

Check it out-

Keys, once you have the url for your image (where it is located), just put that bit of info between the img tags

Quote this message and you can see what it looks like...

Keys · Post by **Keys** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 1:41 am

Thanks, Mr. C,

I'll try to not foul that up next time.

--Keys

brat · Post by **brat** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 3:23 am

Thank you both. I will use this as a guide to get it fixed.

Susan

Post by **ericalm** » Fri Jan 26, 2007 7:24 am

Um. Well. I got the rack mounted pretty quickly.
But I couldn't get the spacer, washer and rack all on the rear bolt. With the washer, the nut wouldn't screw down at all. Without, the bolt's still only halfway through the nut.

But it looks good!

ebcspace · Post by **ebcspace** » Sat Jan 27, 2007 4:29 am

I had to deselect the washer to install mine, too

lou76 · Post by **lou76** » Sat Jan 27, 2007 8:22 am

ericalm wrote:Um. Well. I got the rack mounted pretty quickly.
But I couldn't get the spacer, washer and rack all on the rear bolt. With the washer, the nut wouldn't screw down at all. Without, the bolt's still only halfway through the nut.

But it looks good!

tryg(gurneymonkey) and i both bought rubber grommets that are slightly shorter than the spacer that comes with the rack... allows the nut to be well-threaded onto the bolt, with some thread-tite of course, and allows for a little absorption of vibration at the center connection point...

Post by **ericalm** » Sun Jan 28, 2007 2:30 am

lou76 wrote:
ericalm wrote:Um. Well. I got the rack mounted pretty quickly.
But I couldn't get the spacer, washer and rack all on the rear bolt. With the washer, the nut wouldn't screw down at all. Without, the bolt's still only halfway through the nut.

But it looks good!
tryg(gurneymonkey) and i both bought rubber grommets that are slightly shorter than the spacer that comes with the rack... allows the nut to be well-threaded onto the bolt, with some thread-tite of course, and allows for a little absorption of vibration at the center connection point...

Rubber is actually a great idea. This may go into my list of "when I buy a Dremel" projects: grinding a couple millimeters off the spacer, adding a rubber grommet.

I wonder if this contributed in any way to the weld failing on others' rear racks... Not to say that the weld shouldn't hold regardless...