| Author | Message | ||
     Treefrog |
Well, there seems to be as many different ways to mount tool tubes as there are bikes with them. I wanted to have the tubes on with the bags off so I looked at what everyone else was doing and decided to do something similar to Rotorhead’s setup. I started with a piece of aluminum that I found in the road a few years ago. I cut it 13” by 8”, drilled two holes to match the bag brackets and set it between the bags. Then I started eyeballing where to place the tubes. I bent my mounting plate between the mounting holes to hold it to the bike and the first tool tube and then again between the tool tubes. This made clearance for the tire and tucked the tubes up under the license plate. I used stainless hardware and put a couple of zip ties around the bottom tube and the reflector bracket to keep it snugged up. It is on there pretty good. Mounting plate I bent up. http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b381/treefrogg/motorcycles/tool%20tubes/tooltube012.jpg?t=1270354441 Here is the mock up. http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b381/treefrogg/motorcycles/tool%20tubes/tooltube010.jpg?t=1270354523 http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b381/treefrogg/motorcycles/tool%20tubes/tooltube003.jpg?t=1270354589 Throw a little paint on the mounting plate. http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b381/treefrogg/motorcycles/tool%20tubes/tooltube013.jpg?t=1270354649 Side view. http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b381/treefrogg/motorcycles/tool%20tubes/tooltube035.jpg?t=1270354704 Finished up by hitting the hardware with black paint so it doesn’t stand out. The right bag has to come off to get the lid off of the top tube, but the bottom tube clears the bag no problem. http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b381/treefrogg/motorcycles/tool%20tubes/tooltube009.jpg?t=1270354763 Screw it. I give up. (Message edited by treefrog on April 04, 2010) | ||
| Treefrog |
Ok, so I'm stupid. How do I get the pics up? | ||
| Americanmadexb |
use the IMG code that photobucket gives you and copy and paste! | ||
| Treefrog |
I'm still stupid. Can't even click on them now. | ||
| Midnightrider |
try these - although I gotta admit I can't see much http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b381/treefrogg/m otorcycles/tool%20tubes/tooltube012.jpg http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b381/treefrogg/m otorcycles/tool%20tubes/tooltube010.jpg http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b381/treefrogg/m otorcycles/tool%20tubes/tooltube003.jpg Throw a little paint on the mounting plate. http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b381/treefrogg/m otorcycles/tool%20tubes/tooltube013.jpg Side view. http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b381/treefrogg/m otorcycles/tool%20tubes/tooltube035.jpg http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b381/treefrogg/m otorcycles/tool%20tubes/tooltube051.jpg (Message edited by midnightrider on April 04, 2010) | ||
| Treefrog |
I don't know what is going on. Maybe it's a Firefox thing? I have never had this much trouble before. | ||
| Sharkguy |
Treefrog, how much weight does it look like these will hold mounted that way? Do they seem as sturdy as they would be mounted on the luggage racks? I have a couple I'd like to mount, but I still haven't found a good place yet. | ||
| Treefrog |
I "hope" they will hold a couple of bottles of gas. The aluminum sheet I used is what I had laying around. It is mounted solid, no flopping around to reduce fatigue, but stainless would be stronger. Time will tell. | ||
| Rotorhead |
your set up is better than mine. I had to trim the lids to fit on my setup. good clean install. The big 30 OZ MSR bottles fit right in the tubes great. Wrap some 100mph tape around the bottle to fill the gap and to keep them from rattling around. http://www.cascadedesigns.com/MSR/Stoves/Stove-Acc essories/MSR-Fuel-Bottles/product They have some at the Gander MTN in Watertown. TREE, it Also looks like JUL for the trip home!! | ||
| Treefrog |
Rotorhead, I hope y'all make it back to enjoy part of the summer. I'm gonna pick up a couple of fuel bottles soon, put together a better tool kit too. | ||
| Towpro |
looks good! I been carrying drinking water in mine. I picked up 2 aluminum bottles from wally world for $9.00 each. (a little less capacity then the 1 liter MSR bottles shown). TIP: Wrap a piece of electrical tape around both the top and bottom of the bottle at the larger diameter. If you don't the paint on the bottle will wear off as it vibrates around in the tube. When you pull the tube out it will be covered with powdered paint that gets all over your hands (and cloths, and grips, etc). I think we should all adopt the name Court used for them. "operator tubes"  | ||
| Biffdotorg |
I use the same tool tube on my snowmobile in the winter as I do on my XT. I put the MSR Fuel Bottle in an old tube sock before sliding it in. This cushions the bottle and eliminates all rattle. Nothing like a liter of gas when the idiot light goes on out in the boonies!! | ||
| Towpro |
good Idea on the sock Mark. It might act as an isolator and keep my water cooler a little longer | ||
| 7873jake |
I saw neoprene sleeves for the MSR bottles somewhere but I'll have to do some digging. The neoprene would do both: insulate your water AND keep the paint from wearing off. Might even keep your gas cool!  If I recall, the neoprene sleeves were almost as much as the bottles... |
