My understanding is that VO is currently out of the stainless steel version, which means you're probably getting the chromed steel version. I installed one of these a few nights ago. The tang came pre- bent, and happened to fit perfectly the way it was. I drilled a hole in the tan using a drill press and a not-too-old drill bit. It all went rather smoothly.
On Dec 18, 1:26 pm, Lynne Fitz <[email protected]> wrote: > After my LBS cried uncle, I resorted to the enormous milling machine > in the machine shop at work. Fortunately, I knew a mechanical > engineer/cyclist who was checked out on the machine shop equipment. > > I then took it back to the LBS and they finished the installation. > > Cheers, > Lynne F > > On Dec 18, 8:23 am, [email protected] wrote: > > > Quoting Paul Cooley <[email protected]>: > > > > I ordered one of Velo Orange's front racks, (and a set of their > > > aluminum fenders) for my Rivendell touring bike. I'm still waiting > > > for them to arrive, but I wonder if anyone has any advice about > > > drilling the holes in the tangs of the rack. Are they so long that > > > you would then need to saw the tangs to fit? Most of the time, when I > > > undertake that kind of project, it ends up looking a little sloppy. I > > > belong to the cut once, measure, curse and start over camp of > > > handymen. I can't afford to do that with the rack. > > > Oh my yes. I wrote about this on the iBOB list, and Alex supplied the > > information. The rack is stainless. I spent literally an HOUR > > drilling a hole in the tang, and all I was accomplishing was polishing > > the steel. Same for sawing - I had a fresh blade in the hacksaw, but > > it was the wrong type, and I sawed and sawed and sawed and all it did > > was polish the metal. Turns out, stainless work hardens very quickly. > > You need special bimetallic saw and drill bits. > > > Yes you need to saw the tang to fit. And you need to bend the tang to > > fit, too. In my case, my first attempt to bend to fit wasn't right, > > and I didn't see it until I bolted the rack in place and found the > > brakes wouldn't work right due to interference. When I re-bent it, > > the hole wasn't in the exact right place, and I had to ovalize it. > > > The good news is, no matter how sloppy it is underneath, you can't see > > it when the bike is done. Check mine out for proof: > > http://www.flickr.com/photos/97916...@n00/sets/72157606169015639/ > > > Looks great, you can't see the bends - well, if you look close you can > > see some of the tool marks on the tang from the bending, but it > > doesn't look bad. You also can't see the angst and the sweat as I did > > the work. > > > > Also, what's the best way to bend the rear tang so that it fits > > > smoothly between the fender and the fork crown. I would have a > > > tendency to bend it by hand, but again, I'm worried about sloppy > > > results. > > > What I did was bend it by hand, using the PTFPTM methodology (that is, > > Pound to Fit, Paint to Match). > > > I do have a bench vise, but how do I figure out where to > > > > bend it and how much to bend it when it's not on the bicycle mounted > > > to the fender? > > > Eyeball. Make sure you hook up the brakes before you decide you've > > got it bent right. I had to put in more of a 90 degree bend than I > > thought necessary at first. > > > > Maybe, with its not being here yet, I'm making it more complicated in > > > my imagination than it is. > > > Yes. I managed it, and if I can do it your TV commercial baggage > > handler (the ape jumping up and down on your luggage) can do it. > > > > I'm preparing myself to take some time with both the fenders and the > > > rack. Generally, I don't trust myself with drilling holes in things. > > > Right. That's what your rat-tail file is for. And your blue Locktite. > > > Steve "Been there, lived to tell the tale" Palincsar --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Bicycle Lifestyle" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/bicyclelifestyle?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
