Radiator rods?

Boss, when you find out I will buy a set.

the plastic ones dont work all that well with your awesome rad gaurds...

they flex way to much.

Did they use to be aluminum? whom ever was making the other style rad gaurds (aluminum fins) that were posted on the site awhile back had aluminum rods in them...

risky1

My 04 has the aluminum rods. Is there any chance to order the older ones and see if they can be made to work?

BOSS said:

Would like to know if there is anyone out there making or could

make the round rods that the radiator deflectors slide on?

I dont like the new plastic rods, aluminium please.

Click to expand...

Make your own!

I just made a new one out of 7/16" dia aluminum rod.

I used a drill press, a hack saw, a 13/64 drill bit and a 6 1.0 mm tap for the fixed end (that takes the stud) and a 1/4" drill and a 6 1.0mm HeliCoil kit for the other end.

It took me about 15 minutes. The aluminum cost $2.25 for a 2 foot long piece that will make 4 rods. I already had the HeliCoil kit, and replacement HeliCoils are cheap!

A guy with a lathe could probably make 4 of them in the time it took me to make 1.

The HeliCoil is used to save the treads in the end that shroud is attached to because the aluminum threads wear out from removing the tank for servicing the bike.

Oh, I also enlarged the hole in my aluminum guard with a counter sink for the slightly larger than stock rod.

If you make your own, make sure you use a water based tap ease lubricant to prevent galling.

The mounting holes in the OEM deflectors are 0.412" so you will need to get 10 mm round stock to fit them, but if you are using plastic deflectors you don't need to replace the plastic rods do you?

Regards,

Joe

Hey Rick -

As you know, I run your awsome rad guards, but I don't use the rods at all. I drilled-out the lower/outer hole and installed a 6mm nutsert. Now my tank spoilers screw directly into the guards... no more spinning rods!!! God I hated that... :roll:

Hey Rick,
Just talked to Bergdaddy he has some made up/in stock. 505.647.8333 (Tim). I like Powercell's setup, but does the shroud have enough support?

I don't think the rods contribute much to support the guards. Plus the BOSS guards are dam near bullet proof by themselves...

Powercell, I meant support to the shroud on the outside where they mount to the rods.

Boss,

Per our discussion, I'm having a couple of sets machined. I'll send them to you when I get them. I think they are done, I just haven't called my machinist yet.

Morgan

Boss, I am also looking to make the rods, using the joelusa method. I'll talk to you about it later.

Great topic fellas... I thought I was the only one with the "spinning rod syndrome". I have used locktite on the frame where the rods screw in but no matter how loose I put the shroud screws in it always seems to back the rod out on removal. This is the one thing I have always wanted to fix permanently but have not gotten around to. My radiator guards are a mess from having to use vise grips on them to hold the rod stationary and such, I guess I will have to fix the problem and invest in some of the BOSS guards for fit and finish. I will attempt a fix in the near future.

Regards,

sandskipper said:

Great topic fellas... I thought I was the only one with the "spinning rod syndrome". I have used locktite on the frame where the rods screw in but no matter how loose I put the shroud screws in it always seems to back the rod out on removal. This is the one thing I have always wanted to fix permanently but have not gotten around to. My radiator guards are a mess from having to use vise grips on them to hold the rod stationary and such, I guess I will have to fix the problem and invest in some of the BOSS guards for fit and finish. I will attempt a fix in the near future.

Regards,

Click to expand...

Of course I've had the same problem, used Loctite also but if it tries to turn have found gripping the end of the rod against the frame bracket holds it in place. Now the last few times I've pulled the tank off they've stayed in place.

Hey guys, while at work today, I came up with a potential solution to the flex of the plastic radiator rods. Has anybody tried a piece of aluminum tubing that has an inside diameter that matches the outside diameter of the plastic radiator rods, then slide said tubing over the plastic rod? This would support the rod, solve the hassle of drilling, tapping, and cutting a stud to attach the rod to the frame. If the tubing was thin enough, there should be enough meat in the BOSS guard to go a larger grommet on the frame side. The only issue that this would not fix is the spinning rod syndrome. What do you think?

good idea , thats what i think . :salute: