Yet Another Cycling Forum

General Category => The Knowledge => Topic started by: andyoxon on 10 November, 2019, 12:01:31 am

Title: Raising front mudguard at fork crown - to improve clearance
Post by: andyoxon on 10 November, 2019, 12:01:31 am
The vertical mudguard (Bluemels) fixing tab is prevented by the headset from going up any further.  It's kind of annoying because there's bags of potential clearance but I'm stuck with about 5mm of mudguard over the tyre - mud starts sticking/scraping.   I tried bending the tip of the vertical tab, but then found it tricky the get the mudguard to sit straight.

It's a design fault IMO /  bike design has changed.  My ancient (90s) bluemels, were fine.

Any ideas/fixes?
Title: Re: Raising front mudguard at fork crown - to improve clearance
Post by: Kim on 10 November, 2019, 12:27:41 am
I bent the tab to fit the one on my Dawes, but I think I had a little more room to play with between the bolt and the crown race.  Some fiddling and harsh language was certainly involved, but it's fitting mudguards, so that's to be expected.

Pad it out with washers (or molish a custom spacer on your lathe) under the tab so the top of the tab can overhang the crown race?  Non-destructive, so probably worth a try.

Cutting down the tab would probably work (perhaps in combination with a larger washer).  Since it's clamped, does it matter if it's an open slot?  I don't like it as a solution though, it's bound to break.

Nuclear option: Remove the fixing entirely, drill a couple of holes in the mudguard (or re-use the ones where the rivets now aren't) and pass a cable tie through it and the mounting hole.
Title: Re: Raising front mudguard at fork crown - to improve clearance
Post by: hubner on 10 November, 2019, 12:31:39 am
The SKS tab is like this on my bike. I bent the top bit, above the bolt, back. It sits straight.

In theory, you could cut off the bit above the bolt.

Title: Re: Raising front mudguard at fork crown - to improve clearance
Post by: Paul on 10 November, 2019, 07:46:51 am
...  I tried bending the tip of the vertical tab, but then found it tricky the get the mudguard to sit straight.
...
Can you explain why the ‘guard wouldn’t sit straight? Or do you have a pic?
Title: Re: Raising front mudguard at fork crown - to improve clearance
Post by: andrew_s on 10 November, 2019, 08:01:53 am
I've increased clearance by chopping off the fitting, and using zip ties instead.
(https://dl.dropbox.com/s/bg2s5yqerf3wo17/mudguard2_zps04a95cca.jpg?dl=0)
(https://dl.dropbox.com/s/2dqanxa6rxqd4v7/mudguard1_zps3cc7a1dc.jpg?dl=0)

If the bottom of the brake is lower than the bottom on the fork crown, you may want a spacer of some sort.
Title: Re: Raising front mudguard at fork crown - to improve clearance
Post by: zigzag on 10 November, 2019, 09:08:34 am
as the bolt is holding only the mudguard, i would just add a spacer (e.g. 3-4 valve lockring nuts, simple washers, v-brake pad washers..) so that the tab clears the headset. a longer bolt might be needed.
Title: Re: Raising front mudguard at fork crown - to improve clearance
Post by: hubner on 10 November, 2019, 09:10:09 am
Here's mine:

(https://imgur.com/2PoWEw1.jpg)

My brake is bolt-on, the spacer is there because the back of the fork crown is not flat. Luckily, it brings the tab away from the headset and the brake bolt is just long enough.

Zip ties might actually reduce the gap depending on the thickness of the rivets and zip ties and how flat you can get the zip ties to lie flat on the inside of the mudguard. And they're fugly.
Title: Re: Raising front mudguard at fork crown - to improve clearance
Post by: andyoxon on 10 November, 2019, 09:14:42 am
Thanks all.   :thumbsup:

Probably me just not bending the tab evenly (with molegrips I think) & not having a good spacer...

Spacing out with washers would be easy, but yes, existing M5 hex crown bolts are stubby and not long enough.  edit. scavenged an old threadless headset cap bolt.   :)
Title: Re: Raising front mudguard at fork crown - to improve clearance
Post by: Bobby on 10 November, 2019, 10:07:17 am
I bent mine in the same way but it certainly was a pain getting it to sit straight, I think it was just not having enough hands to hold the guard, light, then both ends to tighten it up!  Got there eventually though :)
Title: Re: Raising front mudguard at fork crown - to improve clearance
Post by: Paul H on 10 November, 2019, 11:42:38 am
Good fitting guide here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lG_WZVS9SUY
Title: Re: Raising front mudguard at fork crown - to improve clearance
Post by: mcshroom on 10 November, 2019, 02:08:58 pm
I went for spacers on mine around an awkward carbon fork fitting: -

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49042974842_99f4e9ae87_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2hHL4ML)
Title: Re: Raising front mudguard at fork crown - to improve clearance
Post by: rafletcher on 10 November, 2019, 02:51:12 pm
The SKS tab is like this on my bike. I bent the top bit, above the bolt, back. It sits straight.

In theory, you could cut off the bit above the bolt.

That’s what I did, Dremel in hand.
Title: Re: Raising front mudguard at fork crown - to improve clearance
Post by: IanDG on 10 November, 2019, 04:44:51 pm
Problem Solver Fender Nuts (https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/brakes/problem-solvers-sheldon-fender-nuts-10-13-mm-per-pair/)

(https://live.staticflickr.com/3820/19502340403_e05ef57aa4_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/vHmAmk)Henry Burton Tourer/Audax (https://flic.kr/p/vHmAmk) by Ian-d-g (https://www.flickr.com/photos/acf_windy/), on Flickr
Title: Re: Raising front mudguard at fork crown - to improve clearance
Post by: JonB on 11 November, 2019, 09:19:52 am
I've sawn through a couple on different bikes and they've been fine
Title: Re: Raising front mudguard at fork crown - to improve clearance
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 11 November, 2019, 09:37:04 am
Common problem
I used Hubner's solution. Even with that, I only have about 3mm clearance for 37mm tyres. Real pain when roads are muddy (or I can regard it as resistance training).
Title: Re: Raising front mudguard at fork crown - to improve clearance
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 11 November, 2019, 09:39:48 am
Cutting the top of the tab off works better IME than bending it. However, as it's stainless steel, it's hard to cut through with a junior hacksaw! Why can't SKS make these tabs of aluminium?
Title: Re: Raising front mudguard at fork crown - to improve clearance
Post by: LittleWheelsandBig on 11 November, 2019, 09:52:27 am
Fatigue and corrosion resistance means that SS is a better option.
Title: Re: Raising front mudguard at fork crown - to improve clearance
Post by: grams on 11 November, 2019, 10:02:22 am
A piece that small and spindly in aluminium would disintegrate either as you hacksawed it or as you bolted it up.
Title: Re: Raising front mudguard at fork crown - to improve clearance
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 11 November, 2019, 10:13:31 am
Fair points. I understand SKS have now moved to plastic for that tab but I'm not sure of the reasoning.
Title: Re: Raising front mudguard at fork crown - to improve clearance
Post by: vorsprung on 11 November, 2019, 02:09:16 pm
I've increased clearance by chopping off the fitting, and using zip ties instead.
(https://dl.dropbox.com/s/bg2s5yqerf3wo17/mudguard2_zps04a95cca.jpg?dl=0)
(https://dl.dropbox.com/s/2dqanxa6rxqd4v7/mudguard1_zps3cc7a1dc.jpg?dl=0)

If the bottom of the brake is lower than the bottom on the fork crown, you may want a spacer of some sort.

This will give the tightest clearance
On one of my bikes I've hacksawed off the top of the tab as suggested by others
Title: Re: Raising front mudguard at fork crown - to improve clearance
Post by: Kim on 11 November, 2019, 08:30:07 pm
Cutting the top of the tab off works better IME than bending it. However, as it's stainless steel, it's hard to cut through with a junior hacksaw!

I'd probably reach for the Dremel for that one...