murphus
Senior member
- Location
- Lost in the Midwest
It's likely I'm missing something simple, but I'm having an odd issue trying to bolt new handlebars onto my 74 SF2 after replacing the steering head bearings. ND gauges, I believe everything is stock. The issue is that the handlebar clamps mount fine without the instrument panel, flat and true. With the panel in place under the front of the clamps, the clamps are no longer true and will not pull down properly to secure the handlebar, with a huge gap between the bar and the mount/clamps. I've tried with studs mounted in the clamps (not sure what's correct) and with individual bolts. I didn't pay attention during disassembly but do remember the bolts, which were a mishmash and clearly not factory, were very tight coming out, meaning it may have been this way and I simply didn't notice. The bike had been sitting for some time when I got it and I don't think the previous owner was particularly mechanical. Lots of little bodged stuff. If you mount the panel and bars and push the clamp in place using studs, it will not seat properly, leaving a huge gap. If you remove the studs and try using bolts from below, with the panel in place, they will not line up to meet the threads in the clamps if the clamps are placed flat and true. Do I have the wrong bits? Photos show the panel, one of the clamps with studs, the bars mounted without the panel, the bars mounted with the panel and studs in the clamp, and the bars mounted with the panel and no studs. Either way it will not line up. Thoughts? Also, I have no idea why the photos are upside down. Maybe because I'm left handed and taking the photos that way!
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