The rubber bumper under the nose of the gas tank (right below the handlebars) is gone.
Is this the only reason why it wobbles back and forth? The bolts on the back are tight. It's not going to...you know...fall off, is it?
If the U groove on the front is still grabbing and you can't lift the front up and pivot it on the bolts then I don't think it's going to fall off.
about 3" of 3/4" thick wall rubber tubing solved that problem for me. just slit it down the length and 'clip' it onto the frame, then push the tank hook over the whole mess.
Quote from: Watevaman on January 15, 2012, 09:15:36 PM
If the U groove on the front is still grabbing and you can't lift the front up and pivot it on the bolts then I don't think it's going to fall off.
I can lift it about 1.5" but then it catches.
I've got a new rubber bumper coming from Adidasguy. I just wanted to make sure I wasn't missing something.
The rear mounts also have rubber bushings, so it never feels 100% solid. Even with everything on right the tank still has a little bit of play in it.
I've always hated those front bumpers. The glue on mine had let go, so it always came off when I'd pull the tank off. I finally tried to reglue it once but the glue expanded when it dried and I couldn't even get the tank on haha. I had to pull it off and try again with another glue. You'll be fine though, it'll just make a little noise when you hit a pothole. :thumb:
There is a newer tank front bumper that is held on with a screw. You'd need to drill a hole.
The tank/seat bracket has rubber bumpers. There are 2 bumpers on each side. Often I see the donut one left off. That will make the back of the tank lose and wobble. Tank should be very stable.
If everything is there and properly installed, the tank will be very solid.
Here you can see the 2 rubber bumpers installed and separate. Often I see the donut one missing. The washer is also mandatory as well as the aluminum tube the bumpers are on and the bolt goes through. Also shown is the newer tank front bumper - one screw, no glue needed.
(http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb442/adidasguy/GS500/seat_stuff.jpg)
Quote from: adidasguy on January 15, 2012, 11:07:17 PM
There is a newer tank front bumper that is held on with a screw. You'd need to drill a hole.
The tank/seat bracket has rubber bumpers. There are 2 bumpers on each side. Often I see the donut one left off. That will make the back of the tank lose and wobble. Tank should be very stable.
If everything is there and properly installed, the tank will be very solid.
Here you can see the 2 rubber bumpers installed and separate. Often I see the donut one missing. The washer is also mandatory as well as the aluminum tube the bumpers are on and the bolt goes through. Also shown is the newer tank front bumper - one screw, no glue needed.
(http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb442/adidasguy/GS500/seat_stuff.jpg)
Thanks Adidas...you're the man.
I'll just hotglue (shut up...) the new one on! I think the old glue dried out and somehow it fell off before I got a hold of it.
As far as the bushings...everything's there.
There's supposed to be a rubber bumper there? Mine is cushioned with a folded up sponge..
Being a parts whore has advantages: I can photograph any part any way you want to see it 'cause I gotz eekstraz uv evertheeen.
Be sure the seat bracket is bolted on to tank fairly tight. Be sure washer is there and the metal tube. 2 rubbers, a tube, screw and washer. (Sounds so sexy!) and be sure that is then bolted to the frame tightly after you slip the tank on. Tank shouldn't wobble at all.
FYI: OEM part:
CUSHION, FUEL TANK FRONT (44511-34A00 ) $5.18
Newer one (in photo) that uses a screw:
CUSHION, FRONT 44511-27E00 1 $7.81
PS PS:
IF you look at the parts diagrams, there are 2 cube bumpers on the bottom of the tank. They help. I rarely ever see those. Make up one by stacking some sticky back neoprene to about a 1" cube. Thicker is OK as it squishes down. Looked at 4 tanks and only 1 had them.
(http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb442/adidasguy/GS500/tank_bumpers.jpg)
Quote from: shonole on January 16, 2012, 01:29:54 AM
There's supposed to be a rubber bumper there? Mine is cushioned with a folded up sponge..
HAHAHA OMG THAT...
I'm not gonna forget that one.
Quote from: adidasguy on January 16, 2012, 01:30:42 AM
Being a parts whore has advantages: I can photograph any part any way you want to see it 'cause I gotz eekstraz uv evertheeen.
Be sure the seat bracket is bolted on to tank fairly tight. Be sure washer is there and the metal tube. 2 rubbers, a tube, screw and washer. (Sounds so sexy!) and be sure that is then bolted to the frame tightly after you slip the tank on. Tank shouldn't wobble at all.
I'm gonna double check that next time. I know the fact that it doesn't have a bumper is the biggest problem but yeah...that wouldn't hurt either.
Ooh, forgot to mention that even if you have those real rubber washers, they tend to compress after 10 years. You might have all the parts back there and it'll still have a little play. I had to add a normal washer into the setup because the washers had compressed enough that tightening the bolt still didn't clamp down tight enough. I was also missing those little rubber cubes and had to make some new ones. I forget what I ended up using. I cut some new ones out of some kind of rubber. ooh! a little piece of 1/4 fuel line hose, that's what I used, just glued it right onto the tank. (it was the thicker kind like you'd use on a fuel injected bike, not the flimsy thin stuff)
No bolt on that front bumper thru 02 model years so the bolt must have started with the F models. My 02 and 97 bumpers slip on the frame and generally stay in place. After many mile/years it gets so you can push the front of the tank sideways a small bit but it stays in place after you align it centered. About 10 years and 91k miles on my 02 now.