Fork caps

moze229 · moze229's Garage

Does anyone know off the top what size thread the fork caps have? Ztechnik mounts use them, but I'm not paying $100.00 to mount a $100.00 GPS. I'm trying to come up with a decent GPS mounting solution and it would be the easiest to utilize these thread posts. I've already built a RAM system online going another route, but I'd REALLY like to use these. It doesn't appear that RAM makes anything that would thread onto them anyway, but I might be able to come up with something myself if I knew what they were. I've spent the morning going through all of my machine nuts and I have none that screw on there - metric or standard. For size starters, I can start a 5/16" nut on there, but of course the threads are wrong because I'm sure these thread posts are metric. Any help would be appreciated. If not, I'll make a trip up to Fastenal to see if they can help. I just hate bothering them if I'm not going to buy anything.

Thanks!

Matt

wswartzwel · 09-21-2009, 12:21 PM

The little brass stud that the plastic cap screws onto will unscrew from the aluminum cap.
The female thread in the aluminum cap is 5/16-24 NF The male thread on the brass fitting that the plastic cap screws onto is the same as a schrader valve. But I would not use the brass fittng to support a mount.... Remove the brass piece and mount your fixture to the aluminum cap via a
5/16-24

shreddr · shreddr's Garage

Check out what I did with the fork cap and a stock mounting bracket. It cost me $0.00 because I had the bolt already, if you don't it might cost you $0.50

Garmin Quest

wswartzwel · 09-21-2009, 12:25 PM

Mounting Accessories

moze229 · moze229's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by wswartzwel

Mounting Accessories

Thanks! Post #18 on this thread illustrates exactly what I had in mind, except I would be routing the RAM arm towards the back of the clamp to avoid interfering with the body panel. I just found those threaded holes in the clamp today - I wonder why they are there? I'm still going to try using the fork threads though if I can. If not, I'll fall back on my RAM system build.

Matt

moze229 · moze229's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by shreddr

Check out what I did with the fork cap and a stock mounting bracket. It cost me $0.00 because I had the bolt already, if you don't it might cost you $0.50

Garmin Quest

Awesome that worked out for you so easily! You just happened to get a mount that fit right on there though. The chances of that happening for me is slim to none. I'm glad it worked out that way for you. Looks like it was made for it!

Matt

moze229 · moze229's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by wswartzwel

The little brass stud that the plastic cap screws onto will unscrew from the aluminum cap.
The female thread in the aluminum cap is 5/16-24 NF The male thread on the brass fitting that the plastic cap screws onto is the same as a schrader valve. But I would not use the brass fittng to support a mount.... Remove the brass piece and mount your fixture to the aluminum cap via a
5/16-24

Thanks! That was the exact information that I needed. I will think up something for a mount for this. I will remove the brass and refit with a regular screw. Torque values? Just for conversational purposes, I suppose the brass has a chance of breaking since it is not as strong as steel? Just wondering

Matt

wswartzwel · 04:34 PM

I put an oring on my mount bolt (the 5/16-24) and screwed it in hand tight.. I wanted to seal it, to keep moisture out of the forks.

CoffeeGuy · CoffeeGuy's Garage

This is what I did.

moze229 · moze229's Garage

Well, I found what I was after. I e-mailed RAM and they do have a 5/16-24 threaded female ball. However, they do not have a 5/16-24 threaded rod with a RAM ball which I was advised to go with.

http://www.ram-mount.com/CatalogResults/PartDetails/tabid/63/partid/082065077045066045051053056085/Default.aspx

So theoretically, one could unscrew the fork cap, screw on the mounting ball - done. However, I'm being told not to use the brass filler bolt in the fork. I assume because of strength reasons. I'm wondering why, and is there another way I can do this while using this option?

Matt

bill pierce · 09-21-2009, 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CoffeeGuy

This is what I did.

Cool you have 113K miles on your 11s.

moze229 · moze229's Garage

Here's what I did. My original mounting plan did not work out as planned, so I just used the threaded hole under the OEM triple clamps. Not sure why those holes are there, but it's a good thing! There's one on each side. Not sure what size, I just looked through my metric machine screws and found one that fit. Forks are turnable (surprisingly) in both directions with no interference with anything.

Yeah, yeah. It's not a Garmin, and it's not even waterproof.

But, it'll work for me. If it starts raining I'll just throw it in my pocket or tank bag.

Matt

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

I bought this to use for my radar detector and GPS.

Techmount & Cords

When I need a GPS, I'm not going very fast and don't need a detector. I put 3M Dual Lock on on it and also on the bottoms of my detector and GPS. Best money I ever spent. Just did a trip to LA and back using the detector on the hwy. and the GPS in the city. Worked like a champ. It's easy to adjust to deflect the sun, doesn't bounce or rattle. Couldn't be happier.

wswartzwel · 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by moze229

Well, I found what I was after. I e-mailed RAM and they do have a 5/16-24 threaded female ball. However, they do not have a 5/16-24 threaded rod with a RAM ball which I was advised to go with.

Part Details

So theoretically, one could unscrew the fork cap, screw on the mounting ball - done. However, I'm being told not to use the brass filler bolt in the fork. I assume because of strength reasons. I'm wondering why, and is there another way I can do this while using this option?

Matt

Um... The top thread on the brass fitting (where the plastic cover screws on) is not 5/16-24.. However the bottom thread that screws into the fork is 5/16 24.

So buy the Ball with the female thread... and tell me how long you want the ball above the fork cap and I will make, and mail you a 5/16-24 stud with orings. No Charge BTW....

moze229 · moze229's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by wswartzwel

Um... The top thread on the brass fitting (where the plastic cover screws on) is not 5/16-24.. However the bottom thread that screws into the fork is 5/16 24.

So buy the Ball with the female thread... and tell me how long you want the ball above the fork cap and I will make, and mail you a 5/16-24 stud with orings. No Charge BTW....

Yeah, I figured that out after the part arrived.

Good thing I ordered the other mounting option. The top thread appears to be 5/16-32. Being advised not to use the brass fitting anyway, this would not have worked. I'll PM you about the stud, as I would be interested in the original mounting option.

Matt