HELP: AltRider crash bars + ACD Skid Plate = Punctured oil filter

[WookinPaNub]

Some background:
- Brand new 2013 Tenere, installed all farkles right after purchase
- This included Altrider Crash Bars and a ACD Skid Plate
- Rode just under 1k miles, on some rough Colorado trails, and on a ride home oil started leaking out significantly until most of the oil drained

What happened:
The top of the oil filter (what is facing the front tire) showed contact abrasions and a pinhole puncture. Looking inside the skid plate contact abrasions were also evident in the corresponding locations

The Bar and Skid install:
I had read these two work together, as is I thought. Given they share the same attachment point at the front of the bike, and that the AltRider bars seem to require being mounted first because of all the other bolt hole alignments, the install looks like this:
Engine block / AltRider attachment / ACD aluminum spacers / ACD attachment

Here are some pics of how it looks, as well as the apparent spacing on the filter from the top of its portion of the plate and the same for the bottom. The top is relatively tight, much more room on the bottom. Logically the skid plate is standing off the width of the Altrider mount (approx 1/4"?) but wouldn't think this would account for the tight spacing and contact?

Anyone install these two together? How did you get them to work?I hate to cut the ACD skid in that area but I'm not seeing any other way to get the spacing around the filter better...

Thanks!
Darin

 

[avc8130]

With the AltRider bar you have essentially pushed the top mount forward. Due to the angle, you've also pushed it down.

You need to shorten the spacers to make up for the AltRider mounting plate.

ac

 

[WookinPaNub]

I had considered that, but saw a couple potential issues?
1) The top of the ACD plate (see picture 1) is basically in contact with the Altrider bars at that same location even with the spacers as is
2) If I shorten the spacers that contact will be more 'stressed' and there's not a whole lot of real estate on the ACD plate above the bolts that I could trim off to alleviate the increased contact / deformation.

Thoughts?

 

[10ERE-TX]

I have this exact same setup and had no problems. I did not even use the ACD spacers as I didn't see the need. You might try it without them, because I have plenty of clearance around the air filter.
One thing I am considering doing (which will be expensive and the original design should be this way), is to torch the round air filter piece out of the skid plate, weld 4 "tabs" and reinstall with small diameter
bolts/nuts so this piece can be easily removed for filter changes. Obviously I will have to have it re-powder coated, but this will allow for changing the oil filter without having to remove the whole skid plate.
Bad design on the part of ACD, but the coolest skid plate out there for the Tenere.

Good Luck and try it without the ACD spacers!

10ERE-TX

 

[WookinPaNub]

Pulled the spacers, major difference in the 'seating' of the filter within the skid (see pic). It's certainly more centered now and it looks like the tab at the top of the skid actually seats in under the Altrider bars (which I loosened prior to allow them to naturally adjust high as I tightened). Hopefully this works, thanks for the tip!

 

[10ERE-TX]

Awesome! Glad it worked for ya! Now get out there and put some new marks on that skid plate! ::26::

 

[avc8130]

Pulled the spacers, major difference in the 'seating' of the filter within the skid (see pic). It's certainly more centered now and it looks like the tab at the top of the skid actually seats in under the Altrider bars (which I loosened prior to allow them to naturally adjust high as I tightened). Hopefully this works, thanks for the tip!

Good job. That should also move the plate back and hopefully prevent plate/front wheel contact that I have experienced.

ac