I've heard a few too many stories on how an innocuous tip-over can jam a small stick or even mud into the radiator fan, even in the presence of an engine guard. Bad things can happen to our Ténéré when the fan don't work. Given that I have an Altrider engine guard that put a steel hoop of protection in that area, I wanted to see if I could add an extra layer of protection against things the hoop of steel cannot keep away from the fan area.
I like the idea of expanded sheet metal but lack the metalworking skills/tools to cut, bend, and edge it properly. So I went for something softer - steel mesh from a household tray. Please pardon the cheesyness, but it's a proof of concept...kind of like my engine guard tool tubes that have been on there for a couple of years. Ahem.
The tray was the approximate size given that it's rectangular and the Altrider engine guard is neither rectangular nor flat in this area. So I bent it best I could with hammer , vice, and my less than superhero brute strength. That and some clamps, nut and bolt stuff, paint, and voila! a fan guard POC. (that's POC - Proof Of Concept, which is uncomfortably close to POS, which means Piece Of Something else...)
Anyway, it's low profile, doesn't hinder ventilation, seems like it might actually help, not too gaudy if you don't look too close, and doesn't smell like a POS. I'll be on the lookout for a more suitable piece of fabric because I think the idea is sound.
Here are some views.
SmugMug shot
Never mind the Revzilla sticker. Yes they are my favorite retailer. No, there couldn't possibly be a scratch hiding underneith.
From the top/front
Full cheesyness exposed
From the saddle (if you lean over and look down your nose at it)
I could imagine some clever feller with a commercial bent to make a kit for this purpose. Get busy folks!
Cheers,
Boondocker
I like the idea of expanded sheet metal but lack the metalworking skills/tools to cut, bend, and edge it properly. So I went for something softer - steel mesh from a household tray. Please pardon the cheesyness, but it's a proof of concept...kind of like my engine guard tool tubes that have been on there for a couple of years. Ahem.
The tray was the approximate size given that it's rectangular and the Altrider engine guard is neither rectangular nor flat in this area. So I bent it best I could with hammer , vice, and my less than superhero brute strength. That and some clamps, nut and bolt stuff, paint, and voila! a fan guard POC. (that's POC - Proof Of Concept, which is uncomfortably close to POS, which means Piece Of Something else...)
Anyway, it's low profile, doesn't hinder ventilation, seems like it might actually help, not too gaudy if you don't look too close, and doesn't smell like a POS. I'll be on the lookout for a more suitable piece of fabric because I think the idea is sound.
Here are some views.
SmugMug shot
Never mind the Revzilla sticker. Yes they are my favorite retailer. No, there couldn't possibly be a scratch hiding underneith.
From the top/front
Full cheesyness exposed
From the saddle (if you lean over and look down your nose at it)
I could imagine some clever feller with a commercial bent to make a kit for this purpose. Get busy folks!
Cheers,
Boondocker
