Spain (ACD Specifically) needs our tape measurers!

[greg the pole]

ok. I'm not a total muppet all of the time. But most of the time.

I got around to installing the baby seat on the tenere (aka: ACD skid plate)
Went with the stud install, which was dead easy.

Here is my beef. The rear bracket, specifically the vertical portion is not long enough. Am I doing something wrong here?
The side of the bracket hits the side of the exhaust.
No matter, I enlarged the hole in the hopes of that giving me enough room. Nope no dice.
I then cut off a small triangle off the bracket for it to clear. That did the trick. Happy as a dog with two sholngs I installed the plate.
Now the bottom of the aluminum skid plate is pushing on the exhaust. Dammit.
The only way around it (the way I see it) is to either a: ACD to ship me a proper bracket that has the dims. right,
or
b: install spacers, and longer bolts between the plate and bracket. A bit bush league, but it will do for now, unitil or if I hear back from ACD.

Not only that the collared spacers that came with the kit were too thick, and once installed would not let the skid plate slide in. That was an easy fix as I took one of the spacers, and ground them down about 1-2mm. Bracket now fits. Am I missing something here.

I've emailed ACD about the issue. here's the email:


I finally got around to installing my acd skid plate on my super tenere.
I'm having problems with the rear bracket fitting properly.
It seems that the vertical portion of the rear bracket is a bit short. It comes up right against the exhaust, not allowing me to put the allen bolt through the swing arm holes.
I noticed that the holes on the bracket are not round, so I drilled them out to the same size hole.
That did not give me enough room.
I took a small triangle out of the skid plate for it to clear the pipe.
It now clears the side of the pipe, but the bottom of the pipe still makes contact with the plate.
what do you recommend. I can force the skid plate on, but it will push badly on the exhaust pipe.

 

[BWC]

Greg, maybe these might help. The nut and washer I used between the plate, and the Givi engine guard bracket is the same thickness as the unused ACD supplied spacer. The Givi mount is over top of the Yamaha engine mount.

Clearenced my mounting bracket the same way you did yours and although the crappy pic. dosen't show it well there is 1/8 inch between the steel mounting bracket and the stock exhaust. Is your exhaust up as tight as possible?

And about 1/8 clearance to the stock head pipes at the closest point.


I have found the easiest way to install the plate is to hang it off the front studs, tighten the front stud mounting nuts till just snug, then back them off 1/2 turn.
Lift the back right side of the plate and install the bolt and nut . Bolts have to be wound in with a wrench through the new ACD main stand pivot bushings if the bike is on the main stand for an install.
Lift the left side and repeat. Had it on and off a few times and it seems to install pretty easy this way.
I noticed on another install if you have the Arrow headers there is about an 3/4 inch of space between the rear of the plate and the exhaust due to there being no catalytic converter.

 

[greg the pole]

thanks for the response.

I was going to do the same thing with the front studs.
The spacers that come with the kit keep falling off, so i'll thread on a washer and nut onto the stud to hold the givi and engine plate on. Then another washer and nut to hold the ACD skid plate on.

But I don't think this will give me enough room to work in the back.
I'm not sure what ACD will come back with, but I'll simply install longer screws (6 of them) at the back, and install 6 spacers/washers for the plate to sit lower.

will post up once done.

G

 

[Dallara]

...I noticed on another install if you have the Arrow headers there is about an 3/4 inch of space between the rear of the plate and the exhaust due to there being no catalytic converter.

So there are folks actually getting ACD skid plates installed with Arrow header pipes and *NOT* having to cut sections of the front of the ACD plate out? :question:

All other reports I have ever seen said (and also showed in pics) that there were clearance issues up at the front of the plate in relation to Arrow headers, and those guys were cutting a section out of the ACD plate to clear.

Thanks!

Dallara



~

 

[avc8130]

So there are folks actually getting ACD skid plates installed with Arrow header pipes and *NOT* having to cut sections of the front of the ACD plate out? :question:

All other reports I have ever seen said (and also showed in pics) that there were clearance issues up at the front of the plate in relation to Arrow headers, and those guys were cutting a section out of the ACD plate to clear.

Thanks!

Dallara



~

Dallara,

2 things.

1. I think what that particular poster was referring to was the clearance at the REAR of the plate, down where the cat normally is in the collector. Yes. PLENTY of space down there. The "normal" fitment issue with the Arrows is the right header pipe at the FRONT.
2. I hear murmurings that there is another way to make the plate fit with the Arrows. I read that one owner drilled new holes and moved the rear ACD mount to slide the skid plate forward 1/4" to provide the necessary clearance to the header pipe. I'm going to investigate this possibility. I think new, longer spacers and bolts/studs might be needed at the front mount also.

ac

 

[Dallara]

Dallara,

2 things.

1. I think what that particular poster was referring to was the clearance at the REAR of the plate, down where the cat normally is in the collector. Yes. PLENTY of space down there. The "normal" fitment issue with the Arrows is the right header pipe at the FRONT.
2. I hear murmurings that there is another way to make the plate fit with the Arrows. I read that one owner drilled new holes and moved the rear ACD mount to slide the skid plate forward 1/4" to provide the necessary clearance to the header pipe. I'm going to investigate this possibility. I think new, longer spacers and bolts/studs might be needed at the front mount also.

ac

Maybe, but now I've seen in at least 2 or 3 places where people are saying they have mounted the ACD plate with the Arrow headers and done so with *NO* modifications.

Interesting. I know you are just as interested as I am in hearing from people where that has been the case. ::017::

Dallara



~

 

[greg the pole]

Maybe, but now I've seen in at least 2 or 3 places where people are saying they have mounted the ACD plate with the Arrow headers and done so with *NO* modifications.

Interesting. I know you are just as interested as I am in hearing from people where that has been the case. ::017::

Dallara



~

guys, this thread is about the ACD plate and stock headers. No mods. Arrow headers do not apply.

Here's an update.
I double checked my stock headers, staintune slip on for interfernece, and there was none there.

I'm in contact with ACD and here's what I wrote them.

Hi Nicolas.

2011 USA Spec super tenere.
No modifications to the bike except a slip on pipe. Stock headers.
As I mentioned earlier, the fit of the actual skid plate is excellent, it's the rear bracket that's the issue, specifically the vertical portion that bolts up to the swing arm bolts.
If that was 5-8mm higher, there would be no need to modify the bracket in any way (as shown by my past pictures) and no contact from the exhaust to the bottom of the plate/bracket,

let's see what comes of it.
as mentioned above. The plate itself is excellent, and looks like a millon bucks on the bike. The bracket needs work.

 

[avc8130]

Maybe, but now I've seen in at least 2 or 3 places where people are saying they have mounted the ACD plate with the Arrow headers and done so with *NO* modifications.

Interesting. I know you are just as interested as I am in hearing from people where that has been the case. ::017::

Dallara



~

Can you link the posts? I haven't seen 1 yet that claims to have gotten the Arrows to work with NO mods...

ac

 

[Bombman]

WOW, that sucks you guys are having problems fitting your ACD plates. I mounted mine on my 2013 S10 last week and had a little issue but resolved it with some finessing and patience. I have all stock exhaust. I pulled the old OEM "skid plastic" off with the brackets. I put all the screws back in place with loktite to keep the holes clean. I had to cut down the right side allen screw so it wouldn't contact the block and fit all of the bracket and plastic screws back into their holes with loktite. I held the skid plate up to check fit and it was wayyy off in the rear. I bolted up the front tight and bent it down towards the ground a little at a time until I had the back holes almost lined up horizontally. I thought it was going to be off once I lifted it up to the center stand holes but it went into alignment just fine. I then used a small bottle jack to lift the rear bracket up to the swing arm holes so I could get the bolts in. Be careful not to go too far, go slow and watch for the holes to line up through the spacers. (DO NOT be a dummy like I was and think you could push the center stand bolts out with the ACD ones and expect the center stand to transfer, it didn't and I had to lift the bike with my motorcycle jack to remove the center stand once it went out of alignment. Putting the center stand springs back on is in another thread I put on the site.) Once the holes line up, push the bolt through and that is that, making sure to use loktite on the nuts. I have approximately 1/4" gap between the bottom of the skid plate and my exhaust and about 1/8" between the rear bracket and my exhaust. I am using a K&N 204 oil filter and have no fit issues. Sometimes you just have to finesse these things. I used the ACD spacers provided. I took a long strip of cardboard (to act as a feeler gauge) and ran it down and around between the skid plate and the engine/frame to check for contact, I found none. It is a tight fit in a few places but no contact. It fits like a glove. The only thing I would say is try finessing it a bit more, or perhaps you got skid plates built on a Friday and the guy cutting your rear bracket shorted you a bit. I hope you get it resolved with ACD because it is an awesome skid plate.

 

[kmac]

Bomb has the clear aluminum finish, maybe the black powder coat is thicker and thus hitting the cat.... ;D

 

[greg the pole]

Bomb has the clear aluminum finish, maybe the black powder coat is thicker and thus hitting the cat.... ;D

thanks for that Kelly.
Forgot to mention that my cat also has about 1/4" of dirt mud and general crap still stuck to it.

But seriously, if the cat is touching the plate, will it hurt anything?

 

[avc8130]

thanks for that Kelly.
Forgot to mention that my cat also has about 1/4" of dirt mud and general crap still stuck to it.

But seriously, if the cat is touching the plate, will it hurt anything?

They are going to rub during riding...and if you take a hit to the plate the exhaust is now a "structural" support member.

I wouldn't like it.

ac

 

[kmac]

Seriously having the skid resting firmly on the cat could cause heat issues, plate could get very hot maybe changing temper. Also the vibes that would transfer could also cause problems.
I doubt anything life threatening, not the way it should be.

 

[greg the pole]

I don't like it either. If ACD don't get back to me, I have spacers at the ready to separate the two.

 

[Bombman]

I don't think the powder coat could possibly be that thick, I mean an extra 1/8" plus, no way. Usually powder coat is perhaps 1-2 mils or thousandths of an inch (NOT MM) thick, perhaps a tad thicker if the person applying it is really laying it on. If it doesnt fit after pushing it in place, it has to be a material/manufacturing issue. ALSO, try tightening your exhaust, perhaps there is some slack somewhere up to the header pipe. I know a lot of motorcycle exhaust uses copper or some other softer material as a seal between the header and cat., there could be some give there if you snug it up a bit.

 

[greg the pole]

I don't think the powder coat could possibly be that thick, I mean an extra 1/8" plus, no way. Usually powder coat is perhaps 1-2 mils or thousandths of an inch (NOT MM) thick, perhaps a tad thicker if the person applying it is really laying it on. If it doesnt fit after pushing it in place, it has to be a material/manufacturing issue. ALSO, try tightening your exhaust, perhaps there is some slack somewhere up to the header pipe. I know a lot of motorcycle exhaust uses copper or some other softer material as a seal between the header and cat., there could be some give there if you snug it up a bit.

checked the exhaust twice. No dice. Acd basically told me it's my exhaust. sorry, if you leave 2mm of play on the entire design, thats not enough.
I have washer waiting to be installed to shim the space out. Done.