Radiator Prep

[Mark/Foggy]

Last looked at this here, sadly Photo bucket won't show me images today otherwise I'd post a few.

http://pbmagforum.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=26234&hl=superstocker

You'll need 6mm Stainless Welded steel mesh

http://www.meshdirect.co.uk/Wire-Mesh-Stainless-Steel-6-x-6-mm-holes-915-mm-wide-x-1m-Roll-23-gauge.html

I've used these guys

You'll also need some 3/4mm rubber sheet, I like the stuff with a fabric core.

Cut a strip 3mm deeper than the depth of the side tanks and glue along the inside edge. Then face the front edge of the tanks with more rubber. As you've now shielded the front faces of the water tanks, you can strap the mesh down onto this rubber using tiny zip ties passed between the horizontal rails and around the tanks.

The reason that I spec welded and not woven mesh is that we want to avoid fretting of the rails. If you always make sure that the vertical strands of the mesh face forward on the bike, even if a rock smashes the gaurd back to the rails you'll only ever have a horizontal wire trying to fret a horizontal water-rail.

I cut the mesh with side cutters/snips leaving a lot of waste at the sides. I then bend/form a Z section at the edges around a bit of steel plate and let this drag the mesh tight between the inner tank edges. This shold supend the mesh away from the radiator face, though always fit a few neoprene pads to the core front for safety. Finaly I cut the mesh back and fold the edges back flat on themselves to neaten the edges. Note here that the rubber on the front face of the tanks will stop any sharp edges from pressing/fretting through the water tanks.