djahd
Scoot Junior
Posts: 11
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Post by djahd on Oct 16, 2018 6:05:47 GMT -5
The handlebars of my nephew's scooter were loose and sorta floppy when we got it. I figured it was the result of bent metal from the time it was dumped.
While I was fixing it up, I removed everything I could from the T-bar and took it to the anvil. With the help of a few blows with a 4 pound sledge, I managed to narrow the tube in the side-to-side direction enough that it barely fit onto the fork. Then, tightening the connecting bolt drew everything together so they were again rigidly attached to each other.
That lasted as long as a couple of hours of riding it around. When I turned it back over to him, it was starting to loosen up again from just the abuse of the bumpy roads. It's still tighter than it was, but I expect it to continue to worsen.
As near as I can tell, this is NOT an issue with the fork bearings. They seem just fine. It's strictly with the nested tubes connecting the handlebars to the stem.
Anybody else have this problem? Anybody have a solution that will hold up a bit longer?
I've already thought about some cleverness with u-bolts, or the brute force approach of welding it, but I don't know yet if either is practical or safe.
Suggestions?
Thank you,
Djahd
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Post by GrumpyUnk on Oct 16, 2018 12:14:36 GMT -5
The bolt on the front face of the fork tube should have a concave 'washer' that fits the curve of the tube, and fits into an oval hole in the outer tube. Once the bolt is tightened, the 'washer' holds the two tubes in alignment without any need for excessive tightening. It may be that someone did not put the washer in place when assembling the handlebars to the fork tube.
It is a very thick piece, and machined on one side to conform, the other being flat for the bolt head to press against. The oval of the piece fits snugly, not 'perfect', but tight, into the hole.
I needa picture to know if it is installed, or you can check visually. The bolt holding the handlebars to the fork tube should be raised from the surface of the fork tube, pushing only on the top of the 'washer'.
tom
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Post by eclark5483 on Oct 16, 2018 13:06:00 GMT -5
Use Blue loctite on it as well.
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djahd
Scoot Junior
Posts: 11
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Post by djahd on Oct 17, 2018 18:57:43 GMT -5
Eclark and GrumpyUnk, thank you for your comments.
I had that joint apart while I was going over the bike, and the bolt and the washer you describe are definitely there and assembled as expected. The handlebar tube has a large hole in the front of it to clear the washer.
The first thing I'll check whenever I get the bike back is if the bolt has loosened any. In which case it'll definitely get the locktite treatment.
The trouble, I think, is the bike was dumped hard by the previous owner in a (near) collision with a car. It was WAAAY loose when we got it, wobbling around a large fraction of an inch at the handlebar tips. This bent some metal and opened up some clearances, I'm afraid. Tightening the bolt did nothing to improve it.
I tried tightening up the joint by taking the handlebars off and using a 4 pound sledge against my anvil to "gently" squash the tube from side to side, narrowing it enough in that direction that it barely fit over the fork tube. When reassembled, the bolt drew everything up nice and tight, but it was already beginning to loosen up from normal road impacts after just a couple of hours of riding.
It's not as bad as before, but I'm concerned it'll go right on loosening up and I'll have to do something else about it. So I'm asking if anybody else has seen something like this, or has any suggestions?
Thanks!
Djahd
PS> And I've found myself wondering, somewhat wistfully, what kind of scooter or lighter motorbike I might be able to find for myself! <LOL> Dayum. Stuff's addictive. 
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Post by GrumpyUnk on Oct 18, 2018 14:26:10 GMT -5
If you can find one that has not been dumped, swap. I expect you can find a new one locally or on the web. You might take a cruise through craigslist looking for orphans that no one wants any more.
tom
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Post by SMALL CC TEK on Oct 18, 2018 16:27:32 GMT -5
If you can't get a new set tack weld both sides of the bars . You sure the bolt is good ? I have seen some crashed hard and they still tighten tp they might be off one way or the other but they are tight .. Most of them are assemble like this the bolt comes from the backside or seat side with that concave thick washer on it to fill that large hole in the bars then a washer and flange nut on front !
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chinochung
Scoot Member
Posts: 35
Location: Metairie, Louisiana
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Post by chinochung on Jan 23, 2019 21:30:01 GMT -5
It's kinda funny to find this post since yesterday, after a nasty fall, I noticed that my handlebars were wobbly even after torquing the bold to the recommended 30lbs and some loctite. what I failed to realize was that since I had my tao tao atm50a1 pre assembled and shipped to me, that the concave washer was put backwards. I took the bolt out, put the washer the right way and proceeded to tighten the bolt again with 30lbs.
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