Topic: Need Help in Installing Daytona Fork Brace

[Chris Liston]

I just got the fork brace that I won at this auction on ebay:  http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1,1&item=4567375880&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWN%3AIT

Installation should be pretty simple but I cannot get the brace over the dust seal boots.  I can only get 1 side on and the other will just not slip over the opposite fork.  Is there some simple way of doing this.  I have 77 forks on my bike and although the auction says its for a 78' I figured I should not have a problem with the install. 

Can someone verify part number for me that my have a Daytona brace on their 550.  The brace itself has 15685 listed on it and the auction says B72-1.  I don't see that number stamped on the brace anywhere or on the install directions.  I got the forks on ebay a while ago and they were rebuilt with new seals.  I could be that the dust seals are larger diameter than stockers.  Really not sure. 

Thanks for your help.

Chris

[bhkrause]

Chris -

I had a similar problem with the Daytona brace for my cb400T.  I don't thing they're really meant to fit over those dust boots.  I ended up squeezing the center part in on a really hot day, with the dust boots really warm and pliable.  And even then the brace didn't go all the way down.  Then when I tried fitting the end caps and tightened them up, the forks bound so badly that they wouldn't rebound after pushing them down.  I ended up having to cut a rubber spacer to fit between the end cap and brace body.  And with the dust caps off, they're too loose.  I'm not sure what Daytona was originally thinking with these things.   I've got mine on now, and they work, but it was a kludge to get them to work...

Have a Daytona for my 77 750F as well, which uses different fork dust boots, and I had to wrap a layer of rubber tire tube around the fork to get the brace to tighten properly.     Not that crazy about the daytona braces...

[Chris Liston]

Checked with the seller today.  He said it will ONLY fit a 78' 550.  Is there something special about the 78 forks that makes them different than the other 550 forks.  I was under the assumption that they are basically all the same.  The only thing that has me thinking is that the dust seals are larger diameter than factory seals.  Not sure though.  I'm about 1mm too wide on the seals for the brace to fit.  I do have the right part number for the brace so I've at least eliminated that.

[bhkrause]

Well, I think he's blowing smoke on the "only fits a 78" comment - the dust boots are the same part number for 77 and 78.  I doubt if anyone ever made aftermarket boots for these things..

Does it fit if you take the boots off, or is it too loose?  Maybe you could adapt some 'bellows' type fork protector to act as a dust boot - they're not as thick as the OEM dust boot, the brace might fit over that...   

[Chris Liston]

They probably would fit without the dust boot but I'm not really into loosing it.  It really didnt make sense the 78' only issue as they should fit all the 550 forks.  I put them on my old forks with gator boots and they clamped down perfect.  I emailed anothe sohc member and they said it just slipped over their boots no problem.  I have the same part fork brace.  go figure.

[bhkrause]

I'd say get them to send you a picture.  There has to be a difference.  UNLESS - the braces are made to such poor tolerances that one can be off by a few mm.  You may want to check with a machine shop, see if someone can shave them out a bit.

Strange.

[Chris Liston]

I just emailed the seller again.  Told him I have a 78 and waiting to see what he says.  I too can't imagin that there would be that much of a difference external between the 71-77 and 78 that it would only fit a 78.  Seems that would hinder the market that Daytona could have and I don't think they would do that.  You can't even google for the company all you get is sites that may have a fork brace. 

Waiting for seller.

I've attached two pics of another Sohc4 member with the brace installed on his 550 K. 

[SteveD CB500F]

Do fork braces really make a difference on 500/550s?

I've never tried one or ridden a bike with one.

[mcpuffett]

hi steve , your steel mudguard acts like a fork brace ,stops your fork legs from "walking " under stress and a fork brace helps aswell and looks good    mick.