Author Topic: Let's talk fork ears  (Read 2591 times)

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Offline Stev-o

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Let's talk fork ears
« on: January 20, 2013, 08:48:08 AM »
Bought a set of fork ears last year from a member here for my K4. Well, as you can see, they are not for a K4, my fault, no biggie. They are in great shape and were cheap. So now, plan to use them on my K5 project since I dont plan to have blinkers. So, two questions, what year, '72?
And can I replace the broken reflector? Did a search and read that it just screws off? Tried that, it turns but doesn't want to come off. Didnt try to hard in case I can just replace the plastic part.
Thanks

'74 "Big Bang" Honda 750K [836].....'76 Honda 550F.....K3 Park Racer!......and a Bomber!............plus plus plus.........

Offline andrewk

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Re: Let's talk fork ears
« Reply #1 on: January 20, 2013, 09:26:26 AM »
My experience with the reflectors is to leave 'em alone.  Probably rusted from the backside, not going to come loose without a lot of dinking around, and if there's any weakness in that ear, you run the risk of tearing it up too.

Offline 754

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Re: Let's talk fork ears
« Reply #2 on: January 20, 2013, 09:38:06 AM »
 72 the best chrome one to have, unless you want signal lights up there.
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Offline ekpent

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Re: Let's talk fork ears
« Reply #3 on: January 20, 2013, 09:44:50 AM »
Yep 72 Steve. Since your reflector is broke you need to get it off. What happens is the bolt does sieze and then the head which is imbedded in the back of the reflectors does not grip inside there anymore and the reflector will just spin and not grip the bolt head anymore. Be nice if you had a junker to test but if that is your problem I would just remove it gently by force and deal with the shank that is left. Worse case scenerio is that you would have to glue the rubber and replacement reflector together on the ear for a remount.I have adhesive in the shop that will hold anything together.
« Last Edit: January 20, 2013, 09:46:53 AM by ekpent »

Offline Stev-o

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Re: Let's talk fork ears
« Reply #4 on: January 20, 2013, 10:09:58 AM »
The reflector is broke and bothers me, otherwise would just leave it. The chrome on these is in remarkable cond and very little surface rust on the inside.
I'm guessing the reflector is rusted to the stud so it will not come off without force.
Not sure what I'll do at the moment, thanks for the info guys.
'74 "Big Bang" Honda 750K [836].....'76 Honda 550F.....K3 Park Racer!......and a Bomber!............plus plus plus.........

Offline ekpent

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Re: Let's talk fork ears
« Reply #5 on: January 20, 2013, 10:16:36 AM »
You will probably find like I did that when you start some manly force to turn it off it will begin to just free spin,that,s when the extraction of the reflector off the rusted shank will need to happen.Then just the shank will be left to deal with.

Offline dave500

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Re: Let's talk fork ears
« Reply #6 on: January 20, 2013, 11:43:16 AM »
i found circular reflectors at a truck place with a hole through the middle,they are slightly larger than the honda ones,i just broke up the old reflector untill i could grab the bolt,then used a stainless bolt through the new reflector with loctite.
« Last Edit: January 20, 2013, 11:47:43 AM by dave500 »

Offline Stev-o

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Re: Let's talk fork ears
« Reply #7 on: January 20, 2013, 12:27:08 PM »
That looks good Dave.

I went up to Auto zone for some wipers for the Infinity. In the trailer section, they had some 2" refleactors so I grabbed a couple, opted for the red.

Broke out the old reflector and glued the new one in, nearly a perfect fit.
This is a budget restore so it will do for now and won't have to wait to reassemble while sourcing a new one. Thanks for the ideas, guys.


'74 "Big Bang" Honda 750K [836].....'76 Honda 550F.....K3 Park Racer!......and a Bomber!............plus plus plus.........

Offline seanbarney41

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Re: Let's talk fork ears
« Reply #8 on: January 20, 2013, 02:59:37 PM »
Steve-O, not sure if you care or not but I think red might be illegal on the front...pretty sure it is in MI.
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Offline SohRon

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Re: Let's talk fork ears
« Reply #9 on: January 20, 2013, 10:29:40 PM »
Steve-O, not sure if you care or not but I think red might be illegal on the front...pretty sure it is in MI.

Stev-o, he could be right. Those original reflectors can still be gotten from BikeBandit (granted, they want an arm and a leg for 'em) or DSS, just to mention a couple of sources. I have some used sets in good condition I'd send you for the price of shipping... just PM me if interested...
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Offline toytuff

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Re: Let's talk fork ears
« Reply #10 on: January 21, 2013, 05:37:40 AM »
Yeah, red would be illegal.

I might have one reflector off the 77 K but I would have to dig around in the shed.

Can't remember the condition. Senoir moment.

Let me know as the entire day is open. Well, every day is open.  ;)

tt

« Last Edit: January 21, 2013, 05:42:23 AM by toytuff »

Offline Stev-o

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Re: Let's talk fork ears
« Reply #11 on: January 21, 2013, 05:59:49 AM »
Thanks for the heads up and offers guys.  I just bought a set of ears for my K4 and can use the old reflectors for this project.
Down here in the "wild west", I don't think of such law issues.  Heck, I ride the bike around the 'hood unregistered with an AZ plate from 1975!
'74 "Big Bang" Honda 750K [836].....'76 Honda 550F.....K3 Park Racer!......and a Bomber!............plus plus plus.........

Offline toytuff

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Re: Let's talk fork ears
« Reply #12 on: January 21, 2013, 06:07:43 AM »
Thanks for the heads up and offers guys.  I just bought a set of ears for my K4 and can use the old reflectors for this project.
Down here in the "wild west", I don't think of such law issues.  Heck, I ride the bike around the 'hood unregistered with an AZ plate from 1975!

Yeah, you're a law break-in criminal.

tt