PatrickGSR94

I don't know if my new SKS 65mm longboard chromoplastic fenders have new, revised hardware or what, but I can't find ANYTHING online that shows what I have, and I can't seem to get these stay caps to fit properly.

Everything I've seen online, how-to instructions, videos, pics, etc all have caps that look like these:



However the hardware I have included something different, which looks like it's supposed to fit over the nut after it's installed, but for the life of me I can't get it to go on. I'm about ready to cut off the "ring" part and just put on the cap portion.

dsbrantjr

Perhaps the stay needs to be cut a little shorter so that the cap can slide a little further down. On the left-hand photo it looks like it could go down enough to get the ring to engage the nut. Maybe heating it with a hair dryer will allow you to stretch it a little; it doesn't look like you need much more to make it fit.

DrIsotope

Cut rods shorter, ring goes over nut.

Alternately, cut rods much shorter, throw away whole cap assembly.

PatrickGSR94

Rods are already cut shorter than the length of the caps. I was worried they might be too short. I can't grip the stay and push down on the cap hard enough to get it to go on, without bending and shifting everything.

thumpism 

I'd snip off the loop and use a dab of adhesive on the cap if worried about it staying on.

FBinNY 

Try putting the caps in hot (not boiling hot) water. Warming them will make them more pliable, and the water help lubricate them as you try to slide them on.

Hot tap water should be warm enough, though you might want to heat it to your threshold of pain.

PatrickGSR94

Yeah I'll probably do that.

Figures that I get the one fender set with weird hardware that doesn't look like anything else.

pdlamb

Looks like SKS has addressed the one thing I didn't like about their fenders. The plain plastic caps mine came with never would stay on, and I couldn't find an adhesive that would hold them on. So you brush the stay with something (leg, hand, telephone pole), it pops off and flies into who-knows-where. Next time you're walking the bike that sharp end is gonna poke your leg and give your tetanus immune system a jolt.


Finally ended up cutting the ends even shorter and spending some quality time with a file to round the ends off.

PatrickGSR94

The ones in the pic at the top of the thread are held on by the metal brackets that the stays go through. I don't think you would be able to pop them off accidentally. Those are the ones I see on all the videos and how-to's from around 2012-2013 or so. I don't see any install videos much newer than that, and nothing showing the ones I have.

lostarchitect 

I gave up on these. I just cut the ring part off now.

PatrickGSR94

It's kind of a bummer when stuff doesn't work the way it's designed to work. It makes the product seem like junk.

AlexCyclistRoch

Well, the issue here seems to be that when you cut the stay, you didn't bother to deburr the end so now the cap won't go on. You need to file a chamfer 360° around the end.

Andy_K 

The SKS Longboards that I installed recently came with the T-ish caps in your first picture, and I've got to say they were a serious PITA to get right. In either case, the intention is to have something structural that holds the caps in place.

The way it works is:

1. Put the fenders together without the caps.
2. Adjust the fenders to get the fit correct.
3. Mark the point where you want to cut the stays.
4. Disassemble the fenders.
5. Cut the stays.
6. Reassemble with the caps in place and adjust the fit.

Like you, I had problems getting the stays to slide into the caps while holding everything in place. I had to chase small pieces across the garage floor a couple of times and at least one of my caps got stretched a bit as I tried to force the stay to go in. I think it's more about entry angle than having burrs on the stay. I just didn't have the necessary dexterity to do it without swearing.

I'm pretty sure you could cut the loops off and just live with the terrible risk of having to replace the caps when they inevitably come off.

bikemig 

+ 1. PITA is right. The first set I went ahead and cut the stays to make it work. I just junked them on my second set of fenders; much easier to install and I can't see that these add much if any value to the assembly.

rumrunn6

how about tossing the caps & brushing a little plasti-dip or liquid electrical insulation on the tips?

Andrew R Stewart 

Here's two shots of how the plastic protector pieces are placed. For those who don't have experience with them I can see how they might be considered a PITA. But once you learn the squeeze the box open and bend the snout technique they slid on quickly enough.


BTW as a shop wrench how accessories like fenders and racks are installed is an indicator to the detail focus of the wrench. I see many (as in most) fenders and racks with all kinds of short cuts in their mounting methods. Some of the time this is NBD but other times the short cuts cut the rider's skin, cause hardware to bend/loosen and generally not align well. Andy

Andy_K 

It would appear that on top of everything else I failed at reading the directions because I didn't end up with anything but the cap outside the clip. Oops. It looks nice the way you show it.

FBinNY 

I wonder if, (suspect) that SKS changed the design because so many people were frustrated with the original version that required positioning the clip BEFORE assembling the stay into the brace.

These solve that problem and are more suited to those who don't read instructions until after they've assembled the parts.

BTW - I'm no better than the next guy, but learned the lesson decades ago courtesy of a snotty writer at the Yamaha corporation. (what follows is not relevant, read only if you want to).

Some 30-40 years ago, Yamaha gifted me a top of the line audio system, including a turntable. The first step of the instructions for setting up the turntable was to remove and discard the transporter bolts holding the platen. I removed the bolts, then to avoid losing them in case I moved and might need to transport my system, I carefully threaded them up from the bottom well clear of the platen, where they could be safely stored.

So, when all was done, I slapped on a favorite record, turned it on and was greeted with a very loud 60 cycle hum.

Go to the trouble shooting section.
Problem #1 covered -- loud hum.

Solution (roughly quoted from memory) "Refer to step 1, where you were instructed to remove and discard the transporter bolts. Now, go back and REMOVE and DISCARD the bolts.

Problem solved, lesson learned.

GamblerGORD53

I cut end of the stay the hell off.

AdvXtrm

Speaking of cutting the stays; what are some good ways to do that? Those things are tough!

elcraft

Here is Rivendell's superb video on proper Fender installation. All you really need..................

nfmisso

I use 15" bolt cutters - WARNING: WEAR SAFETY GLASSES those ends take of like a bullet, and rickochet a lot.

I have had good luck with red threadlocker to hold the rubber/plastic end caps on. The red thread locker was the first bottle on my work bench.......

Andrew R Stewart 

My coworkers use a small bolt cutter. I use a hack saw. I also grind the stay ends in a domed shape. because in the end the plastic caps will wear through. Andy (who tries to pay attention to some details)

ModeratedUser17082018

I was ready to order some SKS Longboards when I came across this thread.

I hope the OP will post again if/when they find out how to get the plastic end caps installed.

Does anyone know if they've changed the plastic end caps on all their fenders?

AdvXtrm

OK, thanks. I have a few that need trimming. Looks like it's time to buy a pair of bolt-cutters. The end caps are wasted. Not sure where to get a few more.