Fixing the rattle in VO fenders
 

This is my second installation of VO fenders. I vowed to make this one as rattle-free as possible.

This seems to be the worst of the rattling:

http://i1022.photobucket.com/albums/...3/IMG_0599.jpg

http://i1022.photobucket.com/albums/...3/IMG_0597.jpg

Anyone come up with a better solution?

I've read about some of the other rattle fixes and have implemented... but this one escapes me... unless I can deform the stays to make them extra wide. Problem is that the stay slides around...

I can't vouche for VO but I have used large sections of patch kits to stop rattling on fenders.

Wouldn't split pvc clear look about 10x better?

Are the stays the ones that came with the fenders? I've never had stays that touched the edges of the fender as your picture demonstrates. The stays come in a few sizes, matched to the different fender widths sold.

In general, there's no reason for alloy fenders to rattle if installed correctly, so it might be worth going over a checklist during installation.

- Are you using leather washers at all points on the frame at which the fender makes contact?
- Are you mounting the stays directly to the fender and dropout eyelets (no leather washer)? (your picture shows you doing this, this is a no-no)
- Are you pre-optimizing the fender arc prior to securing the stays?
- Are you pre-bending the stays near where they clamp to the dropout eyelets such that they are perfectly perpendicular to the eyelets?
- Are you bending the stays such that they have the same distance from each other at rest as the outer distance between the eyelets?

In your case, I would suggest bending the stays outward at the fender to prevent rattling against the fender edges, then bending the stay ends by the dropouts inward to be perpendicular to the eyelets.

The rattling occurs at the point I outline in photos above.
You can bend the stays a little to not touch the fender, but you'll then discover that the stays are not tight in the "daruma" thingy that holds them to the fender. Indeed they move around pretty easily. I've thought of trying to pack something in there so they won't slide.

I think you're missing the ring that locks the stay in the daruma. http://store.velo-orange.com/media/c...mm_eyebolt.jpg

As I was scrolling down reading the comments, I wondered how long it would take for someone to point this out.

EDIT: Picture - see how there's the curved washer? that clamps down on the stay to prevent movement.

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_C1XrRVl3W8...let+bolt+2.jpg

You should try my simple fix on this - just be mostly deaf and this sort of thing won't ever bother you.

Additionally, your rattly fenders warn other users of the of the MUP (those with normal hearing) that you are passing.

It works for me.

+1. I followed the directions that were posted in a thread here and it talks about the leather washers, but omits using the curved washer piece. If you set up like Puget's pic, it prevents the movement you are experiencing. Look at the pic VO has in their instructions.

You're missing a part as Puget Pounder pointed out. You didn't notice that the stay wasn't even tight at the fender? Of course it's going to rattle.

You could crimp the fender edges at the stays also.

Buy an additional pair of draw bolts, and attach each fender to the stay with two. Honjo, Lefol et al all used two with good reason. I've mounted both of my sets of VO's that way and have had zero rattles from day one.

SP
OC, OR

All VO fenders now come with two draw bolts per stay. It's a better system, but the fender won't rattle if you install them correctly even with one draw bolt.

I guess it's a case of RTFM. I see ablog entry on the VO web site http://velo-orange.blogspot.com/2011...ality-and.html

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FI4fCXDchf...ebolt-anno.jpg

I'm clearly missing the "draw" bolt.

Thanks for pointing this out.

i just did an install and I was under the impression you do not use a leather washer under the P-clip. Perhaps I need to go back and rear the instructions again. Mine do not rattle and they have one draw bolt, but they are the 37mm fenders

Oh, man, I don't know how I missed the fact that the draw bolt cup was missing in the photo. I guess I didn't look close enough. Of course that would cause a nasty rattle.

Correct. If you read my points above, you'll note that leather washers are only used wherever the fender (not the stay) attaches to the frame, or a sturdy structure (like a rack). You don't use them on any part of the stay. You want to make the stays as rigid as possible, but you want to make the points of attachment to the frame more pliable.