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Front fender rattle, does anyone have a

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Old 08-07-16 | 09:50 AM
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Front fender rattle, does anyone have a

solution, and please photos if you have any?

Installing these hammered fenders has been a labor of love and if it hadn't been I would have thrown them away some time ago. I finally got the rubbing problems fixed but now I have a rattle from the front fender because there is such a long portion up front that is not supported. Can anyone suggest a fix to secure and stabilize the leading edge of the fender that won't detract from its look?




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Old 08-07-16 | 09:58 AM
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Cut off about a foot of it. You don't need that long a fender in the front.
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Old 08-07-16 | 10:06 AM
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Originally Posted by alan s
Cut off about a foot of it. You don't need that long a fender in the front.
HHHmmmmm, never thought about that, not sure I'd want to take of a foot though. Also the front is nicely bent under and finished so I'm not sure how to recreate that.

Last edited by MulliganAl; 08-07-16 at 10:10 AM.
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Old 08-07-16 | 10:09 AM
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While I don't have a solution for you, I did want to say that you have a nice bike, I like the look.
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Old 08-07-16 | 10:31 AM
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Originally Posted by NYMXer
While I don't have a solution for you, I did want to say that you have a nice bike, I like the look.
Thanks NYMXer, it was a fun build. Now if I can only get this final thing fixed I'll be good to go.
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Old 08-07-16 | 10:54 AM
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I like your bike as well! The Riv bikes are so classic looking. Also debating switching my bars to similar ones.

My rattles were caused by small misalignments. Maybe try pulling up or pushing the fender to the side a few millimeters. I have the Zeppelin fenders and mine haven't been cut. No rattling.
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Old 08-07-16 | 11:52 AM
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That a nice bike.
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Old 08-07-16 | 01:50 PM
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I added a second stay. You may not like the look.
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Old 08-07-16 | 04:08 PM
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Originally Posted by John Lesar
I added a second stay. You may not like the look.

Thanks John, can you post a photo.
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Old 08-07-16 | 05:48 PM
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These are Velo Orange fenders and hardware.

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Old 08-07-16 | 06:58 PM
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Originally Posted by John Lesar
These are Velo Orange fenders and hardware.

Thanks John, I have an extra stay so that may be the way to go. Thanks for the photo.
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Old 08-08-16 | 09:00 AM
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I can't tell from the picture, do you have leather washers at all the joints? Some people use them so they don't have to use Loctite, but they're also supposed to suppress rattles. I guess you could use rubber washers instead.
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Old 08-08-16 | 09:52 AM
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For me, fenders rattle where metal is touching. So I slide tubing over the stay where it is clamped down, and use rubber washers under bolts. On the front fender I also slide a piece of rubber between the fender and front brake.
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Old 08-08-16 | 10:59 AM
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Had a Hooped Low Rider rack and so the Rack Hoop was used to attach the Front Mudguard Tip.

Down side You cannot use the bus for dual mode commuting, as their Bike rack holds Your Bike steady

By pulling down on the Center-top of the front tire.
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Old 08-08-16 | 11:49 AM
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You seem to have loop on the bottom of your front rack, make something work from there?
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Old 08-08-16 | 12:24 PM
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Are you sure it's the front section that's rattling? With mine, I find that the rattles happen when the lower part of the rear is able to "slap" the tire when going over a bump, and not having both hands on the bars seems to exacerbate it.
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Old 08-08-16 | 03:20 PM
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The right front rack (Nitto M12 is one) can have a fender mount on it. If the rack is set low enough, coupled with a spacer, you can secure the front section of the fender to the rack.

See here: https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ioVq4aTpzl.../light+bkt.JPG

Also it appears that your fenders, both front and rear, have no stays at all. I would think that would produce a good deal of vibration in the trailing edge of the fender.

Last edited by hilltowner; 08-08-16 at 03:26 PM.
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Old 08-08-16 | 06:28 PM
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Originally Posted by hilltowner
Also it appears that your fenders, both front and rear, have no stays at all. I would think that would produce a good deal of vibration in the trailing edge of the fender.
D'oh! Good catch.
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Old 08-08-16 | 09:21 PM
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Originally Posted by hilltowner

Also it appears that your fenders, both front and rear, have no stays at all. I would think that would produce a good deal of vibration in the trailing edge of the fender.
He's correct. You have to use a stay positioned near the trailing edge of your fenders. Usually about 3 - 6 inches from the end. The leading edge of the front fender is pretty long. I've never used a fender with that much extension to the front. I'd cut off a good portion of it, probably as far back as the midway point of that front rack. An alternative would be to put a stay on the front of your front fender, but it would be a look you'd have to live with. Also, be sure to use leather or rubber washers at every metal-to-metal contact point and blue locktite on all threads. And finally, don't mount metal fenders under any tension. Twisting or bending to fit creates tension which will eventually lead to metal fatigue and cracks.

Metal fenders are the best, but they can be very unforgiving to sloppy installations. You're on the right track.


-Kedosto
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