Front rack and fender install question

[sparky33]

How do I make this front rack and fender work well together?

You can see that the fender is 15mm lower than the mounting point on the underside of the rack. The intent is to fasten the front of the fender to the rack to increase stability of the fender. The rack platform is level and the fender is mounted properly on a fork with perfect clearances. Do you have any hacks for making it work?

The rack is a RH UD-1 rack. The fender is a VO smooth 58mm Smooth 650b. The bike is a Breadwinner G-Road.

[sparky33]

One idea I had was to use a Sheldon Fender Nut to extend the rack mounting a little lower, but the threading/size of a 6mm brake nut is different from that of the rack's 5mm mount...so I don't think the Sheldon extender would fit.

[charliedid]

How is the fender attached to the crown?

[NHAero]

I might find a short piece of stainless and bend it so it lands just at the top of the fender, where you drill it and the fender and bolt it together, and it's nutted onto the threaded rack stud.

You might also check the local hardware store and see if they have full internal threaded aluminum bits that are the right length

[sparky33]

Originally Posted by charliedid

How is the fender attached to the crown?

There is a direct mount on the underside of the crown. The fender cannot be raised.

[sparky33]

Originally Posted by NHAero

I might find a short piece of stainless and bend it so it lands just at the top of the fender, where you drill it and the fender and bolt it together, and it's nutted onto the threaded rack stud.

You might also check the local hardware store and see if they have full internal threaded aluminum bits that are the right length

You mean a coupling nut?
...an M5 coupling of the right length could work.

[kentileguy]

I think this would work. I'm sure you could find a stainless version in the length you need
https://www.menards.com/main/hardwar...4440209739.htm

[p nut]

Spacer idea seems unnecessarily heavy to me.

I’d just get an L bracket to mount. Something like this, then bend the end to bolt to the rack.

https://www.amazon.com/Slot-Stainles...a-848530287270

[charliedid]

I think I agree with Pnut

[polyhistoric]

Rather than the L-Bracket, can you use the wrap-around clamp that comes with VO fenders?

[spoonrobot]

Originally Posted by p nut

Spacer idea seems unnecessarily heavy to me.

I’d just get an L bracket to mount. Something like this, then bend the end to bolt to the rack.

Spacer+bolt is going to be more stable than a bracket. Weight savings can be had by using an aluminum coupling bolt:
https://www.mcmaster.com/couplings/t...coupling-nuts/

Alternatively, you can use a welding connector cutting off the cap end for aesthetics as well as slight weight savings over the hex model above. The M5 20mm weighs 4 grams with the cap cut off, total length ends up being 17mm.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/184519507118

[charliedid]

Originally Posted by spoonrobot

Spacer+bolt is going to be more stable than a bracket. Weight savings can be had by using an aluminum coupling bolt:
https://www.mcmaster.com/couplings/t...coupling-nuts/

Alternatively, you can use a welding connector cutting off the cap end for aesthetics as well as slight weight savings over the hex model above. The M5 20mm weighs 4 grams with the cap cut off, total length ends up being 17mm.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/184519507118

More stable without attaching to the rack, right?

[truth]

This or this oughta work along with this.

[spoonrobot]

Originally Posted by charliedid

More stable without attaching to the rack, right?

More stable at the rack connection point, but also would be more stable at the fork crown, if not already attached there. A bracket is always going to have more flex both up/down and side/side v. a bolted connection with spacer. Enough to make a difference on bumps and especially on gravel.

[muz]

The rack is supposed to sit as low as possible, and touch the fender at the front mounting bolt. Can you bend the arm that attaches to the fork crown?