Wing Stay Mount
 

Guys
I am having some brackets made to replace the U clamp that holds the front wing stays to the upright. Idea is 2 half moon sections of 20mm alloy or stainless with high tensile bolts to suit. I should have these some time next week and be able to give you guys some kind of costs if you are interested in some.

Stuart

I would be interested. I have only driven about 100 miles and the standard exhaust clamps have come loose twice!

Robin

I am comming to the conclusion that it is the half moon sadles that come with the U clamps that are the problem.
To start with they are soft pressed metal and the edge that butts up to the wing stay is not flat to start with. As Robin pointed out the wing stay bars are nearly horizontal so any wing movement from side to side causes the flat mounting plate to rock against the saddle which deforms and the bolts come loose. Once it starts to loosen it only gets worse as the amplitude of the wing vibration increases.

I think Stuart's suggestion above or the 'double clamp' technique is the way to go?

..........peter

Wing Brackets are being made this week hopefully have them soon so i can report if they work or not.

Stuart

all fitted and wings are as solid as a rock i'm really happy with the results. Pics below.

http://www.ogamedk.net/wing1.jpg
http://www.ogamedk.net/wing2.jpg

Looks good Stuart - I take it that the small cap head bolt in the centre is to lock the clamp in place on the upright.

Did you make a depression / pit / hole in the upright for the bolt to rest in, or is it just the pressure of the bolt and the clamp stoping it from rotating?

Looks nice and sturdy :) Mine seems ok with the lighter wings on the u clamps still at the moment.

Do your wings still wobble all over the place or has that been reduced now?

I did some digging on the subject of torsion bars (which the wing stays effectively are). The spring rate is proportional to the 4th power of the radius (minus the 4th power of the inner radius for hollow bars) It might explain why Marlin went from a small radius solid bar to the larger radius hollow tube. It would certainly reduce the bouncing (caused by the wing stay twisting). Its a pity they didn't get it right - I think it would have been a much better solution.

Some calcs:

Solid bar 10mm. Stiffness = 10,000 (somethings)
Hollow bar 16mm wall 2mm?. Stiffness = 27120 (somethings)

The hollow tube is 3 times stiffer.....

I still have the (unused) hollow wing stays. Perhaps a hybrid would be a good solution?

Stuart - do you intend to make some more of your clamps? I would be interested in a cost....

Robin

Wings do still bounce a little but no where near as bad as before. The Bolt in the centre is a locking bolt which i have ground to a point so it bites into the upright.
I will get a cost for anyone thats interested.

Yes please... I have the 51mm struts

Robin

Hi Stuart,

that is a very elegant solution, well done!
Are your BMW uprights the narower 45mm diameter version? Something to keep in mind if you are ordering anymore.
I've also been experimenting with a different mod which i needed to get done before the London-Brighton run this weekend. I'll take some pics later.

Note for GOO: Jason, have you had any news from Marlin on their new version?

...peter

Nope. Still waiting for my silencers and my bumpers as well. I like the look of stuart's solution, but I'll hold off for now as I don't know what the mounting holes / general layout of the new stays look like.

Forgot to tell everyone. When I asked Terry about the "new" wing stays she said "what new wing stays". She said that they weren't doing any development on the E30 version as they didn't have one (an E30 based Sportster) in the workshop to work on at the moment. She offered to have a look at the problem on my car - if I were to drive the car down to them.

So - I wouldn't hold your breath....

Robin

Oh. I can see a call to Marlin on the horizon.

I was specifically told by Mark when I picked up my bodywork that he'd binned all the old stock, and was redesigning the stays and I'd get a pair of the new ones when they where ready.

Hmmph. The answer phone is on, and Terry is away until the 11th. There's a mobile number for Mark on the message - does not knowing what's going on count as 'urgent'?

[Edit] - I've left a message on his phone.

....useful for following up on missing parts......?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/STAINLESS-MARL...3A1%7C294%3A50

:heh:

Guess what turned up today? Yup, my silencers and the wing stays. They're exactly the same as the ones you guys have, and have been supplied with 48mm pipe clamps.

So I guess I'll be interested in a pair of clamps if the price is right, Stuart. :)

I have 325i uprights - I'll measure them up tommorow, but I guess they're the same size as Robin's.

right hand doesn't know what the left is doing....

Does it ever at Marlin....................:noidea: