I rolled the RD200 back into the garage for winter repairs.
I had a tip over and the bike fell hard on the RR turn signal stalk. Thankfully there was no body damage etc.
Now I need to bend the turn signal mount back into shape to install a new stalk.
I need to remove the seat and fender to get a good grip on it. I am planning to heat with a propane flame and attempt to bend back with a pair of vice grips. It will cost me the frame paint (which can be touched up since it's fairly hidden) but I don't see other options.
Opinions wanted. Is propane hot enough to get some pliability on this?
Good side unbent tab:
(https://i.ibb.co/4WwRz9C/2-B1-BF8-D8-7-B80-4-F05-9899-E574584-FF182.jpg)
Bad side:
(https://i.ibb.co/9TMxqPB/564-C68-F4-CCC7-4777-9-C1-C-316542-A21227.jpg)
Replacement parts:
(https://i.ibb.co/3cs5WPc/D29-B142-A-1-B35-4-F3-F-A3-F2-4318-AA2781-EC.jpg)
Bad Side looking down:
(https://i.ibb.co/0BmxfgH/C200-FAA4-0-ADF-4952-816-E-834-CA7-EEFE06.jpg)
Mock up to show how much it's off:
(https://i.ibb.co/0BRYN80/9-A341-F56-9433-4-C74-B4-BD-99-CE537-BC6-A4.jpg)
Planning to grab with vice grips once the fender is removed:
(https://i.ibb.co/2sy3QJN/8-A210-AF0-EFDA-4-BF4-B8-E2-5-B96-C185-A7-AD.jpg)
Take the light off the other side, and put a piece of threaded rod through both sides. Loch it in place with 4 nuts and washers to use as a "puller"
Put a small amount of tension on the bent side, rap it with a hammer on the bend, rinse and repeat, till the rod is level
I like bitzz's approach. Heat works sure, but you'll discolor the frame there. Also, the metal is fairly pliable as-is. I'd just tweak it back with a cloth-wrapped channel lock, or vise grip. But... bitzz has a really good idea.
I would start with finesse and finish with a BFH.
I'd use a large crescent wrench. No heat. Just bend it back. It's steel.
Thanks for the replies, great suggestions. I'm probably getting garage time today to start tearing down.
I'll report back...
this:
"I'd use a large crescent wrench. No heat. Just bend it back. It's steel."
just go slow. it'll be fine. if the return on the front is creased, make sure to use a brass drift and punch it back 'flat' as you bend to keep it from tearing there. I'd skip the heat.
I usually try and clamp 2 pieces of wood to it with a long sturdy ratchet clamp.
contour wood if needed to fit snug
1 on each side for protection, can even put a cloth in there. Use the handle on the long clamp to then bend back Slooowly.
Hair dryer heat could help as well, and wont ruin paint.
M
Mission accomplished.
Using a big adjustable, wood drifts, mallet, and a big C clamp got me 'close enough'.
Unfortunately the face of the signal mount was just too distorted to get back to flush and straight, but I was able to compensate with a small spacer after I got it as close as I could.
The fender was also damaged by the tail light assembly in the tip over, so the whole light and plate looked visibly tweaked.
I also discovered the worm in my Chinese Freight C clamp was pretty much made of cheese, flexing and bending under big pressure.
In any case, I am satisfied with the results.
Frame repair:
(https://i.ibb.co/rtT8th3/A6-DF565-B-BD04-4-CE0-A4-DD-3-C49-B1150-A1-F.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/N2PcGHr/A645-D3-BF-49-C7-45-C3-823-A-CFAA33-A6579-D.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/jRxxb6Z/DAC3-CDBA-F5-EF-4-FA7-A8-D9-14514-A804-A34.jpg)
Could not get the face smooth, see the visible light, but it's good enough:
(https://i.ibb.co/vZR7JsX/1-B83-ED70-ACDD-48-D2-826-C-A382496674-DA.jpg)
Fender repaired, and just for Dennis I smashed my thumb to a bloody pulp with the mallet:
(https://i.ibb.co/rkF6Gwk/B05757-A9-D5-FB-422-F-9-C44-B90091-C2-C805.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/P5kZhwM/319-F58-E3-8072-4-EF7-9-CE2-07-D64-EA9-F8-DB.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/kGb7nmM/ED7-E2-A22-ADA2-4995-9-ABF-297-EDFDB02-A7.jpg)
Bonus: cleaned up the pot metal signals with spray cleaner and 0000 steel wool, came out good:
(https://i.ibb.co/921FQfY/2-FA32810-2-B7-F-48-FA-A66-B-CA4-E805-B69-D1.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/qxpMQJ2/891-CD0-CC-F412-4-C3-C-8-A1-D-70-E08897-DCFD.jpg)
Final reassembly:
(https://i.ibb.co/1LJSr2Z/A07-E293-A-C415-4-DCB-AA06-AC62166-B8-C31.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/s10D1NK/CEC81-F5-F-BA0-A-49-B8-B367-930154724158.jpg)
Looks good! Sorry bout the thumb.......................D