Another Dave Taylor Head Steady Question

Hi All
Fitted the DT Head Steady to the Commando, but in doing so discovered that the bracket fitting to the frame tube is a snug fit rather than tight clamp fit, so I can, with a bit of finger pressure still turn it!!.

Phoned Norton RGM and was told it should be a tight clamp fit and would have to pad it out with something. Was asked also if my frame was made in Italy or the UK. Slight dimensional differances apparently!!
Has anyone else had the same problem with the bracket, or heard of such??

aries said:

Hi All
Fitted the DT Head Steady to the Commando, but in doing so discovered that the bracket fitting to the frame tube is a snug fit rather than tight clamp fit, so I can, with a bit of finger pressure still turn it!!.

Phoned Norton RGM and was told it should be a tight clamp fit and would have to pad it out with something. Was asked also if my frame was made in Italy or the UK. Slight dimensional differances apparently!!
Has anyone else had the same problem with the bracket, or heard of such??

Click to expand...

Yes, just mill (or file) off 0,5 mm. Also got one I had to hone a bigger hole to fit the frame tube.

made in Italy or the UK?

Per L.A.B. in a previous thread the Italian frames are metric, 25mm tube, and the UK frames in inches, 25.4mm tube. A beer can makes good shim material!

Yep, thanks guys. I now see the earlier thread by `Highdesert` did put pay to my question. ----Time for a can of beer then

HI Aires, yes I just fitted mine a couple weeks ago.
I too had to make a this shim to make it fit tight.
I have a 73 850 so I had them send me the 75 style spring to further set the head, seems a good idea.
I would install it on the side stand and when you have the the steady bolted securely to the head, then upright the bike and sit on the bike so
it is weighted, at that point rotate the loose frame mount until the ball joint flicks side to side the easiest, then nip the allen bolts frame mount tight.
This way, when bike is on the sidestand there will be some resistance at the ball joint, but when off stand and loaded, very little (as when riding).
All in all, you should notice tauter handling and somewhat less vibration particularly under 3500rpm as the head cannot move side to side.