DT Head Steady Install problems

Please Help!! I'm having issues with the installation of a DT head steady on my 74 850. Everyone seems to have their opinions about stock vs aftermarket and I don't want to start that discussion. I have chosen to put a DT head steady on my bike (maybe). For the life of me, I cant get it to line up correctly. If it does line up, the frame brace is horizontal and the gas tank wont fit back on! If I slant the frame brace down on the RHS (per instructions), to have the side bolt horizontal, I would have to cut many threads off this bolt in order to screw it in far enough and that still might not be enough! Would the part have come with too long a horizontal bolt? I just did the rear Iso's and that went really well. No real problem other than getting the main Iso bolt out. By comparison, that job was way easier than this install. If you could, would you please post a shot of yours installed.That is for those of you with the tank off =8>)
Much appreciated.
GS

Definitely installed incorrectly, as they are a great fit.

Make sure you are setting it up with the bike off the main stand. With the engine settled, and all the mounting bolts fitted loosely, ensure the upper arm (the one with rose joints on both ends) sits horizontal to the upper frame tube AND parallel to the ground (parallel to the ground with the bike upright). In this settled position the rose joints should (ideally) rest across the centre axis of each ball (eg. not resting at the limit of travel in any direction). This allows the maximum range of motion in all directions. This is where some finesse comes into play, to arrive at this resting position you may have to rotate the upper frame collar, and/or loosen the jam nut on the upper arm to bring one of the rose joints inboard or outboard.

Once you get it set up correctly there should be no interference issues with the tank, if there is, you have another problem with the tank mounting itself.

Thanks for the replies guys..... Hopefully these photos will help,
First off, I believe this came from commando specialties although I ordered it quite some time ago and am not positive.
Yes, I'm doing this off the centerstand and no I'm not trying to mount an alloy tank.
Paul was posting his to show me his set up.
If I screw the horizontal rose in all the way it might work...I already trimmed off 1/4 inch
because it wont thread completely into the other half. It just doesn't want to line up.
Thanks again,
GS

Wow, that is a LOT of misalignment.

Are you sure your isolastics are correctly installed? They MUST be installed according to the diagram in the parts book, so that the engine is properly aligned in the chassis.

Yeah, something's amiss there, in addition to double checking you've got your isolastics shimmed on the correct (drive) side, it looks like you've got the threaded rose joint unscrewed quite a bit, it also looks to be missing the jam nut (assuming you've removed it?)

Will that rose joint boss thread in any further on its own?

I'll take a pic of my set up when I get a chance, but right now it seems that either the rose joint boss is unthreaded too far, or you've got your isolastics shimmed on the wrong side.

edit: looking at your pic again, my money's on the engine not being seated in the cradle correctly, the head steady "tower" should not be directly under the upper frame tube like that...

Thanks for the suggestions ...I did find the rear iso a bit too tight.
Now I have both front and rear iso's loose. (MK111 style)
Shook the heck out of the motor in hopes of "settling" it.
The bolt threads through now but the frame clamp is horizontal
and the rose joint bolt inclines up like this from the tower to the right / not that extreme of course!
Thought the jam nut went between the frame clamp and the rose joint on the bolt.
I already trimmed off 1/4 inch of thread because it wont thread completely into the boss half.
Paul, if you get a sec...would you take a photo of the opposite side of your bike..
I would like to get an idea of how yours is set up.
Thanks again for your thoughts and patience.
GS

I do not have either of those two bikes any more, sorry.

Regarding the vernier isolastics, if they are installed incorrectly, the alignment will not be correct; they are "handed".

Rear iso must have the allen setscrew abutment on the RIGHT side of the bike.

Front is must be OPPOSITE rear, front abutment with setscrew on the LEFT.

View here

Sport75073 said:

I already trimmed off 1/4 inch of thread because it wont thread completely into the boss half.

Click to expand...

It still looks too long.
What is the centre to centre measurement? I'd say it should be just under 2".

Sport75073 said:

Thought the jam nut went between the frame clamp and the rose joint on the bolt.

Click to expand...

Correct, there is no jam nut on the link.

The photos in the RGM instructions show the upper part of the frame clamp fitted the opposite way with the rounded side on the left. I'm not sure if that makes a difference?
http://www.rgmnorton.co.uk/csi/1245184/ ... ctions.pdf

Here are pics of mine, the centre to centre distance between the rose joints is about 2", and note that the timing side joint (the one that the bolt goes through) is threaded in nearly all the way. To get mine set up as I described above, with the joints centered at rest, I recall backing that joint out 1 full turn... so not much at all. The rotation and position of the frame clamp on the upper tube (to ensure the horizontal/parallel positioning of the arm) causes no tank interference. Also note the tower is to the left (towards primary side) of the frame tube, not directly beneath it.

Hello again,
I wanted to thank you guys for helping me out with my head steady however, I do have more questions.
I was finally able to connect the rose joint to the frame clamp but now cant get the clamp tight enough to stop turning on the upper tube.
Is my frame of Italian manufacture? #F101109. Manufactured 9/73... 43 years old!!!
Seems I remember someone mentioning these frames have slightly smaller upper tubes and need shimming.
I have aluminum tape and thought it would work nicely as a shim but when I tightened the jam nut after the install, the whole frame clamp moved.
I have tightened the frame clamp as much as I dare so was wondering what you all use for shims?
Really thought I was extra smart using the alum. tape but not so.
Thanks again,
GS

I tried shims with no success.
In the end i put some fine wet and dry sandpaper on a flat surface and worked the mating faces of the clamp sections until they had reduced enough to grip the frame tube.
best of luck
iain

I bought a packet of brass shim stock from the local hardware store. It had stock of several different thicknesses. I cut out a shim from the thinnest and wrapped it on the frame tube and it has not moved in several years.
Ride On
Dave