KDXRIDER.NET

I have an '03 KX triple clamp and will need to get the stems pressed out of it, and my '04 KDX one. A friend of mine is a professional welder, and has access to a 12 ton press. I am no sort of metal guy. Is this going to do the job or would I be better off just taking it off to a machine shop? I understand you need to heat the clamp to free some factory bonding agent in there. What do I put in to replace it on the new set up? all this screwing around with the stem, shimming the top clamp with washers and shim stock makes me wonder why nobody just welds a different steering tube in place of the KDX one.. I take it that would be a lot bigger deal than it seems?


Thanks,

$25 at a machine shop.... done. How much simpler do you want it?

The rest is easy too... you shouldn't stress over it.

Well, I am sure nobody feels like waiting, but I will be machining a stem that will not require modifications and will not cause damage to your TT, but if it will suit your setup? It is hard to say.
I will make several of them and anybody who wants one can have it at cost, you will have to take care of the shipping and the material (cheap, $2.00 material max.)
I will have this done over the winter sometime, I will update you soon.
Phil.

Let me know Phil

Phil when you get them finished let us know, i'm sure you'll find several people who will take them off your hands.

I would be happy to help in any way I'll let you know as it progresses.

I looked into that option too. I gave my origonal triple clamp with stem along with the KX triple clamp and stem to a machinist and explained that I wanted the KDX stem on the KX triple clamp. He said he could manufacture a stem in either aluminum or steel for about $25. With a new bearing pressed on as well, he wanted $50. I would have gone this way if not for the rediculous price of $15 to just swap the stem and knurl the clamp.

I'd say that if you were able to make a stem, have the customer ship their clamp to you and mount the stem to their clamp for $50, that would be a real bargain.

Good luck with your venture.

I'm out to rid the world of KDX frontends....

IMHO... the only thing a stock Frontend is good for is your basic trail riding. Anything beond that, your going to put money into them... and that money is best utilized by buying a KX frontend and gaining stiffness and rebound settings. Not to mention no more underhang that can hang you up...

Colorado Mike, it may be easier to just take it to a machine shop.

Anecdotal info...but I've heard of folks using 30-ton presses that weren't up to the task. I don't think they heated it.

Weld? A steel stem into an aluminum clamp? That would be pretty tricky, wouldn't it? I don't know...I've never welded a thing in my life.

I'm with Inda....it's pretty simple...worry less about it!

Knurl it if you wish...use the LocTite agent designed expressly for this type of application..buy some washers at your local hardware store, you're about done.

I chose to bush the top clamp to the required size over a shim stock approach. Either way gets you an OK setup. Of course....my idea was much better!

by weld a steering tube in, I meant the tube on the frame. Steel to steel, not steering stem to the clamp. I'm not that dumb... but close. I'll stop worrying about it.

Hey Mike, I also have a 03 TT waiting in the wings. I agree with the other fellas, that swapping stems seems to be no big deal. But like CC, I want to keep my KDX front end together, so I was going to purchase another KDX stem anyway. I'm up for working with Phil to create a few custom stems, made to order. I'd be glad to help share the costs of developing the 03 stem. It would be way cool to have a perfect sized stem available for conversions.

Combine the stem development with Ski's custom brake line routing and I'm acting like a starving man on a Christmas Ham!! Give me more, give me more, give me more.. Man, it's good to be back.

re: welding...

Oh. I missed that, obviously.

If door #1 consisted of finding an old frame of a suitable bike, cutting the tube off, cutting off the KDX tube, welding the replacement tube in, prepping the whole frame for a re-coat (oh...having stripped the KDX TO the frame, first) and door #2 consisted of taking a couple of pieces to a machinist and paying him some $ to fix it all up in a day or two...I think I'd not have to think REAL long about it!