How do I straighten my Bark Busters?

[pengu1n]

I've got the Enduro Engineering aluminum Bark Busters. After a season of crashing, they have sort of twisted up so that the are too high. I'm not talking about the case where you can just loosen them up and just rotate them back down into position. The aluminum has twisted near the inward mount. I have tried to put them in a vice and twist, but that was futile. Do I have to use a Torch?

Thanks.

[Gordie]

I used a vice and hammer to straighten mine out. It works but you need to be careful and patient. They are aluminum and while strong, they will only take so much force. No need for a torch.

Also, it seemed to me that after hammering and bending they were a bit more prone to bending again. This may be the result of falling as much as I do but working the metal softens it a bit every time. So this method has diminishing returns over time.

[Tele skier]

I am in the same boat, my acerbis are bent to hell, my plan is to vice it back to something recognisable. I agree, they will get softer and more prone to failure crashing forward.

[Veccster]

I bent mine as well last week. I have the Moose aluminum handguards. I bent it at the outer mount (where it enters the handlebar end). I had to turn the inner mount downward to compensate for the bend. I tried bending it back but, as you said, it was futile.

When mine bent, I had a bolt that protruded into the bar end (to hold it in there). The bolt pushed against the inner bar wall and created a small bump under my grip. Not a big deal just interesting.

[dave948]

I have the acerbis as well. I have no problem putting them in a vise and bending them back. I use a machinist vise and heat when needed. I don't get them glowing red but propane won't do the job.(at least Mapp or acetylene)

If they are bent and junk do what ever it takes to get them back into service, they may bend again but I've never had one fold up to get your hand or the levers. They just get ugly.

[adam728]

My Acerbics are the same way. I ended up just putting the handle of a shovel under the grip and over the hand guard and bending the suckers back. (I don't have a vice at my rental place)

[pengu1n]

I finally got them straight using a vice and a pipe for leverage. I just clamped near the bent inner mount, then put the pipe over the outer end and twisted it back around.

Further, I would warn anyone from using the plastic shields after they have been damaged to the point of the screw/washer ripping through the plastic. I did a nasty endo when my front brake got snagged full in by the plastic shield.

[Veccster]

I finally got them straight using a vice and a pipe for leverage. I just clamped near the bent inner mount, then put the pipe over the outer end and twisted it back around.

Further, I would warn anyone from using the plastic shields after they have been damaged to the point of the screw/washer ripping through the plastic. I did a nasty endo when my front brake got snagged full in by the plastic shield.

Good to hear you got it fixed. Regarding the plastic, I highly recommend the rubber shields. I have the Moose Racing handguards and they will bend and twist with my wrecks but never break. Here is a link.

Like a standard handguard, they have a spot near the outer mount to install a supplied bolt through the barkbuster. Instead, I used a zip tie that will break before the shield rips. The wreck where I bent my barkbuster, the zip tie broke and shield twisted all the way around. I pulled a zip tie out of my pack and fixed it right up. I have seen so many people break their shields on small wrecks, I couldn't imagine using a plastic one.

[Dwight_Rudder]

I've got the Enduro Engineering aluminum Bark Busters. After a season of crashing, they have sort of twisted up so that the are too high. I'm not talking about the case where you can just loosen them up and just rotate them back down into position. The aluminum has twisted near the inward mount. I have tried to put them in a vice and twist, but that was futile. Do I have to use a Torch?

Thanks.

REPLACE THEM !

Dwight

[Highpockets]

Guys, if they are softer after you bent them, then they are broke. Aluminum work hardens as it is bent and rebent. If you use heat then you will draw the temper and it can't be rehardened with heat like steel. Dwight is right, replace them. I've had good luck with Tusk from Rocky Mountain and see a lot of EE handguards being used.

[STILL_KICKIN]

After bending several pairs, I bought the Rally II (I think). They are constructed solely from rigid polypropylene. So far they've held up really well.