Smooth top clamp questions

[motoital]

Hello, I've been a lurker here for a while as I could find the answer to every question I had but I have one now.
 I have a 850T that has clipons and I want to clean it up with a smooth top clamp. I picked one up years ago but it's of a different diameter. Maybe a LM 2? I'm wondering if it's worth the swap or find one that I can just swap the top and not the whole tree? I've included a picture with a spare 850T clamp for reference.








Thanks in advance for any help!
J.

[jabberwocky]

As you can see, the smooth topped one also has narrower spacing between the fork tubes, must be from an LM. My T3 has LM style clip ons, and so had unused bar clamps on the top tree. I ground off the lugs, welded up the bolt holes, and polished it up. No big deal, came out nice. If you'll do the grinding, I can weld it up for you for nothing.

[kevdog3019]

As you can see, the smooth topped one also has narrower spacing between the fork tubes, must be from an LM. My T3 has LM style clip ons, and so had unused bar clamps on the top tree. I ground off the lugs, welded up the bolt holes, and polished it up. No big deal, came out nice. If you'll do the grinding, I can weld it up for you for nothing.

This gets my vote! 

Trying to get something else to work may be a real PITA.  This seems pretty simple.

[motoital]

Thanks for the input and I thought about doing that. I have a few Ducati singles and went that way in the past.I just can't weld aluminum so I appreciate the offer. Besides a local Guzzi guy said it might be for a V7 sport so it should go one of those.

I'll break out my grinder and will let you know how it turns out.

Thank again!
J.

[jmac851]

I did this many years ago and used JB weld to fill the holes. Sanded smooth and painted.  Looked great, worked fine.

[mtiberio]

grinding on aluminum is not recommended. sanding or milling is better. the aluminum can clog the pores of a grinding wheel, overheat, expand and crack the wheel while spinning at high rpm. a hand held die grinder with a milling bit or a belt sander (my Dad's shop used to have a ferocious one called "the beta") are my prefered method. Save your self a bunch of grit. Saw off the lug as close to the clamp as possible, then remove via your favorite method.

[Kentktk]

grinding on aluminum is not recommended. sanding or milling is better. the aluminum can clog the pores of a grinding wheel, overheat, expand and crack the wheel while spinning at high rpm. a hand held die grinder with a milling bit or a belt sander (my Dad's shop used to have a ferocious one called "the beta") are my prefered method. Save your self a bunch of grit. Saw off the lug as close to the clamp as possible, then remove via your favorite method.

Or an aggressive hand file works well as would an angle grinder with a flap wheel.

[motoital]

Thanks for the tips and it makes sense. I cut one of the lugs away with a band saw pretty easily before I was called away. I need time to think about if I want to paint or polish. Decisions, decisions!

Here's a pic of my bike, that I need to detail.



Thanks again!
J.

[jabberwocky]

Nice looking bike! Looks like mine, except you have the nice sport tank. When I spoke of grinding it down, I used a rotary burr in a die grinder after cutting off most of the material with a Sawzall. My offer stands, though you'd have to pay shipping both ways.

[motoital]

Thanks for the compliment and that's very understandable. I'm in Seattle, how about you?

[jabberwocky]

Maine!

[motoital]

I wanted to say thanks again for the suggestions on this. I ended up painting it with crinkle paint as I will be doing the same to the valve covers.