Hello,
I've had the Armadillo six-pack rack on my Raptor for about 6 rides now. I only carry about 10 pounds on it, but it comes loose every ride. I changed the bolts twice, used lock washers and loctite, but can't keep the rack from becoming very loose. I think that the bolt holes are getting elongated, because now it moves up and down quite a bit even when the bolts are tight. Has anyone else had this problem, and if so, how did you solve it? I ride pretty bumpy/rocky trails, but they should expect that...

Thanks,
Lorrin Lee

 

I have the same rack on my Raptor with no loosening problems. The 2 thin metal brackets that re-locate the brake light down have broke on me though. I have to fabricate some more sturdy brackets now.
Are all 4 bolts coming loose when you ride?

 

Yes, all four bolts come loose. They may only loosen a half turn or so, but that's enough to allow the rack to start flopping around. My tail light brackets both broke last week end also. The design of the Raptor frame and the Armadillo rack make it hard to mount any kind of support bracket. I was hoping someone else might have run into the same problems and come up with a cool solution so I didn't have to hurt my brain solving the problem myself. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img] .

thanks
Lorrin[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-confused.gif[/img]

 

I think maybe the elongated holes could be letting the rack work it's way loose. I would try the "red" loctite, put a rubber stopper in between the rack and frame, and tighten the he$$ out of it.
On mounting the brake light, I am gonna find some type of thick, metal tubing (hollow) and cut 2 pieces so the brake light hangs down far enough. Then, find a bolt long enough.

 

HI:

Other than the stated problems how do you like the six pack reack? How far back does it stick out. Does it get in the way of doing a wheelie (balance point)? Sorry for all of the questions but I have been thinking of getting one. A freind of mine has a 400EX with one and it stick out to the point that you can not stand the quad on end and can just barly do a wheelie. The rack get to within about an inch of the ground.

TIA

KD

 

You should take it off and pull both sides at the same time (just a little bit), it will bend a little, but thats ok, it will create pressure and when you screw the bolts back in it will bend back to the normal shape and there will be pressure on the bolts so they shouldnt come loose.

Kevin.. I have the regular 6pack rack on my blaster and I can haul wheelies without hitting, actually I've never hit, and its been right up on end, but never over, I think if it goes over the frame would bend (I think the bar is stronger than the rear part of the frame)

 

OK,
The rack broke off one of the captive nuts inside the frame this weekend, so I guess I'm going to drill my own hole through the frame so that I can put a bolt through, then make my own support beams out of angle aluminum that come up from the heel guard bolts. Luckily I made it back to the trailer (40 miles) without it completely coming off, although it didn't do the other bolts and holes any good. My rack only touches the ground when the Raptor is exactly vertical. I stood it up on end in the middle of a stream when trying to climb up the other side once, and it stood up perfectly until we regrouped and got it back in position. I.m really surprised that no one else has had this rack come loose, or am I the only one that rides bumpy trails fast :*) ?

Thanks
Lorrin[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif[/img]

 

Maybe you should put some rubber here and there to reduce vibrations. You could also put a teflon bushing to "fill" the elongated holes...
I think if you use the right size bolts, blocpress loctite (the toughest one...I think it's green), Nielstop (sp?) nuts, and a nice Hulk like torquing, it shouldn't come loose...it cn't resist that much!!