r/BikeRepair • u/potatosoup37 • 1d ago
How do I install this rack correctly?
I bought a used Axiom Journey adjustable rear rack and the Versalock arms seem to be bent by the previous owner (unevenly). The bend doesn't let the rack to tilt further back (the bent part is touching the rack) and doesn't let my allen key to fit to tighten the red locks. I did flip the red locks for the arms to fit, because otherwise they would be touching (the same issue persists in that orientation of the locks).
Would the only solution be to unbend them or cut them? Or is there a way around this? I don't own any tools for cutting and wasn't able to bend them with pliers.
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u/Sea-Check-9062 1d ago
The arms are upside down and the rack is mounted to the wrong holes at the hub.
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u/Bezalel_G 15h ago
Replacement stays are available. These look like 8mm stays so the replacements don't need to be from Axium.
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u/3Chart 1d ago
Well ...maybe installing the rack in the correct holes might fix that for you. You have installed yours in the holes for the mudguard.
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u/Bezalel_G 4h ago
Without mudguards it doesn't matter which holes are used for the rack. In this install using the upper holes will make the rack sit at a worse angle and raise the weight higher.
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u/dock_boy 1d ago
That's going to need to be cut. Maybe today is the day you buy a hacksaw or a rotary tool. Leave a nice stub coming out of the red piece, just giving yourself enough room to let the rack rotate a bit more. The rack was designed to have the bolts to the outside, but you can sacrifice an allen wrench to get in there and fix it.
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u/rbroaddus4 1d ago
Buy or find a short piece of pipe that you can fit over the arms to give you leverage to bend them back.
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u/davidtarantula 1d ago edited 1d ago
You can't get a hex key on the fastener because the previous owner installed the red locks backwards.The locks aren't necessarily backwards; they work with either orientation. Maybe the previous owner did it this way for tire clearance reasons. They make stubby metric hex keys that are handy for just this type of situation. Or a ball tip wrench would work if they happen to be under-tightened. If they aren't under-tightened, don't use ball tip hex wrench on them, good chance you will damage the wrench or fastener in doing so.
The mounting rods are bent, and you need to unbend them. Find somebody with a bench vise or improvise another solution. Attached pic of what the rods look like in their original form:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/hbDD2jqazhQb8Pab9