Page 1 of 3
Mounting Tool Tube on RR
Posted: Mon Apr 12, 2010 3:19 pm
by tlwood28
Have any of you mounted one or two of these on the RR:
http://www.agrisupply.com/category.asp? ... 1271102095
Here is one of several threads on another forum where people have done this on various bikes:
http://www.stromtrooper.com/forums/show ... hp?t=25471
Seems like a useful idea.
Thanks!
Tom W.
Re: Mounting Tool Tube on RR
Posted: Mon Apr 12, 2010 4:58 pm
by wncbmw
There is a thread on advrider.com about those. I have been trying to find one without having to order it to mount on the DR 650. If I have to pay shipping, I am ordering a couple and try to figure out how to put one on the Roadster too. Seems like a handy way to carry tools or documents away from the elements. Be interested if anyone has done it yet!
Re: Mounting Tool Tube on RR
Posted: Mon Apr 12, 2010 6:22 pm
by boxermania
Interestingly enough I saw one yesterday on a KTM, he had it afixed to an aftermarket engine guard. Think one can make one easily wth a piece of 4" CPVC pipe, schedule 80, with a welded cap on one end and a threaded one on the other.
Re: Mounting Tool Tube on RR
Posted: Mon Apr 12, 2010 9:23 pm
by tlwood28
Boxer, you are right. But these things are pretty nice looking for the money (and should be pretty useful). Playing around with them it looks like the logical place is bolted to the bottom of the bags, top of the bags, or remove the muffler and put one in the space between the left side system case and the bike. Maybe two could be mounted in tandem.
But I'm hoping someone a lot more cleaver than me chimes in as to where these belong.

Re: Mounting Tool Tube on RR
Posted: Mon Apr 12, 2010 9:37 pm
by Dr. Strangelove
I bit and bought a couple.
I was planning on mounting them somehow on the system cases, but I cannot find a large enough flat spot, unless I use the bottom of the case and I wasn't keen on that.
The 33 oz MSR fuel bottle fits perfectly in one. I wanted to try the bottle of Lagavulin 16, but it was packed for Arkansas, tomorrow!
Instead, I used a couple of Blackburn water bottle cages from my bike. I secured them to the rear of the cases using sealing washers inside the case and a hose clamp (3-4", home depot) for extra security.
The MSR is on the right and it has gas; the bottle on the left is a harvested Goof Off bottle, cleaned, and now used for a pint of oil.
The next pic shows the size of the agrisupply "bottle." They are only about $5 each and I am sure I will be able to figure out somewhere to attach them...eventually. It is NOT mounted in this pic.
They are made very well, btw
Re: Mounting Tool Tube on RR
Posted: Mon Apr 12, 2010 9:44 pm
by Dr. Strangelove
put one in the space between the left side system case and the bike
assuming the muffler is gone, one would fit in that space nicely, but you'd be flexing the bracket pretty good, still I think it would work.
Two in that space would not fit.
Re: Mounting Tool Tube on RR
Posted: Mon Apr 12, 2010 10:55 pm
by tlwood28
Thanks Strange.
Cleaver use of some bike bottle cages you have there.
I too am hesitating about bolting the tubes on the bottom of the bags, but looking at it some more, the bottom of the cylinder would be about even with the cylinder heads, and above the footpegs, so it would seem clearance would not be an issue.
The larger right side bag has a perfect flat area on the case bottom (as opposed to the case lid. It may look a bit asymmetric with just one tube on the right side, but then again, that would be very BMW-ish to do that. It would mean not being able to sit the bad down on its bottom, but that is no great loss for me, the bags are hardly ever off the bike anyway.
If I removed the muffler, I would think that would be the best place of all, as it would fill the divit left by the missing muffler, be out of the way and be protected. I would think it would look pretty good there.
Re: Mounting Tool Tube on RR
Posted: Mon Apr 12, 2010 11:04 pm
by brad d
i have made two on is on left side behide hard bag with muffler on
the other one is on the right side where the carbon canister was i made them from a couple of grease guns with custom fabricated brackets
i will post pics tommorow
Re: Mounting Tool Tube on RR
Posted: Tue Apr 13, 2010 7:11 am
by Dr. Strangelove
yes, please post pics. And the agrisupply cases are big. I can reach into one with my whole hand.
I cannot relocate the carbon cannister--have abs (and add and ocd, but that's another story)
I will mount the one on the left case, my muffler long gone. That is a great location, I think. I won't mount on the bottom because I only have the cases on for trips and they would not be able to stand.
gotta run
John
Re: Mounting Tool Tube on RR
Posted: Tue Apr 13, 2010 8:08 am
by riceburner
hmm - I wonder where I can get them in the UK - look like a nice fitment.
Re: Mounting Tool Tube on RR
Posted: Tue Apr 13, 2010 8:31 am
by rdsmith3
I bought one of those but I have not been able to figure out where to mount it. I do not want to drill holes in the system cases. I have the stock muffler on. It might fit where the carbon canister is, but I am afraid the rear wheel would hit it and I still have my canister.
So, right now, I have all my tools in it, and I carry it in my left system case.
Re: Mounting Tool Tube on RR
Posted: Tue Apr 13, 2010 2:34 pm
by wncbmw
Cool thread. Someone figure this out and post pics! I still have the muffler but the cannister is gone. I may just have to pull the trigger on a couple of them.
Re: Mounting Tool Tube on RR
Posted: Tue Apr 13, 2010 4:11 pm
by chibbert
Dr. Strangelove wrote:I can reach into one with my whole hand.
Was breakfast the next morning awkward?
Seriously - I think I am gonna grab one or two of these. I read somewhere that carb or brake cleaner will quickly remove the yellow pictures. There has to be somewhere I can fit this on the RS - maybe even two.
Re: Mounting Tool Tube on RR
Posted: Tue Apr 13, 2010 4:36 pm
by hank
riceburner wrote:hmm - I wonder where I can get them in the UK - look like a nice fitment.
For sale on the tossers forum.
http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread ... tool+tubes
Or try a tractor showroom / farm equipment parts place.
Hank.
Re: Mounting Tool Tube on RR
Posted: Tue Apr 13, 2010 6:14 pm
by brad d
Re: Mounting Tool Tube on RR
Posted: Wed Apr 14, 2010 2:55 am
by riceburner
Re: Mounting Tool Tube on RR
Posted: Wed Apr 14, 2010 11:02 am
by hank
Apparently the tool tubes are actually manual holders for John Deere tractors.
Hank.
Re: Mounting Tool Tube on RR
Posted: Wed Apr 14, 2010 5:47 pm
by wncbmw
I tried the local tractor supply place a few weeks ago but they did not stock them. Still haven't stopped at the local John Deere place. They supposedly have them also.
Re: Mounting Tool Tube on RR
Posted: Wed Apr 14, 2010 6:18 pm
by chibbert
Vann - agrisupply has NC locations:
Shown with quantity on hand at each location
Garner, North Carolina 78
Greenville, North Carolina 229
Tifton, Georgia 37
Florence, South Carolina 27
Lumberton, North Carolina 24
Petersburg, Virginia 34
Statesboro, Georgia 75
Re: Mounting Tool Tube on RR
Posted: Wed Apr 14, 2010 8:20 pm
by tlwood28
Well I finally have had a chance to spend a little time with these things.
To answer some questions posted here, and some general observations, in no particular order:
1: The canisters were intended to hold tractor operating manuals. These things are really well made. The lid screws on down to a plastic o-ring to make it water tight. It takes over 5 full turns to screw down the lid. There is a 3/16 inch hole below the bracket nearest the lid to let air escape when closing (so not entirely water tight). The black plastic has a granulated texture and closely matches the system cases.
2. They are big at 12 x 3.25 inches. There is a "small" (slightly longer and thinner at 12.75 x 2.5 inches) version. I bought two of the big ones. These will hold a bottle of Glen Grant, As We Make It and any number of other single malts. Unfortunately, I cannot attest to whether a Lagavulin 16 yr will fit. I sure would like the opportunity to find out.

I bought them originally to carry extra gas, tools or yep, single malt. Brad d looks to have found a place to install a home made version, what looks closer in size to the long, thin version.
3. The writing on the sides and top comes right off with carburetor cleaner. Takes seconds.
4. They would fit on the top of the cases, and could be bolted to the lids, or bolted on the cases at the bottom. If you remove your muffler, one would fit in the space created, but as Strange observed, the brackets would have to be bent quite a bit. Maybe the result would not be as polished as one would like, but it would be behind the bag, and should fill the awkward space left behind by the missing muffler.
I don't really see the point of bolting these to the top of the cases. I just as well install bungee buddies and have that space to strap other bags, etc. I don't like bolting them to the bottom because I won't be able to sit them down, and I'm just not that space starved. I still have my muffler, and until I decide to remove that, I don't have that option either.
I am tempted by Strange's solution of hose clamping an MSR bottle to the back of the bags, although doing the same with a fine single malt may be a mistake.
Anyway, I hope one of you mechanic/engineer types will come up with the answer on this one. Otherwise, on the shelf they go until the next bike comes along.
Cheers,
Tom W.