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Extra onboard storage

DirtFlier

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I installed two of those document tubes onto my NC700X using homemade brackets attached to my SW-Moto side bag mounts. What I didn't want to do is drill new holes into those mounts so I used existing holes or existing bolts. One tube holds my tools nicely and the other has a 30 oz canister of extra fuel. With the bags mounted, the tubes are not visible and can only be seen from the rear.

10 - tool tube mounted.jpg

009 - clearance OK.jpg

These photos were taken towards the end of the project so the bolts/nuts were only temporary. At the rear, they were replaced with panhead allen bolts that clear the inside edge of my Givi Trekker bags. At the front I used a longer countersunk head allen to provide enough thread for the new bracket. That bolt holds the conical lug into which the bags are secured at the bottom.
 
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Nicely done. I had a set of tool tubes mounted on the inside of the Givi racks I had on my 2012 but on the 15 I went with the SW Motech racks you have and I had been noodling over how to add storage tubes. Thanks for the ideas.
 
One suggestion for these tool tubes is to drill a quarter inch hole through the cap and tube in the thread area and insert a ring detent pin in the hole to prevent them from unscrewing themselves. At Horizon's Unlimited I noticed on a stop that one of OCR's tube caps had completely unthreaded itself and happily for him fell into a place where it didn't fall out on the road.

Ring Detent Pin Silver.jpg
 
One suggestion for these tool tubes is to drill a quarter inch hole through the cap and tube in the thread area and insert a ring detent pin in the hole to prevent them from unscrewing themselves. At Horizon's Unlimited I noticed on a stop that one of OCR's tube caps had completely unthreaded itself and happily for him fell into a place where it didn't fall out on the road.

That's a great idea for keeping the lids on, but wouldn't that negatively affect the waterproof nature of these containers? What about a quick release strap with each end bolted to the brackets and the clasp somewhere towards the middle of the tube?

canister1.jpg

Maybe some 3M tape to keep the strap in place.
 
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That's a great idea for keeping the lids on, but wouldn't that negatively affect the waterproof nature of these containers? What about a quick release strap with each end bolted to the brackets and the clasp somewhere towards the middle of the tube?

There are probably a number of ways to do it, but I never noticed any water in the tubes. The 1/4 inch pin in a 1/4 inch hole does not leave much room for ingress of water.
 
Nice job on the mounting brackets! Very tidy and "professional" looking.
 
I wasn't so much concerned with the caps unscrewing as I was with kids tampering with it and taking the tools or fuel canister, not that they have any use for such items. But you know kids!

What I came up with was a braided stainless cable, sheathed in vinyl hose with a metal (electrical) connector at each end. Before I crimped the connector to the cable end, I cover the last 1/4" with JB Weld for added security. At the cap, it was secured by a screw/w locknut which allows it to spin but not leak because I used silicone seal and rubber gaskets - and besides neither the tools or fuel canister will be harmed by water! The cable is tight enough so the cap can only be unscrewed about 1 turn then gets real tight, which is why both of them are secured on the right side.

Beneath the bracket, that end of the cable is secured using two luggage locks which probably can be broken open with a big pair of Channel Locks but who carries those in their pocket anyhow? I had the luggage locks from my working days but when the TSA mandated their own locks or to leave luggage unlocked, they never got used.

Security lock.jpg
 
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I didn't follow. What about screwing the lid on tight to secure it?

The ones I used before have a hefty rubber gasket to seal out water.
 
i installed my tubes couple years ago. those are harbor freight welding tubes. cost like $4-5 each
they won't unscrew,because as i tight them they deformed a bit and that would prevent them from unscrewing accidentally.
good enough for storing various cheap tools,gloves etc. assuming that you ride\live in low crime area :)

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It's probably a one in a million thing, but I have heard of one or two instances where those document tubes have stress fractured at the molded points, where the right angle extrusions meet the tube itself. Maybe the perfect storm of variables lined up, cyclic washboard road combined with poorly damped shock, and a heavy weight in the tube, and perhaps a flawed mold process, I don't know.

Just thought I'd mention what I have seen/heard.
 
I live on the Gulf Coast. I have a big problem with Condensation. It generally occurs in the atmosphere when warm air rises, cools and looses its capacity to hold water vapor. As a result, excess water vapor condenses to form cloud droplets in my tool tubes... Everything stays wet inside my tool tubes, and yes I do have small holes drilled. However, nothing seems to work. Also, sometimes when in the dirt and rocks by tool tubes implode.
 
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