Chuckster 7" plate mod-Update

[dkdixie]

You may have read in another post about my experience with how I mounted Chuckster 7" plate using the stock dog bowl cover.

If not, I used 1/4-20 threaded rod to hold the plate, filter, outer piece of metal and dog bowl as one unit.

The rod broke off right at the jam nut at the throttle plate. Recovered the filter but rest of the parts were last seen heading South.

The threaded rod was just not strong enough to handle the limited vibration.

This mod will solve that problem and gives a much improved seal.

Couple weeks ago, I drilled another hole, 5/16-18, approx 1/4" below Joe's on the throttle plate. Then used full threaded Grade 8 bolt to, again, hold the entire unit together. Much stronger than 1/4-20 threaded rod and probably good enough.

But, being paranoid about it breaking again, decided to redo everything.

First, as picture shows, ran a bolt through original mounting hole to block it off.
Next, with an additional blank plate from Joe, clamped them together, drilled two 5/16-18 holes through both plates, tapped throttle plate, installed 5/16 Grade 8 full threaded bolts, jam nut at throttle plate, 2" 5/16 coupler and then outer plate.
The two mounting holes are 1.5" from the original mounting hole, almost in line with the vacuum tubes.
By going 1.5" puts the nuts in the raised portion of the dog bowl
and they fit "in the groove."
Had to remove about 1/16" of the coupler so the outer plate bottoms out.




Since now using two bolts, solved another problem with much better filter seal.
Before, with dog bowl being so far off center, and only one bolt, had to use weather stripping to help seal but still had more pressure at 6 o'clock, less at 12 o'clock.
Believe me, now its sealed evenly all the way around!!



Still gives me 3/8" clearance at the gas tank.
Used a paper towel to help the picture show the clearance.



The finished product:



If you are using Chuckster's plate and stock cover with a threaded rod or a standard Grade 2 bolt, suggest you do something to make it stronger.....cause its gonna break.
Mine lasted couple thousand miles, then broke.