Easy Reacher Under Seat Rack Installation issues

[Ken Rudd]

A few weeks back, I sold a S40 Easy Reacher Under Seat Rack By Terracyle.
I had installed this rack on my bike for about an hour while I mocked out rear rack, panniers and Scarab bag. i decided to not use the Easy Reacher and just go Rear Rack/Panniers and Scarab bag.

But I did mount the Easy Reacher, and I know it went on without surprises. Unfortunately took no pictures.

The new owner is having issues getting it installed on his S40. It appears the bottom spreader bar is too wide. I have attached all the pictures he sent, plus the one picture I have that is un-assembled. Any ideas why the bottom bar is appearing too wide?


His pertinent notes as follow:

"When I attach the two side pieces to the sides of the S40, using the appropriate bolts and spacers, and then try to attach the piece that connects the two sides, the connecting piece seems to be two long to fit, by about two inches."

"The problem is that the distance between the mounting clamps, when mounted to the S40 using the spacers, is about 4 1/4 inches - but the distance between the side pieces of the rack (when it is assembled as shown in the photos, is about 6 1/4 inches."

 

[Doug Kline]

Here's the pictures I took when installing it: https://cruzbike.com/forum/threads/s40-underseat-rack-by-terracycle.12222/

 

[Ken Rudd]

Here's the pictures I took when installing it: https://cruzbike.com/forum/threads/s40-underseat-rack-by-terracycle.12222/

Doug- Thanks! Any way you could post a straight on from the front picture of the rack and/or measure the actual width of the lower spreader bar?

 

[Doug Kline]

Any way you could post a straight on from the front picture of the rack and/or measure the actual width of the lower spreader bar?

Sorry, I don't have access to it until next week. I'll check back then if you still need it.

From what I remember putting it together, you don't want to tighten any bolts until it is all put together.

 

[benphyr]

I have a couple observations from Doug and Kens' photos:
1. Unless the perspective is off (entirely possible) it definitely appears as though Doug's bottom spreader bar is barely narrower than the top triangle of each side of the rack whereas the bottom spreader bar on Ken's appears significantly wider than the top triangle, easily explaining the 2 inches difference.
2. The way the Terracycle rack is constructed allows for a big variances to still mount well:
a. Width of frame between front and rear mounting points: using different sized spacers to make the rack parallel. Parallel probably is not necessary for functional or structural reasons.
b. Distance between frame mounting points: rack has a couple inches fore/aft that it can be mounted (on Doug's photo) which allows +- 2 inches of fore/aft mount points.
that leaves lots of flexibility for the final mount point identified as the challenging point for this thread:
c. Distance between the bottom of the rack sides: The two pieces with Terra-cycle written on them can pivot as they are attached on vertical axis of both the spreader and the rack. If you were to look down from above or up from below each of those inch or so long brackets should be able to pivot on the end of the side rack piece in a circle so that they could point in towards each other, parallel to each other, out away from each other, or anything in between allowing for a wider or narrower frame or different sized spreader spreader that is connecting them.
For Ken's situation the brackets would be sticking out to the sides and the spreader would go outside of the rack sides. If you took a rear view it would go bracket bolt, spreader, left side rack, bracket bolt then (skip to the right side) bracket bolt, right side rack, spreader, bracket bolt. Hopefully my diagram will explain what I am talking about. This might not be how you envisioned it but it definitely seems like it would work fine that way.

**Regardless, Doug's "you don't want to tighten any bolts until it is all put together" is applicable to many assembly tasks.

 

[Bill K]

Here is mine. It's off the bike right now but may go back on for winter commuting.
Width is about 5 inches top and bottom.
The cross piece is 4.5 inches on center.

 

[benphyr]

Sounds like they gave you one that is a little too long and it probably should have been 4.5". You should be able to mount the one with the 6.5" long spreader in a slightly different configuration if you want.

 

[Frank Costantini]

View attachment 7494
Here is mine. It's off the bike right now but may go back on for winter commuting.
Width is about 5 inches top and bottom.
The cross piece is 4.5 inches on center.

Hi, I’m the one who bought the rack from Ken. The cross piece is about 6.5 inches wide, not 4.5 - that’s why it doesnt fit, I think. I tried rotating the two pieces with Terracycle written on them, as Benphyr suggests, and it still doesn’t fit, no matter how I position them. I also tried sliding the sidepieces fore and aft, and it doesn’t help.

I think I’ll try contacting TerraCycle, and/or Robert Holler, and see if they have a 4.5 inch cross piece.

 

[benphyr]

...it still doesn’t fit, no matter how I position them...

@Frank Costantini Huge Bummer! Hopefully it was a packaging mistake and TerraCycle can send the right size cross piece.

 

[super slim]

I think the kit was for the Q45 which attaches to the rear suspension and not the frame, so wider!

 

[velocio]

I wish the cross piece on the T-cycles rack on my Bacchetta Giro A20 was 2" too wide. Seriously. I've been thinking of contacting T-cycles to see if I can purchase one a bit wider than was supplied. With a little careful bending the stock 90 degree bends at the ends could be pushed inwards a bit, so the sides of the mounted rack would angle outward slightly. This would raise the outer edges of my Arkel RT-40 panniers reducing the possibility of scraping them on the ground when leaned into a turn (a known possibility on Giro's with 20" front wheel). Hopefully this isn't a concern on the S40.

-Jack

 

[Ken Rudd]

Hi, I’m the one who bought the rack from Ken. The cross piece is about 6.5 inches wide, not 4.5 - that’s why it doesnt fit, I think. I tried rotating the two pieces with Terracycle written on them, as Benphyr suggests, and it still doesn’t fit, no matter how I position them. I also tried sliding the sidepieces fore and aft, and it doesn’t help.

I think I’ll try contacting TerraCycle, and/or Robert Holler, and see if they have a 4.5 inch cross piece.

Let me know how it turns out with them. As a note, I purchased the rack directly from Cruzbike along with my S40

 

[Robert Holler]

You look to have the rack for the Q45 which is wider (wider lower bar and different spacer set) than the rack for the S40

 

[Frank Costantini]

I contacted T-cycle, and they said they would swap the cross-piece, so I sent back the 6.5” one and I’m waiting for the shorter one (temporarily out of stock).