Please help identify this Triple Tree Clamp

[Tenshots1]

Hey Guys,

Its looking like I need some guidance once again. I have a 1980 GS550E. It was knocked over and the top triple tree got a small hairline crack or two in it. So, I purchased a new 1980 GS550E top triple tree off of ebay to replace it. I trimmed and polished the new clamp, putting a number of hours into it. Now that I put it next to the current triple tree on my bike, I have noticed that it looks different. Previously I had noticed that the gauge tabs are at a different height, but did not worry about it as I thought maybe it was a slightly different version. Now that I actually put them next to each other, I see that the curvature is completely different. Needless to say, I am bummed. I would have compared earlier but my bike is not easily accessible and I did all of the polishing work from my apartment. So, now the questions: Will this top triple tree clamp work? What is the difference here in models? I have researched more GS550E triple trees and got back the same type of clamp. Maybe mine was replaced? I cant imagine since I got it mostly stock with little miles and a clean title. How should i proceed?


Thanks guys for your time.

OLD TRIPLE TREE


COMPARISON TO NEW



WHAT THE NEW LOOKED LIKE INITIALLY

 

[chuck hahn]

Why not have the original welded and smooth it off and then repaint it????

 

[Tenshots1]

Why not have the original welded and smooth it off and then repaint it????

I decided to go this route for a few reasons. Most importantly, I thought this would be the easiest route. The clamp cost $18 shipped and allowed for me to go ahead and work on it without having my bike in pieces. I live in an apartment complex with a shared garage, so i cant really afford for my bike to be in pieces for more than a couple days. I think paying to have mine welded would be more expensive than the $18 and I wouldnt trust it as much as an unbroken one.

So, after researching more, it looks like my clamps are from the 1977-79 model. The clamp that I polished is from the 1980 model, where they changed the style. Maybe my bike was just a 1st generation 1980 before the change or something like that. I think what I will end up doing is selling this one, then buying a new one off of ebay that matches my old one, and refinishing it. Basically I will be doing 5 hours of extra labor because I didnt look at my clamp close enough before purchasing it. One change may be that I will paint the next one black like you questioned. Polishing looks cool, but it took a long time.

 

[rustybronco]

I decided to go this route for a few reasons.

If it was cracked, it had to have gotten bent.

 

[Tenshots1]

If it was cracked, it had to have gotten bent.

Yea I was kinda thinking the same thing. Either way, I think it was an easy decision to get a new clamp. Bummer that it was the wrong design. I will buy a new one on eBay and this time check it before spending the time and effort on it.