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Tips
Tips

Rack gaiters - tips on fitting w/out going crazy

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tdskip

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Yep - it is that time again. I pretty much only acquire TR's that need new rack gaiters due to joy of fitting them. Yeah, right.....

Anyway, I've heard of pre-stretching them and heating them up to help make fitting them easier.

Any tips or ideas to share with the list on how you have learned to make this job easier?
 
Go get a cheap plastic for sale sign, and cut off a decent sized strip. Roll it up around the rack like a cone, and lube slightly with grease. Slide bootie over the cone onto the rack, and real carefully remove the plastic. You will have to experiment with size to find what works best, but it really is easy enough this way.
 
I just use a small screwdriver with rounded edges to work the boot onto the rack. It's a two-handed operation, as you have to hold one edge of the boot with one hand while wielding the screwdriver with the other, but it's not too hard.
Screwdriver is the same one I use for installing the "beehive" lenses on a TR3A.
 
I used a lid from a spray paint can... stretched the boot over the open (bottom) end of the cap so it was on about a half inch... then cut around the lid leaving a half wide ring of plastic holding the boot stretched.

Once over the rack that band is easily cut and removed.

If you can't get the boot stretched over the lid warm it in hot water and pre-stretch it over a glass jar of suitable size.
 
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