BIKE RACK INSTALL INSTRUCTIONS

HOW TO INSTALL A DIVIDE OR DIVIDE FAT

This rack is eyelet-mount ready out of the box. If your bike does not have upper and lower eyelets, we produce a full-line of Fit Kits for thru axles or QR skewers. Mounting our rack via thru axle or QR skewer will also increase the load capacity of the rack to 70 lbs / 31 kg.

HOW TO INSTALL A REAR RACK ON A BIKE WITH EYELETS

HOW TO INSTALL A FRONT RACK ON A SUSPENSION FORK

HOW TO INSTALL A RACK USING A FIT KIT

TOOLS NEEDED:

  • 4mm hex
  • 5mm hex
  • 6mm hex (for front rack installs)
  • Torque wrench
  • 10mm box wrench
  • Anti-seize (preferred) or grease

If installing one of our Fit Kits that uses pucks, you will also need:

  • pliers or third hand tool
  • cable cutters or nail clippers

Don’t forget to apply anti-seize (preferred) or grease to all bolts. This will prevent the bolts from, you guessed it, seizing and making it hard to remove the bolts down the road. Don’t worry, we use Nyloc nuts where needed to prevent bolts from loosening on their own.

STEP 1: ATTACH THE DROPOUTS

  • Set your Old Man Mountain rack upside down so that the “N” of the stamped Old Man Mountain logo is closest to you, the “O” furthest away from you. See images A and B.
Divide Bike Rack On It's Side

Image A

Divide Bike Rack Upside Down

Image B

  • Arrange the dropouts as seen in Image C to identify dropout #1 and #2.
Divide Dropouts

Image C

Select if you will be installing the rack as a front or rear rack.

  • Using Hardware Kit 1, install Dropout #2 on the left side of the rack frame with the bolt collar pointing out. Mount to the inside of the rack frame, see Image D. 

NOTE: Some wider frames may require the dropouts to be mounted to the outside of the rack frame.

  • Use Image E as a starting point to set your rack height to your tire size. Rack height will vary when eyelet mounting as eyelet placement varies from bike to bike. Don’t forget to apply anti-seize (preferred) or grease to all bolts.

NOTE: If you are going to QR Skewer mount your rack you will want to follow the front rack instructions for attaching your rack dropouts.

Droupouts-set-for-rear-rack-installation

Image D

Dropout placement for different wheel sizes

Image E

  • Install the bolts pointing in towards the middle of the rack with the bolt heads on the outside. Be sure to align the dropout with the Rack Tabs. See Image F.
Dropout Alignment For Rear Rack Installs

Image F

  • Repeat the above steps with dropout #1.
  • Using Hardware Kit 1, install Dropout #1 on the inner, left side of the rack frame with the bolt collar pointing in. See Image C. Use Image H as a starting point to set your rack height to your tire size. Rack height will vary when eyelet mounting as eyelet placement varies from bike to bike. Don’t forget to apply anti-seize (preferred) or grease to all bolts.
Droupouts-set-for-rear-rack-installation

Image G

Dropout labeled for different wheel sizes

Image H

  • Install the bolts pointing in towards the middle of the rack with the bolt heads on the outside. Be sure to align the dropout with the Rack Tabs. See Image I.
Dropout Alignment Fro Front Rack Installs

Image I

  • Repeat the above steps with dropout #2.

STEP 2: ATTACH THE RACK TO YOUR BIKE

Now select how you will attach the rack to your bike.

Place the provided 19mm spacer into your racks dropouts then align with your bike’s eyelets.

19mm spacer placement19mm installed spacer

  • Attach your rack Dropouts to the lower eyelets on your bike using Hardware Kit 3. Don’t forget to apply anti-seize (preferred) or grease to all bolts.
  • When installed on the on the rear of the bike the Old Man Mountain stamp will be readable from the drive side of the bike. When installed as a front rack the Old Man Mountain stamp will be readable from the non-drive side of the bike.

NOTE: The rack can be installed facing the other direction if desired. This can bring the carried weight closer to the center of the bike but can cause interference with riders’ heels when pedaling or with the seat, especially with dropper posts.

ANOTHER NOTE: If your bike does not have lower eyelets, we offer Fit Kits to mount your rack via thru axle or quick release.

  • Check that your bike and rack are level, and snug up the hardware to hold the rack in place while completing the next steps. See Image L.

Juliana Gravel Bike With Front and Rear Racks

Image L

  • Remove your bike’s stock thru axle.
    Setup your thru axle to match your stock thru axle:
  • Compare your stock thru axle to the Robert Axle Project thru axle provided in your Fit Kit to verify they match. The axles’ thread pitch should match (Image J) and the shaft length should be within +/- 2 mm. Use enclosed spacers as needed to match the length and taper of your stock axle. See Image K.

Thru Axle Thread Comparison

Image J

Thru Axle Length Comparison

Image K

FRONT RACKS:

  • Apply grease to the shaft and threads of the Robert Axle and insert into your bike. For front axles use a 6mm hex key and torque to 10nm.
  • Attach your rack Dropouts to the axle using Hardware Kit 4. Don’t forget to apply anti-seize (preferred) or grease to all bolts.
    Front axle tool angle instructions

    FRIENDLY REMINDER: Be sure to always keep your hex tools aligned with the hex broach. Inserting and torquing tools at an angle can damage tools and parts.

REAR RACKS:

  • Apply grease to the shaft and threads of the Robert Axle and insert into your bike. Insert 5mm hex key into the cross hole in the Robert Axle end. Use the hex key as a lever and tighten to the equivalent of 12 Nm. Do NOT over tighten axle into frame.

  • Apply grease to the interior threads of the drive side of the Robert Axle.

  • Thread the remaining Axle End into the drive side of the axle. It should tighten flush against the frame and there should NOT be any gap between the frame and Axle End cap If there is a gap, you will need to install the enclosed washer on the drive-side. You may need to install a second washer to fill that gap on some bikes. Torque to 6 Nm. (Figure 4)

NOTE: When installed on the on the rear of the bike the Old Man Mountain stamp will be readable from the drive side of the bike. When installed as a front rack the Old Man Mountain stamp will be readable from the non-drive side of the bike.

ANOTHER NOTE: The rack can be installed facing the other direction if desired. This can bring the carried weight closer to the center of the bike but can cause interference with riders’ heels when pedaling or with the seat, especially with dropper posts.

  • Check that your bike and rack are level. See Image L. Use Hardware Kit 5 to secure the rack to the axle. Snug up the hardware for now, we will torque all bolts at the end.

Juliana Gravel Bike With Front and Rear Racks

Image L

  • Remove your stock skewer from your bike, keeping your wheel in place.
  • Place your OMM rack on your bike and install the OMM QR Skewer through the rack Dropouts and your hub.

NOTE: When installed on the on the rear of the bike the Old Man Mountain stamp will be readable from the drive side of the bike. When installed as a front rack the Old Man Mountain stamp will be readable from the non-drive side of the bike.

ANOTHER NOTE: The rack can be installed facing the other direction if desired. This can bring the carried weight closer to the center of the bike but can cause interference with riders’ heels when pedaling or with the seat, especially with dropper posts.

  • Check that your bike and rack are level, and snug up the hardware to hold the rack in place while completing the next steps. See Image L.

Juliana Gravel Bike With Front and Rear Racks

Image L

STEP 3: ATTACH THE EXTENDERS

Now select how you will attach the extenders to your bike.

  • If installing the rack on the front grab the 6-inch extenders. If installing the rack on the rear you will use the 14-inch extenders.
  • Attach the Extenders to the upper eyelets on your bike’s seat stays or fork using Hardware Kit 3. On some bikes, bending the Extenders is necessary to properly line up the extenders with the eyelets and/or the inside of the rack’s crossbars. Don’t forget to apply anti-seize (preferred) or grease to all bolts.

PRO TIP: If bending the Extenders, we like to wrap them in a paper towel to protect the finish, and bend them in a vise to get nice, clean bends. If you don’t have a vice, your hands can also get the job done.

PRO TIP #2: If you are using the first of the two slots on the longer Extenders, you can use a hacksaw to cut off the second slot for a more streamlined look and to drop a few grams.

YET ANOTHER TIP: If you find your bike does not have upper eyelets, we have a seat post clamp mount or our Pucks which provide upper attachment points on any bike.

  • Use Hardware Kit 2 to attach the slotted end of the Extenders to the inside of the crossbars on the rack frame. Snug them up, but do not torque them yet. Don’t forget to apply anti-seize (preferred) or grease to all bolts.
  • Check again to make sure rack is level and adjust the extenders as necessary.

If your frame or fork has upper eyelets, you use them to attach the Extenders. If your frame or fork does not have upper eyelets use the Pucks provided with your Fit Kit to attach the Extenders to your fork.

  • Locate where you want to install the Pucks onto your fork, and install the clear protective tape from Hardware Kit 6 to those areas. We suggest mounting the Pucks so the top is aligned with where the tire meets the rim or above. Mounting the pucks lower on the stays will put more strain on your bike’s seat stays.

NOTE: You will want to trim the tape so that it will not overlap BEFORE sticking it to your bike.

  • Install the Pucks to your fork or seat stays using our special ZipTies. The Puck should be oriented so the hex shaped pocket faces the wheel. The pucks will settle into place on the first ride so we recommend placing them at the top of the protective tape.

PRO TIP: Running the ZipTies under hot tap water will soften them and help them conform to the shape of your seat stays.

  • Pull ZipTies tight with a pair of pilers. Do not cut yet. Be sure to use the supplied ZipTies, they are far stronger than standard ZipTies, are UV stable, and do not ratchet so they can snug up as tightly as possible.
  • If installing the rack on the front grab the 6-inch extenders. If installing the rack on the rear you will use the 14-inch extenders.
  • Attach the Extenders to the pucks. On some bikes, bending the Extenders is necessary to properly line up the extenders with the eyelets and/or the inside of the rack’s crossbars.

PRO TIP: If bending the Extenders, we like to wrap them in a paper towel to protect the finish, and bend them in a vise to get nice, clean bends. If you don’t have a vice, your hands can also get the job done.

PRO TIP #2: If you are using the first of the two slots on the longer Extenders, you can use a hacksaw to cut off the second slot for a more streamlined look and to drop a few grams.

  • Use Hardware Kit 2 to attach the slotted end of the Extenders to the inside of the crossbars on the rack frame. Snug them up, but do not torque them yet. Don’t forget to apply anti-seize (preferred) or grease to all bolts.
  • Check again to make sure rack is level and adjust the extenders as necessary.

STEP 4: FINAL CHECK AND HARDWARE TIGHTENING

Tighten up all the hardware to the following specifications.

  • M5 bolts (Eyelets) = 3 Nm
  • M6 bolts (Dropouts and Extenders) = 6 Nm
  • If you used Pucks, give the zip ties one more pull with a pair of pliers, then cut flush. (Nail clippers work well for a very flush cut).

We use Nyloc hardware where possible to ensure your rack stays securely and reliably attached to your bike on even the most rugged conditions but you should always double check all hardware and parts before each ride!

CONGRATS! YOU’RE READY TO RIDE

TROUBLESHOOTING

Is your bike an independent thinker, unwilling to conform to bike industry norms? No problem! Our racks are incredibly adaptable and we have lots of tricks up our sleeve for strange bike fits.

For any fitment issues email us via [email protected]. We almost certainly have a solution to fit your bike and are quick to reply.