Every Day Adventurers

Editor Update: This is a semi-permanent solution for getting Footsies to work with KickBack. If you want to use WideLoaders, you’ll have to remove the bolts holding the Footsies on, so only do this mod if a) you’re fine voiding your warranty and b) don’t use WideLoaders.

KickBack is all the rage these days regarding our DIT tutorials. Our most recent tutorial focused on extending the peg platform of KickBack by using the handles off a Razor scooter. You can read up on that post here.

Taking passenger appeasement a step further, I wanted to explore a fast, simple solution to get your Footsies to play nice with KickBack. This mod will void your Footsie warranty, so proceed with caution (and if not installed properly, may void your KickBack warranty, too). Let’s begin!

Ingredients:

• 1 KickBack equipped Xtracycle
• 1 pair of Footsies
• 2 3mm thick, 5mm inner diameter locking washers
• 12 2mm thick, 5mm inner diameter flat washers (4 come with your Footsies, the ‘xtra is for modulating the friction of the Footsie deck on your KickBack axle cuff)


Note the washers used, this may vary

• 2 1/2″ Conduit Clamps (can be found in the electrical section of your hardware store) (could possibly get away with a 3/8″ clamp)
• 4-5″ of used bicycle inner tube, larger sizes will require folding
• 4 Nyloc Nuts (#10-24)
• 4 3/4″ Bolts (#10-24) Brass or Stainless Flat Head Slotted or Metric
• Locktite (optional, but recommended)

Tools:

• 3mm Allen Key
• 10mm Box Wrench
• Rotary stone grinder or other grinder to remove aluminum inner braze-on
• Wood drill bit set
• Countersink drill bit
• Drill
• Utility Knife or Scissors for cutting innertube
• Sharpie Marker

The Steps

Walk through the photographs detailing this mod at our flickr photoset.

1. Unscrew the bolts attaching your Footsie deck to the aluminum axle. Set the bolts and washers aside.
2. Using the grinder, carefully grind off the inner-most braze-on. DO NOT remove the outer-most braze-on or else you’re left with some useless Footsies. Check thrice before grinding. Also be careful not to grind into the aluminum tube. Check your progress often, and go slow.
3. Remove the velcro strap and bolt from the heels of your Footsies. Keep them for a rainy day or other project.
4. Install your Footsie deck by inserting the bolt and washer through the deck followed by two or three flat washers and one locking washer. The number of flat washers used will depend on KickBack spring’s ability to retract your stand. Apply some Locktite if you’ve got some.
5. Screw in the bolt snuggly, we’ll tighten it at the end, into the outer-most braze-on and with the 3mm Allen key. Align the aluminum axle as before the modifications.
6. With your KickBack up in the “ride” position (lean it against a sturdy object, walls are nice), remove the axle and set aside. Insert your modified Footsie into the axle cuff and into the Xtracycle frame. Install as far as the upright tube/FreeLoader bolts will allow.
7. Angle the deck so that the heel section is resting over the short stay (or the “footsie” stay as Surly calls theirs).
8. With Footsie positioned properly, take the clamp and position it underneath the stay. The further in the clamp is the stiffer the board’s attachment, but make sure the inner mount holes are about 1/2″ away from the edge of the deck. Too close and your deck may crack over time. Mark the mounting holes with the Sharpie once in position.


Step 8: Marking where the stay clamp will go

9. Drill marking holes into the deck using the marks you created. Use a much smaller bit than the diameter of your bolts. Be sure you’re drilling into scrap wood, or careful not to go into your workbench/kitchen table.
10. Flip the deck over and use a drill bit slightly smaller than your bolts. This will help when installing the nyloc washers since the tension will want to make the bolt spin. Allowing its threads to “bite” the wood helps keep them in place.
11. Countersink both holes with your countersink bit.
12. Screw in your bolts, check to see that they are flush with the deck surface. Re-countersink the holes if need be.


Step 12: Bolts inserted into countersunk holes

13. Make sure your FreeLoader lower straps are properly attached. Insert the Footsie peg into KickBack and your Xtracycle frame with the heel pointed up. Rotate the heel down so that the bolts fall on either side of the stay.
14. Cut ~2-2.5″ of innertube and wrap one conduit clamp. This protects the frame from scratching and helps give it a snug fit.


Step 14: Cut innertube protecting frame from clamp

15. Insert clamp around stay from underneath with the bolts protruding through the clamp holes. Screw nyloc nuts onto bolts until tight.


Step 15: Clamp tightened to Footsie deck

16. Tighten the toe bolt. Check the spring retraction of KickBack. If it doesn’t retract at all, you’ll need to raise the washer stack height until the friction is low enough for the spring to pull the stand into the upright, “ride” position.
17. Repeat steps 1-16 for the other Footsie foot rest.
18. Check the tightness of your bolts since actuation of KickBack may cause the toe bolt to loosen. If you have young ones that mount your Xtracycle by stepping on your Foot(sies), have them stand on the axle section, it’ll lessen the chance for strain on the bolt attachment points.

Let us know if you’ve got any other techniques for making Footsies play nice with KickBack, until then, ride on!