Xtracycle U-Tube Cargo Bikes User Manual

U-Tube Cargo Bikes

Product Information: U-Tubes Manual 2021

The U-Tubes are an accessory designed for Xtracycle frames. They come with hardware including four spring pins (pre-installed) and four M5 X 28 mm bolts and washers (for bikes that require bolt to install the U-tubes). The U-Tubes can be installed in either the wide setting or the narrow setting, depending on the user’s preference. In the wide setting, the U-tubes will extend 6 out from the frame. In the narrow setting, they will extend 5.25 out from the frame. The installation process involves using tools such as a 4 mm Allen wrench, a 5 mm Allen wrench, a 10 mm socket wrench, a rubber mallet (only needed in some cases), and needle nose pliers (if installing on bikes that require bolts).

Product Usage Instructions

Installing the U-Tubes

1. 1. Before installing the U-Tubes, note that the rear insertion end on each U-Tube is slightly longer than the insertion end on the front end of the U-Tube.

2. Determine whether you want to install the U-Tubes in the wide or narrow setting. To switch between settings, press the spring pin button in and push or pull the spring pin elbow on the inside of the U-Tube until it pops out and into the setting hole. Needlenose pliers might be needed to help with this.
3. Check to see if the U-tubes fit into the frame. If they do not slide comfortably into the holes, loosen the tailpiece on the back end of the bike using a 10 mm socket wrench and a 4mm Allen wrench for non-electric and Bosch bikes or a 5mm Allen wrench for Shimano bikes. Push or pull the tailpiece into place where you can easily insert the U-tube. Do not tighten the tailpiece yet.
4. Insert the U-tube into the frame, pushing in on the spring pin button so that the button slides into the frame as well. Insert the U-tube far enough for the spring pin to pop out into the hole on the bike frame. Optional: Apply grease to the portion of the U-tube being inserted.
5. Insert the rail on the other side of the frame.
6. If you loosened the tailpiece to install the U-tubes, tighten the tailpiece into place.
7. The U-Tubes are now installed and ready for use.

Using the U-Tubes on bikes that require bolts

1. 1. If your Xtracycle frame has smooth threadless holes, use the spring pins. If your frame has threaded holes, remove the spring pins and use the included bolts and washers.

2. To remove the spring pins, push in on the spring pin button and pull the spring pin out of the end of the U-Tube. Needle nose pliers can help with this.
3. Follow steps 1-6 from “Installing the U-Tubes” section above.
4. Bolt the U-Tubes into place. Remember to slide one of the washers over the bolt before bolting it into place. Note that for the front drive side bolt, accessing this bolt may be difficult with a KickBack 3. To access this bolt, run a piece of rope around the spring and pull down with your foot. This moves the spring out of the way so you can secure the U-tube bolt in place quickly.

installing the U-tubes

Tools needed

• 4 mm Allen wrench (non-electric and Bosch bikes only)
• 5 mm Allen wrench (Shimano bikes only)
• 10 mm socket wrench
• Rubber mallet (only needed in some cases where the
• U-tubes are having a hard time sliding in to the frame) Needle nose pliers (if installing on bikes that require bolts)

Hardware included

• (4) spring pins (pre-installed)
• (4) M5 X 28 mm bolts and washer (for bikes that require bolt to install the U-tubes)

01 A
Before installing the U-Tubes, please take note that the rear insertion end on each U-Tube is slightly longer than the insertion end on the front end of the U-Tube.

01 B
Determine if you would like to have the U-tubes installed in the wide setting (shown on the left side of the bike pictured below) or the narrow setting (shown on the right side). In the wide setting, the U-tubes will extend 6″ out from the frame. In the narrow setting, they will extend 5.25″ out from the frame.

If you would like to switch the width setting on your U-Tubes to narrow or wide :
Press the spring pin button in and push or pull the spring pin elbow on the inside of the U-Tube until the spring pin button pops out and into the setting hole. Needlenose pliers might be needed to help with this.

01 C
Check to see if the U-tubes will fit into the frame. If they comfortably slide into the holes, skip to step 01 G.

01 D
If your U-tubes do not seem to easily slide into the frame, you will need to loosen the tailpiece on the back end of the bike in order to acquire additional tolerance. This is the tail piece.

01 E
Four bolts are securing the tailpiece in place. Loosen these four bolts using the 10 mm socket wrench and the 4mm Allen wrench for non-electric and Bosch bikes or the 5mm Allen wrench for Shimano bikes.

01 F
Push or pull the tailpiece into a place where you can easily insert the U-tube. Do not tighten the tailpiece yet.

01 G
Insert the U-tube into the frame, pushing in on the spring pin button so that the button slides into the frame as well. Insert the U-tube far enough for the spring pin to pop out into the hole on the bike frame.
(Optional: You can apply grease to the portion of the U-tube being inserted.)

01 H
Insert the rail on the other side of the frame.

01 I
If you loosened the tailpiece to install the U-tubes, tighten the tailpiece into place. Your U-Tubes are now installed and ready for use.

using the u-tubes on bikes that require bolts

02 A
If your Xtracycle frame has smooth threadless holes, the U-tubes will need the spring pins. If your frame has threaded holes, you will need to remove the spring pins and use the included bolts and washers.

02 B
To remove the spring pins, push in on the spring pin button and pull the spring pin out of the end of the U-Tube. Needle nose pliers can help with this. Follow steps 01 A – 01 H.

02 C
With the U-Tubes installed, you can now bolt them into place. Be sure to slide one of the washers over the bolt before bolting it into place. Please note that for the front drive side bolt, the KickBack 3 can make accessing this bolt diffult. To access this bolt, run a piece of rope around the spring and pull down with your foot. This moves the spring out of the way so you can quickly secure the U-tube bolt in place.

02 D
Once all 4 bolts are secured, you can tighten the tailpiece, as shown in step 01 I. Your U-Tubes are now intsalled and ready for use.

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