Bike Rack installation problem

[Chicken Little]

I wrapped one with black electric tape. How much space are you trying to fill?
I also sliced some pvc for a big gap. Can you add washers to take up space?

[Catrin]

I don't want to wrap the post on my lovely custom Gunnar with tape - just vanity I suppose I only intend to use the rack when I am actually commuting or need it for other things, so most of the time it won't be there.

There isn't much of a space, and I tightened the bolts so tight that the sleeve I used is still attached to it after I removed it from the bike - so I know it wasn't a problem of it not being tight enough. It isn't much space...I wonder if a thin rubber sleeve would work - assuming I can find such a thing? It would have the added benefit of protecting the post from being marked by the rack. I think a washer might be too thick but I could be mistaken.

[OakLeaf]

A strip cut from an old inner tube makes a nice non-marring shim. I would think if it's not thick enough you could make a longer strip and wrap it around once, but I wouldn't wrap it more than once since it could make the rack unstable.

Another possibility would be the shims they make to put a narrow seatpost into a larger diameter seat tube. Those would be guaranteed to be the right size. But I think those are metal and might scratch your seatpost.

[Catrin]

A strip cut from an old inner tube makes a nice non-marring shim. I would think if it's not thick enough you could make a longer strip and wrap it around once, but I wouldn't wrap it more than once since it could make the rack unstable.

Good thought Oakleaf and one I hadn't considered. I don't have any "old" inner tubes, but I do have several extra and they aren't that expensive. I hope to FINALLY try my commuting route this Saturday - depending on what the rain does...

[Chicken Little]

You could also try foam pipe wrap. Cheap enough, and won't scratch anything.

[OakLeaf]

That would compress way too much to offer any stability, unless you're thinking of something different from the soft EPS stuff I put on my frame tubes when I pack the bike for shipping.