From: | Gene Harper | e-mail: | gharperxman@gmail.com |
Subject: | RE: Deluxe and Series 20 X forks | Date: | Mon Oct 29 10:36:50 2018 |
Response to: | 6945 |
----- ORIGINAL MESSAGE FOLLOWS ----- This weekend I finished straightening 3 sets of forks for Series 20 X projects. I came across vastly different dimensions in the main fork lead measurement in all 3 forks. I built a set of blocks to hold the top end of the fork on a steel plate. I was able to pull the fork into alignment, hold it there and heat the bent areas, relieving the stress. Once cool, the fork is removed from the jig and it holds it's shape. Here is the issue: Strike an imaginary line through the center neck of the fork and extend it past the bottom end of the fork legs. Now measure perpendicular from that imaginary line to the center hole of the fork leg where the rocker pin is installed. This is what I will call the lead of the fork and in essence determines rake. The measurements I found for these three forks are: 3 1/4", 4 1/8" and 4 11/16". All of these forks were in pretty good shape, each had a slight twist and the spacing at the bottom end was slightly narrow. After discussion with Steve Thielicke and Benjamin Binns, I decided to just straighten each one to match it's neighboring leg. So, they are all straight but have different lead measurements. None of the forks showed signs of having been wrecked or bent severely. They all look to be a factory curve on the lower leg. My question is does anyone know if there were different forks made during the Deluxe years and if so, what did they fit, and why the difference? According to the Henderson parts lists I have that go up to 1925 (?) and the 20-24 Excelsior parts books, the entire fork assembly carries the same part number for X and Deluxe. This corresponds with sales literature stating the fork assembly was interchangeable between K model, Deluxe and X through 24. I don't have a 26 or later Deluxe parts book but I assumed the fork was the same through mid or late 27, or when ever they fitted the front brake. Any ideas why the differences? Thanks, Gene Harper |