Leaf Spring Fork

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Ichoptop

Ichoptop

Joined
Sep 19, 2012
Messages
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Location
Denver Colorado
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I started designing a leaf spring fork for the 2013 RRB Build Off but never got around to finishing it. I ended up using a standard springer. A friend of mine really wanted a leaf spring for his "Indian" styled Felt he is building and came to me asking to finish the original design. Things changed drastically and I redid the geometry. I am still trying to source a lighter spring (this one is a 500lb. model) but all in all it works very nicely. I am going to put the prototype on one of my bikes and give it a few months of curb smashes and the like to make sure it holds up. It is using a typical fork with spring. I milled the hinge pin from 7075 Aluminum (inside the spring), Delrin bushings, and 7075 Aluminum spacers. I fabbed the front legs from 3/4 mild steel tube that I pressed, drilled, and welded up the seams. Rockers are cut in house from 3/16" mild steel plate.
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That is a work of art!
 
I think what really sets this fork apart from others I have seen is that the front "legs" are parallel to the main fork body, looks much better than when the leaf is hanging in the middle of nowhere compared to the spring legs...

Luke.
 
LukeTheJoker said:
I think what really sets this fork apart from others I have seen is that the front "legs" are parallel to the main fork body, looks much better than when the leaf is hanging in the middle of nowhere compared to the spring legs...

Luke.
Click to expand...

I love when the leafs go way out there, so that it almost looks like a fender.
 
That's nice, love a good leaf spring, sorry for a bit of a
hi-jack Ichoptop, here is my attempt at a working leaf
spring, used an inverted boat trailer cut up spring up
top and some old disk brake pads for the lower pivot,
the girder and other parts made from old bike frame
parts, works well but yes heavy. Hey this one is about
style and looks rather than practicality!
p6275900.jpg


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Adjustment would be my guess on those holes. Got me licking my chops! What size wheel do you have this showing with?
 
@ jamesdart, now I look again I think you are correct.@ Ichoptop, Whats with the lack of steerer tube? Oh, and, did I mention I like this fork? LOL
 
The holes are for fun on the Bridgeport and because I thought they looked cool a year or two back when I started this project. You would need to remove much more material to soften the spring and most likely when you did the heat created would just weaken the spring anyway.

This is a new magical fork that doesn't require a steering tube.

actually, I was mocking up parts a hundred times making small adjustments on the mill until it was right and a steering tube wasn't necessary at this point. Neither was the top fork brace.
 

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