Fork modification question

[highship]

In an effort to get some truss rods to fit I was thinking of elongating the two slots in the fork that accept the axle of the wheel. I need to elongate by about 3/16". It will not cause rubbing issues. any other concerns?

 

[Tommy Atoms]

If it is a straight bar frame and the top bar runs horizontal to the ground, it will now slope downward toward the front of the bike. It may not be enough to notice and on a curved bar frame would not even be noticeable. Ive done it to bring a top bar to a more level stance before on a frame that I built myself.

 

[highship]

I thought about that but I didn't think 3/16" would be noticable.
Heres the bike I want to do it to...
viewtopic.php?f=16&t=37268

 

[user 135]

That should work great on those Schwinn blade forks. Go for it. Besides who can resist making sparks with a grinder.

 

[ozzmonaut]

I too would say go for it. 3/16 will not be that noticable. However, if you only need the axle 3/16 closer to the handlebars, couldn't the truss slots be ground out a bit, as well as the fork just a bit, to give you what you need without changing the stance as much?

 

[ozzmonaut]

If it is a straight bar frame and the top bar runs horizontal to the ground, it will now slope downward toward the front of the bike. It may not be enough to notice and on a curved bar frame would not even be noticeable. Ive done it to bring a top bar to a more level stance before on a frame that I built myself.

TTT, you realize of course that you could sit around making prewar style frames and possibly never have to work a regular job again? Especially if you manufacture tanks to fit them.

 

[highship]

I too would say go for it. 3/16 will not be that noticable. However, if you only need the axle 3/16 closer to the handlebars, couldn't the truss slots be ground out a bit, as well as the fork just a bit, to give you what you need without changing the stance as much?

That's what I was hoping for but there is not much meat left on the truss rod to elongate maybe a 1/16" there and an 1/8" on the fork.

Thanks for all the help

 

[Wildcat]

I did that with my tandem forks when one side of the forks had one end break off in storage. I used my dremel with just the right size grinding wheel to take both sides down far enough to give the axle bolt enough to grab on to. I think I ground it down a little more than 1/2 inch. It lowered the front by 1/2 inch, but those forks had plenty of room to begin with so it still rides just about the same. It sounded great as I ground it down, and had sparks going outside the garage at 8pm. All the other guys in the neighborhood had to find a way to make some noise after that, sawing or hammering something.