Springer question

[brentville]

I was looking at substitute materials for a springer style fork. What do you think about using 3/8" threaded rod with those adjustable turnbuckles in the middle of the "fork"? The turnbuckles are threaded and as they tighten they pull together and tension the opposite ends of the threaded rod.
So you'd have two pieces of threaded rod on each side of the fork and they would be attached by the turnbuckles on each side and as you tightened it you put tension on the rods and hold everything together.

It would be a very rat rod style creation but wouldn't have much spring. Would it work? Would the threaded rod shatter on the first bump? Anyone tried this?

 

[MonsterMetal]

Well I haven't tried it but Id be willing to place a large bet that it wouldn't shatter the first bump you hit. Turnbuckles are made from fairly soft steel and although the rod might bend under enough stress there is very little chance of it breaking from shock. I dont quite get where you would get any spring. It sounds to me more like a truss which would make the fork more rigid, the exact opposite of "spring" Am I missing something?

 

[Uncle Stretch]

Yeah I dream up really strange stuff too , but I must have missed this one . Like use the turnbuckles for strut rods with a regular fork?? :? :?

 

[brentville]

Yeah really not a spring effect but more of a truss. Or even just to give the bike a "look". Instead of those chrome sweeping supports on the older bikes these would be galvanized steel rod with turnbuckles. And being threaded it would be a fairly easy install.

Now I just need to think of an application!