Tripple tree modification?

[ShreddinPB]

Hey guys, I currently have a fat tire chopper trike that uses these forks (42" 1/8th threadless)
http://www.bicycledesigner.com/bike-parts/bicycle-forks/42-chopper-fork-1-1-8-threadless.html
The front wheel is a standard beach cruiser tire tho and I want to put a fat tire on the front also. Without thinking, I purchased 26 x 4" triple tree
http://www.bicycledesigner.com/bike...-fat-tire-extra-wide-chopper-fork-chrome.html
Not realizing that the steering tube is 1" on it
I wanted to just take the 42" forks from the first one and put them in the triple tree from the other. Can I just drill out the steering tube hole on the 1" to 1 1/8th and swap the steering tube?
I did try to find a triple tree that fits a 4" tire with a 1 1/8th steering tube and was unsuccessful in doing so.
If you know where to find one of those, id be willing to just get that also

thanks!

 

[pholTmonx]

I beleave ur easiest solution would be shims to work w what you have. It could be drilled out but it's not going to be a cheap bit, and machining could be spendy. If you look at the Threadless diagram the steering tube holes oversized a bit to almost 1.25"
Good luck have fun

 

[Duchess]

There are headset reducer shims. There may even be headsets that go 1 1/8" head tube to 1" steerer, but you'd have to look. This should be an easier solution than 1 1/8" steerer into a 1" head tube and I've done that.

 

[pholTmonx]

Hey guys, I currently have a fat tire chopper trike that uses these forks (42" 1/8th threadless)
http://www.bicycledesigner.com/bike-parts/bicycle-forks/42-chopper-fork-1-1-8-threadless.html
The front wheel is a standard beach cruiser tire tho and I want to put a fat tire on the front also. Without thinking, I purchased 26 x 4" triple tree
http://www.bicycledesigner.com/bike...-fat-tire-extra-wide-chopper-fork-chrome.html
Not realizing that the steering tube is 1" on it
I wanted to just take the 42" forks from the first one and put them in the triple tree from the other. Can I just drill out the steering tube hole on the 1" to 1 1/8th and swap the steering tube?
I did try to find a triple tree that fits a 4" tire with a 1 1/8th steering tube and was unsuccessful in doing so.
If you know where to find one of those, id be willing to just get that also

thanks!

Hey so @Bicycle808 just posted exactly what you need in the group buy thread.
http://problemsolversbike.com/products/headtube_reducers

Enjoy.. hope it helps.

 

[Bicycle808]

Hey so @Bicycle808 just posted exactly what you need in the group buy thread.
http://problemsolversbike.com/products/headtube_reducers

Enjoy.. hope it helps.

Yeah, that'd do it. Here's a link to a site selling the exact set you'd need....
http://www.niagaracycle.com/categories/problem-solvers-head-tube-to-headset-adapter-1-1-8-to-1 $20 ain't cheap, but it's cheaper than a new fork, i reckon. You'll also need a 1" threadless headset, and you'll want some shims to run a 1.125" stem on the 1" steerer, I reckon... You can still find 1" threadless stems, but there's not nearly as much availability and variety with those as there are with the 1.125" stems.

HTH

 

[ShreddinPB]

Shims do look much easier, however I dont think the steering tube on the 1" is long enough either, I will have to measure.

 

[Bicycle808]

Shims do look much easier, however I dont think the steering tube on the 1" is long enough either, I will have to measure.

Good idea. It always sucks when you spend money on parts only to find out that it's not gonna fit regardless....

Just brainstorming here, but it looks like both the top- and bottom-plates just bolt onto the steerer tube. If you can remove that too-short stock steerer, what's to stop you from just swapping in a steer tube of the length you need? Something like this:
http://www.cycle-frames.com/bicycle-frame-tubing/NOVA-FORK-STEERER-AHEAD-320MM-25.4mm.html
Or, if you were thinking of converting to 1" threaded, you could get this instead:
http://www.cycle-frames.com/bicycle-frame-tubing/1-inch-FORK-STEERER-300mm.html

Theoretically, you could even just put a length of 1" OD 4130 steel in there, but I don't recall what ID you'd need for the star-nut on a 1" threadless headset. And, at $10, either of those headtubes would be good quality at a good price, but you'd have to be able to braze the crown race seat on there.... http://www.cycle-frames.com/bicycle-frame-tubing/STEEL-UNICROWN-1-inch-RACE-RING.html

I've never messed with these too much, so I've ever tried to swap out the steer tube on something like this. I'm just kinda "thinking out loud" about some other options that might work for you, if the 9.5" stock steer tube won't fit your headtube...

 

[ShreddinPB]

Good idea. It always sucks when you spend money on parts only to find out that it's not gonna fit regardless....

Just brainstorming here, but it looks like both the top- and bottom-plates just bolt onto the steerer tube. If you can remove that too-short stock steerer, what's to stop you from just swapping in a steer tube of the length you need? Something like this:
http://www.cycle-frames.com/bicycle-frame-tubing/NOVA-FORK-STEERER-AHEAD-320MM-25.4mm.html
Or, if you were thinking of converting to 1" threaded, you could get this instead:
http://www.cycle-frames.com/bicycle-frame-tubing/1-inch-FORK-STEERER-300mm.html

Theoretically, you could even just put a length of 1" OD 4130 steel in there, but I don't recall what ID you'd need for the star-nut on a 1" threadless headset. And, at $10, either of those headtubes would be good quality at a good price, but you'd have to be able to braze the crown race seat on there.... http://www.cycle-frames.com/bicycle-frame-tubing/STEEL-UNICROWN-1-inch-RACE-RING.html

I've never messed with these too much, so I've ever tried to swap out the steer tube on something like this. I'm just kinda "thinking out loud" about some other options that might work for you, if the 9.5" stock steer tube won't fit your headtube...

The top is just a clamp, the bottom is pressed in with a flange, so the bottom would have to be bored out to make it work, so thats back to drilling it.

 

[Bicycle808]

How long is the frame's headtube?

 

[ShreddinPB]

How long is the frame's headtube?

Didnt have a chance to check last night, but its the standard chopper frame like this. So its long.

 

[Bicycle808]

Ooooh, dang. Might make the most sense to just buy another fork, then. That's a shame...

 

[ShreddinPB]

Ooooh, dang. Might make the most sense to just buy another fork, then. That's a shame...

I cant find a tripple tree that can take a 4" tire and has a 1 1/8th steering tube at all.

 

[OneHorsePower]

could always ask a shop to make 'S' bends in the fork legs/tubes , with 42'' long ,you should have enought room , could be very stylish too and might be a cheaper option than buying a new fork?

 

[Duchess]

What was the problem with drilling it? Looks like there's enough meat on the clamps from what I can see. I would think a step drill that's last step is 1 1/8" and a drill press and you're done.

 

[Jay Moore]

Hey guys, I currently have a fat tire chopper trike that uses these forks (42" 1/8th threadless)
http://www.bicycledesigner.com/bike-parts/bicycle-forks/42-chopper-fork-1-1-8-threadless.html
The front wheel is a standard beach cruiser tire tho and I want to put a fat tire on the front also. Without thinking, I purchased 26 x 4" triple tree
http://www.bicycledesigner.com/bike...-fat-tire-extra-wide-chopper-fork-chrome.html
Not realizing that the steering tube is 1" on it
I wanted to just take the 42" forks from the first one and put them in the triple tree from the other. Can I just drill out the steering tube hole on the 1" to 1 1/8th and swap the steering tube?
I did try to find a triple tree that fits a 4" tire with a 1 1/8th steering tube and was unsuccessful in doing so.
If you know where to find one of those, id be willing to just get that also

thanks!

my question, is did check to see if the wide wheel will fit on your frame? most frames only hold up to a 3 inch wide max. Ruff Cycles makes a 1 1/8 wide triple clamp. but that wont work on your head tube. removing the 1 inch steer involves way too much risk of destroying the clamp. if both sets of your fork legs are the same diameter then here is an option(but you need access to a lath): take a piece of tubing or round stock and cut it to length, turn down the OD to 1,1/8. on one end bore it out and deep enough to be pressed onto 3/4 or a little more of the steer tube on the wide forks. run a weld bead around the joined tubes. that will give room for the stock bearing raise and an 1,1/8 to 1 inch adapter on the bottom with out interference from an uneven surface from the welds. and make sure you bore the ID on the other end to fit the star piece that sits inside the steer tube. if you know a good machinist, they can do something like that on their lunch break

 

[Jay Moore]

What was the problem with drilling it? Looks like there's enough meat on the clamps from what I can see. I would think a step drill that's last step is 1 1/8" and a drill press and you're done.

no one makes replacement triple clamp steer tubes. he would have to make his own and need the right clamp, die set and hydraulic press to get a factory tight fit. or use the one from the other forks, but that means destroying one clamp and one head tube. and if that doesn't work then your out 2 sets of triple clamps.

 

[Duchess]

It doesn't look press-fit in the links. Must be different than the photo.