Why Monark repop springers break

[Uncle Stretch]

Ok I'm sitting here bored and I have a set of those dreaded monark repop forks and I'm wondering how they break. I took mine apart...new never been used....And looked at how they are put together and tried to figure out how the could break. I took my bench grinder with wire brush and took off whatever that paint powdercoat stuff was. They are made with three plates put together and the legs welded to them. The first one is welded to the stem tube. The second one is welded around the edge to that top plate and the third is welded to the legs and the tube. After looking the top is welded good. The second is welded around the edge and looks good too. the bottom is welded good to the tubes . The problem is that its pretty thin metal and the legs are a couple inches away from the neck and can twist , pulling the top of the legs out of the top plate . It's only held in with a little tack....maybe. What makes it worse they only tack the bottom plate and the middle one with a small tack only on one side of the tube. These can be fixed . Anybody that can weld can run a bead around where they are tacked and the fork will be perfectly useable.

 

[drabe]

Thanks for the review Stretch!
I've been wanting to get a set, but with all the bad press about them I figured I'd be better off without them.
Now that I know what the problem is, it doesn't seem too hard to fix.

One question, are all the welded areas painted or chromed?

Thanks again ,
Dave

 

[Uncle Stretch]

Everything is powdercoated I guess, but a wirebrush on a bench grinder will take it off quick and then a good welder can weld it up and , then they are good to go. If you dont weld them , one small tack on one end is all that stopping them from breaking...and mine didn't look that good.

 

[drabe]

Oh, now I see!
My 'paint or chrome' question was because I can't see the pics at work (Photobucket blocked for some reason!).

 

[icyuod2]

there could also be other factors.
cheap steel,brittle area's caused by inexperianced welders etc etc.

 

[Uncle Stretch]

The few I have seen that are messed up ,have the legs pulled out of the top plate. That one small tack on the top tube can give way very easy. I wouldnt trust the set I have without some additional welding. Just trying to figure out what the problem is. If I had built these I sure wouldnt trust a small tack to hold my weight. :shock: :shock: Maybe some boss , where they build these , told his worker that he had to make his roll of wire last a week. :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[Ace]

As a safety measure: have you considered contacting the manufacturers about this ? You should be on their payroll, in all fairness 8)

 

[Uncle Stretch]

I'm sure with all the ones that broke they know about the problem and may have corrected it by now. We need someone that has bought some lately to check theirs and see if they are welding the top all around or not.

 

[TornadoDave3]

Uncle Stretch..... I had problems with Cross-Bow's Monarch re-pops about three years ago. The one's I had were very similar to the photos you had posted, and they required some re-work before they were actually usable. For mine, I welded the juncture with a MIG and also had to extend the stem by 1.5" so they'd fit a Schwinn cruiser frame. Since I have the equipment, it wasn't a big deal but for many folks they are not really a good choice.

 

[Uncle Stretch]

There are alot of fab shops that do small stuff on the side for beer. Seems to be the payment of choice. If you swing by one around quitting time you can make some pretty cheap welding deals for a 6pack. :roll: :roll: I had one I found and I did so much business with them, the lady at the store down the street thought I was an alcholic.

 

[Venice Motor Bikes]

I know the guy who makes these... I'm helping him design a new stronger fork & I'll bring this thread to his attention! :wink:

 

[Rat Rod]

Here are more posts on the subject...

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=8703&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&hilit=monarch+springer

 

[stretch]

funny. ive seen original monark springers on here go for less than the new junk ones. :lol: :roll:

 

[B607]

I know the guy who makes these... I'm helping him design a new stronger fork & I'll bring this thread to his attention! :wink:

Tell your buddy to hire a real welder. :roll: We have dozens of pro welders laid off from the local CAT plant, maybe he can send for one of those. Gary