Long Roadholders

Previously robert_dixon wrote:

I am just starting to rebuild a 1947 Norton that has long roadholders.

I have put the front wheel in when I tighten the axle, the pinch side fork still has play, in that the fork is not tight against the shoulder of the axle bolt. There is some float about 1/4 inch between the bearing cover and the fork before the pinch bolt is tightned. Do I have the wrong axel (bike came in boxes) or is this correct.

Thanks

The axle nut pulls the wheel and brake over to the right, tight against the right fork leg. At this point the axle is floating in the pinch-bolt side and it can slide. There is always a gap between the bearing cover and the fork since that is the floating side. The pinch-bolt is the last thing you do up after you are sure there is no binding.

EDIT: Don't go back and tighten the axle nut more after you tighten the pinch-bolt. That might pull the left fork leg to the right and cause binding which you may not notice. Let the left fork leg find its own alignment before tightening pinch-bolt.

Also remember you only need to gently nip up the pinch bolt till it (as its name suggests) pinches the leg. Use a self locking type nut if you are worried about it coming lose but DO NOT OVER TIGHTEN IT many fork legs have been broken by doing just rhat.

Previously robert_dixon wrote:

Thanks, What amount of gap should be between fork and hub.

Someone else will have to answer this since I only have short and wide Roadholders in one piece at the moment, but as long as you have a gap you are ok. It is not critical and you have no choice in the matter anyway.

Are you concerned with your wheel not centering maybe? It is a completely unrelated problem.

Previously robert_dixon wrote:

The wheel is centering 100%. With the wheel off the ground the fork wants to sit close to the hub so is finding its own position, what distance should be between the hub and forks. I am thinking an 1/8th of an inch, or should I just pinch up the bolt where the forks want to be.

Thanks for your help.

I was told by an old friend the best practice was to put the bike back on the ground then push the fork down an let them return a few times. That way the slider will settle in to its own position on the axle. Then GENTLY nip up the pinch bolt.

I was told by an old friend the best practice was to put the bike back on the ground then push the fork down an let them return a few times. That way the slider will settle in to its own position on the axle. Then GENTLY nip up the pinch bolt.

This is what I do as well. You cannot adjust the gap. It has to find its own alignment as Karl said, by bouncing the forks. I checked my 56 short Roadholders earlier (exactly the same principle) and the gap was very small, perhaps 1/32" but, again, it is where they happened to settle.

Previously robert_dixon wrote:

Thanks, What amount of gap should be between fork and hub.

Something like 1/4 to 1/2 an inch.....As has been said by everyone above, the left fork does not pull up to the hub it floats on the wheel spindle until it is clamped onto the spindle by tightening the small bottom pinch nut. DO NOT overdo the tightening....it will snap the fork casting. The best method is to apply the front brake with the bike off the stand and pump the forks (as karl said above)up and down then preferably leave the bike on the side stand to leave the bikes weight on the wheel and tighten gently the pinch nut....However before doing this procedure, the main spindle nut should have been tightened solidly