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Dominator front mudguard rubbing

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Hi

I've seen mention of 2 widths of front mudguard. I have added a photo of where mine is rubbing.

Is it likely I have the wrong one fitted or do I just need to tweak the mudguard to create some clearance. As you may be able to see, it doesn't seem to be a heavy rub but I'm not sure what the 2 sizes being talked about are. If there is a big difference in size between the 2 I guess that's not likely the issue but if it's a small diff, I may have an issue.

I hope this makes sense

Thanks

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Because the forks moved apart in 1964, the recesses in each side of the guards were shallower. That allowed wider tyres. The earlier ones were very tight to the fork shrouds and they often rub, especially after the shrouds are subject to long use. Sometimes the shrouds are no longer concentric to the forks. The later ones will not fit the early forks. The overlap is much too much. And the early ones won't fit over the bridge. I found a 90x90 Roadrunner tyre would just fit inside the narrow fork bridge, but 90x99 Roadrider will not fit in my case. So I use the 'correct' 3.00 size.

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The guard may have been "sprung"  ,you could try squashing it a bit and use washers between guard bridge and leg.  Make sure the guard bridge does not load up the fork legs ,or the action will be poor.

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Thanks both, I'll give the mudguard a little squeeze, take a little material by smoothing out the shrouds and mudguard and touch them up for the Spring.

If we get a Summer, if it all works, I'll spray them up in the warmer temps, fingers crossed.

Thanks

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On some featherbed bikes I have seen rectangular cutouts inside the fork shrouds. The ones I can remember seem to have been Inters, and they looked like factory work (or very good amateur).  I wonder if anyone can confirm if they were originally like that?

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Early Wideline Model 88's also had the shroud cutaways as the photo of my original 1953 Model 88  shows. I don't know when it was stopped but, as it is an extra manufacturing step, it would be a cost saving not to do this operation.

 

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Looking at your photo Nigel, the mudguard/fender looks to have spread out. If the fork shrouds enter the top of the mudguard recesses, they should clear the bottom of the mudguard recesses. The recesses were made to be parallel to the shrouds, or damn near.

A woodworking vice with wood faces will sort it out. Plus a gentle approach of course.

Good luck

Peter

PS. Quite likely the fork bridge is a rogue and pulling the mudguard out as mentioned earlier.

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Hi Nigel. I managed to buy the wrong mudguard for my 7 inch forks - I’m pretty sure it’s for the 7+3/8 inch forks. I’ve just measured it and the width of the scalloped in section at the top of the mudguard is 117mm. I also have an old mudguard for 7 inch forks and that measures 101mm when measured in the same place. I have tried several original mudguard bridges without much success as they all seem to be bent or distorted to a lesser or greater degree. However, I have now purchased a bridge from Norvil - it’s described as a pre ‘64 bridge for 7” forks (part number NM19282) - and that  fits the narrower mudguard perfectly and sits nicely between the fork legs without pulling/pushing on them.  Hope that helps.

Regards

Tony

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Thanks Tony, judging by the posts here, this will be the right thing for me to set the datum in when repro filing the mudguard.

Thanks all, this has dropped down the list a little as I concentrate on primary drive and final drive but at least I now have a plan that I can work on that looks like a solution, thanks again.

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Hi all

Finally got around to getting a good look at this. As mentioned earlier the mudguard has splayed out somewhat.

The bridge looks good, measuring at 97mm but I'm waiting to get the wheel back from the tyre fitter to put the bearings etc back in to get the set up right on the spindle.

On the face of it, the gap on the fork faces looks bigger. Do other 7 inch Dominator owners have any spacers fitted between the fork and the mudguard?

On another note, does anyone know the right thread in the fork boss, it looks fine and not UNF so I'm guessing cycle thread or BSF, does anyone know please.

Meanwhile when it's back together, I need to do some modification to squeeze the mudguard into the bridge.

 

 


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