Hi
I've been reassembling the front forks for my restoration project a 70 Victor Special non runner from the USA. On arrival the front forks were seized but on stripping down were found to be in good condition (stanchions straight, no slop on the bushes etc. Once cleaned and reassembled on the bench and put in the vice all worked smoothly. However once assembled in the yokes neither fork will compress (either with the wheel in place or not). It is as if the springs are over compressed.
The stanchions measure 22.5 inches long (commonly advertised pattern ones seem to be a little shorter at 21.75 inches) spring length is as per the handbook and as are the no of coils. There is a small amount of green paint on the spring - handbook says green/red.
Any ideas what is going wrong?
It is worth checking everything has been assembled as per the parts diagram including the spring supports in the top of the seal holders. Might be worth holding a fork leg in the vice with the spring in place to check whether they then compress as expected. Presumably you can compress each spring an inch or two by pushing it against a bench?
Hi Guys
Problem solved! So I am pleased but also annoyed as it was down to poor quality control of pattern parts. The culprit is the chrome fork spring oil seal holder. The Victor version has a chrome ring set in an indent half way up the holder. The indent should be shallow enough to allow the spring to go to the base of the holder. Not on the pattern one, the indent was just too deep and stopping the coil spring from going all the way down so giving me the symptom described. One of my originals is good enough to re use and will search out another original from somewhere. Anyone know the whereabouts of a good genuine holder.
Thanks for you replies.
It is a bit hit and miss with pattern parts. Don't by shy about sending them back to the retailer with feedback.
Cost isn't necessarily a guide to quality either. I often think that most of the parts are probably made in the same factory, after all there can't be many people making Fork seal holders for long obsolete motorcycles.
Keep sending them back until you get a good one.
Hi. Have you tried Draganfly. They have comprehensive spares for this model.
Check out their website. They have exploded diagrams and part numbers in the listing.
They are also very helpful over the phone.