Have rebuilt the front end of my 1964 A65 Rocket with later (1966 ish) forks. The front wheel is offset, being closer to the left hand fork than the right. Instinct tells me that the wheel should be equidistant between forks. That said I recall having read somewhere that there should be an offet (possibly 3/8"???) to take into account the drive (left) side of the engine sticking out more than the timing (right side).
Can someone please enlighten me. Thanks in advance.
The later pre OIF A65's had, at the hub, the front wheel offset versus the rear. I think this was to enable the rear brake to be on the left side as opposed to the crossover spindle to the right side.
To ensure the wheels/tyres at the road surface are in line, the fork bottom wheel spindle clamps where machined at a degree or so off 90 degrees, hence why there is a dot stamped into both leg and clamp on the right side only.
However as yours is a 1964 model, I'm not sure if this was necessary back then as,and I stand to be corrected on this, the rear wheel was central in the frame??
Quote from: Tamarmole on 06 Mar, 2025, 21:33 Have rebuilt the front end of my 1964 A65 Rocket with later (1966 ish) forks. The front wheel is offset, being closer to the left hand fork than the right. Instinct tells me that the wheel should be equidistant between forks.
Never known a front wheel yet that wasn't central between tele forks.
Maybe this is helpful, it's from a lightning 1970. When I laced a new rim I measured the center of the hub in the forks. And worked that way.
Thanks for the replys - food for thought.
Quote from: Gup holland on 08 Mar, 2025, 19:30 Maybe this is helpful, it's from a lightning 1970. When I laced a new rim I measured the center of the hub in the forks. And worked that way.
I take it that the aim was to get the rim sitting equi-distant between the forks
Yes, the wheel is now central in de forks.
Hi,
With these forks it is important to check that the wheels are in line. Although the rim is built in line with the hub, the end caps on the forks are designed with a very slight angle to bring the 'contact patch' of the front tyre in line with the rear. The end caps are marked so that they are used on the correct side.
The overall result is that the rim/tyre will sit slightly closer to the left(?) fork than the right.
If you do a search, was a thread on this a while ago.
Dave.
Why did BSA do this? What was their reasoning?
Hi,
If I remember the previous discussion it was to do with what I would consider a design fault. Without this slight angle the wheels did not line up. Hopefully somebody with more info. may comment, other wise search the forum for the previous discussion.
Dave.