Thread on front forks on a Raleigh bike

[William ChithamParticipant @williamchitham75949]

This is an excellent forum for all things old bicycle. RetroBike I'd recommend a bit more research before you buy an expensive die that you'll probably never use again, I would be amazed if you can't find a fork that will be a straight replacement.

William.

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

I belong on Retrobike! I am officially a 'RetroGrouch'. My DIamondback mountain bike was bought new in 1994 and is entirely original from the frame to, err, the cranks. I also have an MBK Triathlete of similar vintage.

My first decent bike I built around an 24" 531 frame (rescued from being embedded in the ground) in about 1985. It was wonderful, five speeds and I once rode it (accompanied by a friend) 130 miles across Wales in a day with full panniers going past Nant-y-Mock and the Storey Arms.

There's nowt odd about road bikes with suspension these days!

The mountain bike got upgraded to a (mostly) Deore XT 24-speed groupset and V-brakes and Halson 'Inversion' forks that were pretty much state of the art back in the mid 90s. The bike was sold as 'suspension ready' so the 2 1/4" travel Hansons were fine. It gained a set of 6" travel Marzocchi Bomber forks which upset the geometry a bit… recent upgrades were a shorty stem and 750mm bars. It still has the Flite Titanium saddle I fitted after destroying the stock one on my first day out – now perfectly moulded to my rear end and super comfy.

Unfortunately, it's not really ideal for modern mountain biking, a fortnight ago I came to grief at Brechfa, went too fast for my skill level (following my brother, who used to do downhill racing and has a very nice full-suspension Giant) and washed out the front wheel. I then bounced 35 feet down a very steep slope before tumbling into a handy tree that stopped me falling into a small chasm with a stream at the bottom. Mostly just scratches but I did manage to absorb much of the impact with my face… oh the joy of cycling!

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Sorry for diverting this thread off course… I found a couple of pics of my bikes, one almost original the other endlessly upgraded!

[mike barrett 1Participant @mikebarrett1]

Posted by mike barrett on 24/05/2021 09:31:58:

Posted by Bo'sun on 24/05/2021 09:03:23:

Good morning Mike,

Before you get too involved, check that your selected plain steerer will accept the quill.

Good point! One of the problems is finding any technical (sizes) details of what being sold on line.
I think I need to find an old school bike shop to visit.
Also thinking of going back to see if I could rebuild the original forks. The springs have rusted badly but I should be able to replace them. There are a couple of plastic bushes that are worn but i could make new ones.
the part I dont understand is what stopped the forks coming apart, They now fall apart. There was no bottom fixing as far as I could see unless it has rusted away. I cant find a manual for the original forks, The company used to publish manual but was taken over and the manual doesnt seem to be available any more.

regards Mike

I have had a reply from RST Europe. No manual or spares for the original forks (no surprising) but they did send me a pdf showing all the parts in the original folks.
There was a boss at the bottom of the spring that was bolted with an bolt into the bottom of the tube.
None of that is left as the bottom half of the spring has turned to rust. But at least it explains why it fell apart! Will try to clean out all the rust from inside the forks to see it I can find the bottom threaded hole!
I would still like to repair the originals forks

Glad others are keeping old bikes running, but not planning on doing any off roading!

Mike

[James AlfordParticipant @jamesalford67616]

Posted by mike barrett on 25/05/2021 22:27:23:

Posted by Nimble on 25/05/2021 21:57:21:

Hi Mike,

I also own a 13/60 Herald and would be interested in your EFI. any information you could give me would be of interest PM me if you wish.

Nimble Neil.

Its got a rebuilt 1500 triumph engine, Newman cam, stage 2 head, Jenvey individual throttle bodies and wasted spark ignition.
All run by a upgraded Megasquirt MS2 controller. This means you can map the ignition and fueling based on input vacuum and throttle position. There is a high pressure fuel pump in the boot and pressure regulator on the fuel rail. It has broad band AFR sensor so can be run in closed loop to control the mixture. The Megasquirt software is excellent and allows you to tune and log data from the engine. It hasnt been on a rolling road but is still as fast as a 2L Vitesse but much more economical. Not cheap but a fun project that involves a lot of engineering, electronics and software.
The car also has an overdrive gearbox with close ratio GT6 ratios and a 3.89 diff. Its been around Scotland twice and down to Italy and up and down the alps!

PM if you more details.

regards

Mike

regards mike

How well does it handle? I had a two litre Vitesse and the handling was scary until I fitted a swinging rear leaf spring from the very last models. It lowered the rear end somewhat, but utterly transformed the handling.

James.

[FarmboyParticipant @farmboy]

Posted by James Alford on 31/05/2021 09:21:00:

How well does it handle? I had a two litre Vitesse and the handling was scary until I fitted a swinging rear leaf spring from the very last models. It lowered the rear end somewhat, but utterly transformed the handling.

James.

The 2-Litre Vitesse Mk1 rear suspension taught me to brake before the bend and accelerate through it. Really wish I'd kept my convertible, such a great little car to drive.

[mike barrettParticipant @mikebarrett73459]

Posted by Farmboy on 31/05/2021 11:13:33:

Posted by James Alford on 31/05/2021 09:21:00:

How well does it handle? I had a two litre Vitesse and the handling was scary until I fitted a swinging rear leaf spring from the very last models. It lowered the rear end somewhat, but utterly transformed the handling.

James.

The 2-Litre Vitesse Mk1 rear suspension taught me to brake before the bend and accelerate through it. Really wish I'd kept my convertible, such a great little car to drive.

Mk2 Viresse had the lower link on the rear suspension that fixed the rear tuck in.
My Herald has wider tyres that help with the tuck under, still need to be careful and as you say brake before the corner not in it!
It does have an advantage over the Vitesse and that the lack of weight in the front (4 cylinder instead of 6 cylinder engine), means it does not understeer.

mike

[mike barrettParticipant @mikebarrett73459]

Posted by Farmboy on 31/05/2021 11:13:33:

Posted by James Alford on 31/05/2021 09:21:00:

How well does it handle? I had a two litre Vitesse and the handling was scary until I fitted a swinging rear leaf spring from the very last models. It lowered the rear end somewhat, but utterly transformed the handling.

James.

The 2-Litre Vitesse Mk1 rear suspension taught me to brake before the bend and accelerate through it. Really wish I'd kept my convertible, such a great little car to drive.

Mk2 Viresse had the lower link on the rear suspension that fixed the rear tuck in.
My Herald has wider tyres that help with the tuck under, still need to be careful and as you say brake before the corner not in it!
It does have an advantage over the Vitesse and that the lack of weight in the front (4 cylinder instead of 6 cylinder engine), means it does not understeer.

mike

[mike barrettParticipant @mikebarrett73459]

Posted by mike barrett on 24/05/2021 18:34:42:

Thanks for all the helpful answers. I am/was trying to keep the bike standard but its begining to be a bit like Trigger's Broom … it would have been easier to buy a new bike but I do like repairing stuff!

But.

I can get a 1 1/8" 25 TPI die from one of the online suppliers in stock, buts it £45.
I have managed to find a set of forks with a threaded steering tube (1 1/8" that seems to be the correct length.
I am hopeful it will fit as the original forks were made by RST and seem to be standard set.
Will know when the new forks arrive. if I need to lengthen the thread then I will buy the die.

Regards Mike

Edited By mike barrett on 24/05/2021 18:35:23

New forks arrived, slightly longer than original but the fit perfectly, even enough thread on them so I didnt need to extend it.
All back together and working.
At least I now know all about front forks and how to take them apart and put them back together!

cheers mike

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