The BSA A7-A10 Forum

Technical (Descriptive Topic Titles - Stay on Topic) => Frame => Topic started by: lawnmowerman on 05.03. 2014 16:04

Title: Replacent fork stanchions
Post by: lawnmowerman on 05.03. 2014 16:04: I have just pulled the fork legs out of my 59 A10 SR as they were leaking. The stanchions are pretty corroded and are probably beyond re-plating.

Has anyone bought stanchions and bushes recently in the UK of a decent quality that they can recommend. I have heard that the material used in some bushes can score the new stanchions in a matter of weeks.

While the legs are out I thought I would fit some rubber fork gaiters - were they ever used on export SRs?
I think they may have been used on the RGS with a short shroud at the top to clamp the gaiters to. I am not using clip-on bars so I guess I could keep the existing shrouds to mount the headlamp and shorten them. I suppose the alternative would be to leave the stanchions exposed, use the short shrouds below the bottom yoke and use the RGS type headlamp brackets but I do not want to stray too far from "standard".

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Jim
Title: Re: Replacent fork stanchions
Post by: BVSR on 05.03. 2014 19:00: Jim

Look at those 1959 brochures.

Markku
Title: Re: Replacent fork stanchions
Post by: lawnmowerman on 05.03. 2014 19:14: Thanks Markku

It looks like they used the fork shrouds that I have but finished them in chrome. I thought that the gaiters fitted tight up against the bottom yoke. I am not sure whether there will be enough clearance against the standard front mudguard for the gaiters as different narrower ones are used on the bikes in the pics.

Has anyone fitted gaiters using the standard guard?

Jim

PS I am still searching the net for hard chromed stanchions - looks like there is a world shortage! I heard somewhere that they are made by a company that has (or had) something to do with Velocettes.
Title: Re: Replacent fork stanchions
Post by: BVSR on 05.03. 2014 20:15: Jim, You can install the gaiters little upper as in my SR.

Markku
Title: Re: Replacent fork stanchions
Post by: lawnmowerman on 05.03. 2014 20:23: Hi Markku

That is how I want to fit them, tight up to the lower yoke. Did you shorten the shrouds?

Jim
Title: Re: Replacent fork stanchions
Post by: a101960 on 05.03. 2014 20:39: I got my stanchions and bushes as a matched set about four years ago from Paul Goff.
So far I have had no problems. Just had a look at his website and he is out of stock. As are Draganfly.

Give George Prew a phone call I know that he also sells them.
http://www.norbsa02.freeuk.com/goffyfork.htm
He has the stanchions in stock, but not the bushes.

Tel: 01763 848763 & Fax:01763 849076
Opening Times
Monday to Friday:09:00am to 18:00pm
Saturday: 09:00am to 18:00pm
Sunday Closed

Have you also tried C&D Autos 01564 795000 or email us at canddautos@gmx.co.uk
Title: Re: Replacent fork stanchions
Post by: chaterlea25 on 05.03. 2014 21:43: HI Jim,
These are the type of top shrouds/headlamp mounts that will accept the rubber gaiters

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/271406474427?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649
(look at the mad price these made???)

I got some of these from Autocycle Engineering, same source for the stanchions
(hard chrome ones seem to be scarce lately but worth getting if you can find them)

HTH
John
Title: Re: Replacent fork stanchions
Post by: lawnmowerman on 05.03. 2014 22:23: Thanks a101960.
It looks like Goffy has the polished steel stanchions and bush sets but no chromed. I tried Lyford Classics who also have steel but no chromed.
I will try George Prew and C@D in the morning - I would like hard chromed if I can get them. It looks like I may have to settle for polished steel stanchions if I cannot source chromed or the riding season will be here and the bike will still be up on the lift.

Hi John
I had a look at those top shrouds on ebay - wow £184 complete with dents! I think at that price I may take a hacksaw to my black painted ones.
I will give Autocycle Engineering a call tomorrow. I had a look at their website - not easy to find stuff and no prices.

Jim
Title: Re: Replacent fork stanchions
Post by: Butch (cb) on 06.03. 2014 12:18: I guess you could buy steel and then farm them out to one of the service providers for hard chroming and grinding. S'gonna be expensive though.
Title: Re: Replacent fork stanchions
Post by: lawnmowerman on 06.03. 2014 12:31: Yes Cyclobutch. I had thought of doing that but hard chroming is about £165 plus shipping both ways. I suppose I could get the original stanchions done but the sun is out and I want to get back on the road.

Jim
Title: Re: Replacent fork stanchions
Post by: Flatboy 1950 on 06.03. 2014 12:50: " Forking by Frank " in the USA makes hard chromed fork tubes for everything ....
Title: Re: Replacent fork stanchions
Post by: lawnmowerman on 06.03. 2014 14:27: Thanks everyone for your help.

FWIW I am fairly certain that hard chromed stanchions supplied in this part of the world are only made by one manufacturer as every supplier seems to have run out at the same time and are all waiting stock. It seems that the manufacturer has a connection with Velocette.
I finally found some at BRITISH Only Austria Fahrzeughandel GmbH. www.vintage-motorcycle.com They are made in Britain so I would think they are the same ones that everyone here has run out of. Not a bad price either - Stanchions, bushes and seals £145 landed, which is the same sort of price they are selling at here.

Jim
Title: Re: Replacent fork stanchions
Post by: chaterlea25 on 06.03. 2014 23:03: HI Jim
Another pair of headlamp brackets (painted this time)

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BSA-A7-A10-B31-B33-M33-B40-B44-A50-A65-GoldStar-fork-COVERS-SHROUD-/261412971248?pt=UK_Motorcycle_Parts_13&hash=item3cdd6d62f0

HTH
John
Title: Re: Replacent fork stanchions
Post by: lawnmowerman on 07.03. 2014 11:31: Hi John

The price is getting a bit better. I wonder what the loops on the bottom are for - they would stop the gaiters sliding on.
I am going to the Kempton Park bike jumble in a couple of weeks so I may find some standard painted ones there which I can cut down and spray. I will hang on the ones on the bike which are in really good condition in case I want to sell it sometime and I can put it back to standard.

Jim
Title: Re: Replacent fork stanchions
Post by: chaterlea25 on 07.03. 2014 19:16: Hi Jim,
I hadnt noticed the loops ????
Never saw ones like that?? for attaching a tool roll??? Dont know!!
The correct ones for rubber gaiters are belled out at the bottom so as the gaiters will not slide off
A65 ones have slotted holes for the headlamp

Good luck with the search
John
Title: Re: Replacent fork stanchions
Post by: trevinoz on 07.03. 2014 23:24: Those particular brackets look like military B40 to me.

Trev.
Title: Re: Replacent fork stanchions
Post by: warmshed on 16.03. 2014 18:19: What do you use to fit the rubber gaiter at the top if you do away with the shrouds and fit clip ons?
Cant see mention of anything in the parts book.
I know some RGS have full length top shrouds to do away with the gaiters, these dont seem to be listed either.
Title: Re: Replacent fork stanchions
Post by: muskrat on 16.03. 2014 18:51: G'day warmshed. Before I put the "RGS" type on the cafe I had gaiters. I made a spacer/ring to go between the spring and lower triple clamp. the gaiter hose clamped to it.
Cheers
Title: Re: Replacent fork stanchions
Post by: wilko on 16.03. 2014 21:30: Hose clamps look ugly. If you make a spacer on a lathe you could machine a lip on it to retain the gator.
Title: Re: Replacent fork stanchions
Post by: KiwiGF on 17.03. 2014 02:16: On my b31 with same forks as my A10 I am using an old head bearing cup on top of the spring to clip the gaiters too. I will glue them if the clips dont hold them in position or look bad......the cups are a pretty good fit for the gaiters Im using *good3*
Title: Re: Replacent fork stanchions
Post by: warmshed on 17.03. 2014 17:28: Thanks for your suggestions. I thought there might be a standard part. I have a big lathe so will knock one up in stainless, just being lazy.

Regards Dave