Fork Tubes

dennisgb · Sep 28, 2013

Putting my forks together and one of the tubes is a little corroded...it's usable but wondering about replacements.

I see sets on Ebay for $100 but wonder what the quality is. Has anyone used these?

Should I just stay with the British ones and pay the extra cost?

Time Warp · Sep 28, 2013

Personally I went with the Andover Norton 'tubes and rebuild kit,they are marked on the bottom to identify them.
There might be other brands (Emgo?) but my experience again is some of the cheaper versions have very average chrome.
I took for granted the AN product was machined,hard chromed and centreless ground in the UK.
The only other alternative here was to get the stock tubes redone in the next state ($300 + two way postage)

rx7171 · Sep 28, 2013

dennisgb said:
Putting my forks together and one of the tubes is a little corroded...it's usable but wondering about replacements.

I see sets on Ebay for $100 but wonder what the quality is. Has anyone used these?

Should I just stay with the British ones and pay the extra cost?

I got fork tubes (stancions) from Commando Specialties that fit well and have held up fine for four years.
Price around $110 plus shipping.

dennisgb · Sep 29, 2013

Thanks for the comments...but two different opinions.

I think I need to spend the $ to be safe

pierodn · Sep 29, 2013

I did the original re chrome and I'm very happy.

Ciao
Piero

concours · Sep 30, 2013

Forking by Frank, top quality for decades. 847-475-1003 USA.

RennieK · Oct 1, 2013

There have been other posts on this issue. Some of the off brands are too thick and don't fit properly so you are being wise here. Follow recommendations on known brands rather than best price options.

rpatton · Oct 1, 2013

concours said:
Forking by Frank, top quality for decades. 847-475-1003 USA.

+1 They are great to deal with. If you were Jay Leno, that's where you would get it. Do your best Leno impression on the phone, see what happens.

Mary Rules.

http://www.frankmain.com/

jeffdavison · Oct 1, 2013

Been Forked by Frank on my last 3 Nortons since 1981.... I won't let anyone else fork me

Frank forks (are) the best!

JD

john robert bould · Oct 2, 2013

Avoid any chinese/indian items, Threads are iffy and the "chrome" is microns thick [ Flash coating]. Also checkh the lower drilled holes for internal burs. Some have jagged burs that protrude into the bore,these can jam on the dampers.

Krazymummy · Oct 2, 2013

john robert bould said:
Avoid any chinese/indian items, Threads are iffy and the "chrome" is microns thick [ Flash coating]. Also checkh the lower drilled holes for internal burs. Some have jagged burs that protrude into the bore,these can jam on the dampers.

"Avoid" and "indian items" caught my eye . I have seen lots of indian tanks on ebay .. Are they substandard as the forks ?
I have a Fiberglass/GRP tank , not sure if it NEEDS replacing , but may do it anyway ...

Decemberist · Oct 2, 2013

Forks are just too important to skimp on, you're right to stay away from the knock offs.

Don Tovey · Oct 3, 2013

I purchased a new pair of stanchions from the norton owners club spares scheme.
i got new top bushes as well and they fit and move perfectly. I think they may be chinese but look pretty good quality.
I phoned Norton Andover for a price & they wanted over 4 times as much.
Sometimes you dont need to spend the earth to get a product that will do the job.
I have to say the Lansdowne adjustable dampers I have fitted are good.
Cheers Don

B+Bogus · Oct 4, 2013

Without 'knowing' where they come from it's difficult to say, but I built some forks with Far Eastern (judging by the oiled paper they were wrapped in) tubes and A-N bushes.
The only potential issue I saw was they lacked the undercut on the flanks where the bottom bushes locate, so if the bush has a small radius there's a possibility the bush won't sit correctly. However, it wasn't a problem, and if it was a de-burring tool on the bush would put it right - just normal 'fettling' for the experienced Brit rider :roll:
Dimensionally they were spot-on.
Anyway, the ones I built perform well, and I'd be happy to use them again.
That said, my Proddy Racer is being built with A-N stanchions :wink:

dennisgb · Oct 4, 2013

Thanks for all the posts. New tubes are on there way. Having a hard time getting the sliders off the old tubes. The rings on the top were really tight...like they were torqued on...can't figure out why someone would do that, because the book says hand tighten. They can't really rotate once together so why tighten like a rock?

I fitted the NYC Norton yokes and they are awesome. Fitment is perfect with tapered bearings. Thanks Kenny

Should be a very nice set up with the Landsdowne dampers and all polished yokes, gauge housings, dash, etc. The 1" bars with new Triumph controls look good too. Feels right when I sit on the bike. Will post pictures once together.

commando6868 · Oct 4, 2013

jeffdavison said:
Been Forked by Frank on my last 3 Nortons since 1981.... I won't let anyone else fork me
Frank forks (are) the best!

JD

What the fork do they charge for them, USD?

MF

concours · Oct 4, 2013

commando6868 said:
jeffdavison said:

Been Forked by Frank on my last 3 Nortons since 1981.... I won't let anyone else fork me
Frank forks (are) the best!

JD

Click to expand...

What the fork do they charge for them, USD?

MF

Two beans

Fork Tubes

dennisgb

Time Warp

.......back to the 70's.

rx7171

dennisgb

pierodn

concours

RennieK

rpatton

jeffdavison

john robert bould

Krazymummy

Decemberist

Don Tovey

B+Bogus

dennisgb

commando6868

concours

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