Andy Higham
VIP MEMBER
- Joined
- Apr 16, 2025
- Messages
- 168
I decided that the long top bushes were definitely a good thing, More support and stopping the angry top out.
I bought the nice alloy Molnar retainers because mine were rusty and scarred by pipe grips. Fitting modern wiper seals in the top of them is straight forward .
Then........................
I made a fateful phone call and had a chat with Richard at Maxton suspension. He told me one of the problems with Norton forks is the seals. The sealing diameter is 32mm on a 35mm fork which causes "stiction", he recommended a thin sleeve with a 47mm ID Loctited into the alloy leg, and using a 35 x 47 x 11 seal. The bush will pass through the 47mm dia.
I pondered this later, a sleeve with a wall thickness of approx 0.35mm will be a nightmare to turn without it collapsing.
I looked at the retainers, I will bore the underside of them 44mm x 7mm deep and fit 35 x 44 x 7 seals into the underside of the retainers. An added bonus is the seals will be able to changed without stripping the forks, just drop the legs out of the yokes and unscrew the retainers.
The space once occupied by the seals now needs filling, a couple of alloy blanks same OD and thickness as the seal with a bigger ID to clear the stanchion.
Then the conversation took a bit of a turn, a 16 digit number changed hands, and a set of Maxton SD20 cartridges will shortly be in my hands. The top out and bottom out are both controlled within the cartridges using hydraulics and top out springs. Concealed damper and spring pre load adjusters. Compression in one side, rebound in the other.
This will give me opportunity to make another tweek, the above mentioned alloy blanks will be made with the ID to suit the upper fork bush OD and loctited into place in the top of the alloy slider, then the top bush fitted through it raising the top bush by 11mm, effectively making the slider longer and increasing the support by moving the bushes apart.
I bought the nice alloy Molnar retainers because mine were rusty and scarred by pipe grips. Fitting modern wiper seals in the top of them is straight forward .
Then........................
I made a fateful phone call and had a chat with Richard at Maxton suspension. He told me one of the problems with Norton forks is the seals. The sealing diameter is 32mm on a 35mm fork which causes "stiction", he recommended a thin sleeve with a 47mm ID Loctited into the alloy leg, and using a 35 x 47 x 11 seal. The bush will pass through the 47mm dia.
I pondered this later, a sleeve with a wall thickness of approx 0.35mm will be a nightmare to turn without it collapsing.
I looked at the retainers, I will bore the underside of them 44mm x 7mm deep and fit 35 x 44 x 7 seals into the underside of the retainers. An added bonus is the seals will be able to changed without stripping the forks, just drop the legs out of the yokes and unscrew the retainers.
The space once occupied by the seals now needs filling, a couple of alloy blanks same OD and thickness as the seal with a bigger ID to clear the stanchion.
Then the conversation took a bit of a turn, a 16 digit number changed hands, and a set of Maxton SD20 cartridges will shortly be in my hands. The top out and bottom out are both controlled within the cartridges using hydraulics and top out springs. Concealed damper and spring pre load adjusters. Compression in one side, rebound in the other.
This will give me opportunity to make another tweek, the above mentioned alloy blanks will be made with the ID to suit the upper fork bush OD and loctited into place in the top of the alloy slider, then the top bush fitted through it raising the top bush by 11mm, effectively making the slider longer and increasing the support by moving the bushes apart.
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