Take two

The hunt for parts for the Matchless girder fork has NOT been successful. Now I have found another lost cause instead.

Monark circa 1929 about 250 - 350cc. As rusty as the Douglas frame, if not worse.

There are some parts missing from the front forks (fastener for the handle bar) but nothing crucial that can not be replaced or made.

I did not get the correct petrol tank, that might be a problem. Now I am waiting for the Husqvarna oil tank I bought. Almost the same model as the ones used for the old Monarks. Hope it fits.

Girder Parts

For some time I have been planning for making the missing parts for the Girder Fork. First information I got from a "specialist" was that my fork is home made by some local black smith.

This I have believed for years but now I found an identical on some 1920:s Matchless motorcycles.

Searching the internet I also found a Parts List front fork.

I think I will have to make my own version of the upper yoke and linkage. With or without dampening.

Getting closer

Bought some 1/2" stainless axles, thread taps and dies from the interweb. Most everything went sour. Managed to buy 304 instead of 303 material for the axles. Tried to save some money and bought cheep BSCY thread dies that probably are made in India and worthless. (my lathe is missing the low gear that would allow me to make threads)

Anyway, have made axles that are almost ready. Missing only lubrication grooves and hexagon in one end, for adjustment (3/8" spanner). 

Also:
Bought an expensive extra long 4mm bore for the axle center hole for lubrication. Managed to get "unlucky when thinking" and burned the bore at once. After re-thinking and re-sharpening of the bore I managed to drill the 105mm deep holes in the center of the axles. (only 85mm deep in the longer axles).

Girder

Started looking closer att the girder fork i bought. There are some parts missing, the top yoke and the steering stem column/axle,

I have not found any pictures of the same forg model, for reference, on the internet or in any books I've got. Have asked a couple of "experts" but the only ansver I have got is: -"looks like it´s made by som Swedish blacksmith". That does not help me mch.

The data I really would want is the lenght ocf the top linkage arms and if possible the steeering axis angle. As it is, I probably will make the upper linkage lenght somewhat shorter than the lover ones, to make the fork parallel to the steering stem. Or maybe I will simulate the action in some computer progarm.

Anyway. The axles are not good, besides I'm missing one axle, the other tree all have some issues.

To the left. The original 3/8 BSC thread has been re-threaded to UNC
The one middle is the least bad one. The 3/8 thread cleaned out pretty well.
The one to the right, see below.

The axle is very worn and the 3/8 BSC thread in a bad state.

Thougt I should give the thread a try just for the fun of it and it turrned out pretty good. That does not matter since the axle is bad anyway. And since it is the same model as the missing axle, I think it's not much more work to make two of them at the same time. Now I have to find me some 1/2 inch axle to start from.

The lubrication slit will be a challange since I have no milling machine. Migt replace it with a bushing instead.

 

Forks

Even though the update frequecy on this blog is close to infinity, the project is not completely dead. I am constantly looking for possible parts for the project. Today I bought a girder fork, or at least half of it with the intention of making the missing parts myself.

Sorry to say I do not know from what bicycle, moped or motorcycle it came. Neither did the seller. Would have been easier if I knew how the parts should look like.

If the knowledge is out there, please let me know the make / brand.