I just completed the fork I turned backward and put the Honda 50 spring links on, but it doesn't look old enough. My thinking now is to copy the Pierce fork. It was on a four about 1910. All it takes is 2 balloon forks with a coil spring on the front stem working against a top stem plate on the rear fork similiar to a Schwinn springer. A heavy bolt working up and down through the plate with a bushing with a head on it and a rubber cookie to rebound against. A domed cap on top would keep fingers out of trouble. So far I know my Norton outer valve springs are a force fit on the 1" stem. I will have to get the spring and do some calculations as to where to put the axle and front fork so the action is right. Stay tuned. Trackfodder
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I stepped on one on the bathroom beam scales and it deflects about 1/4" at 100 lbs. and maybe an inch at 200 lbs. I think its' ballpark to what I need. I will have to calculate further to decide where to put the axle(fulcrum) to get the best action--soft ride but not over compressing. The links will be 1/4" plate with threaded 7/8" rounds screwed in and silver soldered in place and drilled 1/2 and be 1/2" thick to receive 1/2X1/2" shoulder bolts with 3/8" thread for pivots. The axle could be foreward of the spring legs if I need to for action. I will make a 1/4" thick plate to go over the main fork with a key to register with the fork notch and another 1" hole for the front fork to travel in with the race nut and top nut with a rubber cookie to snub rebound shock. I can put a cap on top with a bolt extending into the moving tube immersed in STP or something thinner for a shock. Here's where I could use advice. Would it give me quick plunge and slow rebound if I make the bottom of the plunger pointed and the backside flat? Visualize an inverted candy kiss on a pencil. I don't want to get into checkballs etc. I could maybe go with a sliding sleeve behind a vented plunger??? Your opinions, kind sirs. Keith (trackfodder) Williams
An O-ring is my rebound cushion at present. It will take some contriving to put a fender on it. I don't like the short fork steering tube, but I will probably just recover it and do a whole frame from scratch as soon as I decide on a motor. The rear fork is a 24" and I don't have any others, so I'm stuck with it. The fork is copied from a PIERCE, not a Pearce Cheers to all,
The HT is no longer a candidate, but I have a 6ft. version of the Atlas Van Lines unlimited hydro with the Allyson V-12 that has a backward turning Quadra 2.2ci. with 2.2hp and a rope starter that was WAY inadequate for the boat. Been waiting for a butt-kickin' chainsaw to come along I could upgear with Gilmer pulleys and belt. I don't want to get started with 1/4 scale boats. Anyhow, I can put the necessary sprocketing in the front shaft hanger and use that engine Also there is a Kawasaki snow blower mill that I stuck a weed eater centrifugal clutch on that also has a rope starter. It was too rpm limited for the 1/4 scale Crackerbox boat. About 32 cc. At least it's cute.
