Raked bearing cups 2

[Bilbo]

The bearing cups have arrived and were installed this afternoon without too much drama. A 3/4" threaded bar with nuts and washers is all that is required to pull them into the headstock.

Here they are in situ:



The next job is to have the bottom yoke reamed to take the new fork stem, which is an interference fit as opposed to the threaded one which was previously in. You can see that the new fork stem is longer to accept the extended space between the yokes.

The adjustment is now via an internal bolt and washer instead of the large nut used previously.



In the photo below you can see by the angle of the ruler that the fork angle is noticeably more forward (by 3 degrees) and that the fork stem will no longer be parallel to the headstock.



I'll post another pic when the forks are reinstalled and the bike is on the ground. Apart from the stem being fitted into the bottom yoke, I also need a new front brake line as the fork stem is no longer used to carry the brake fluid.

Cheers for now,

Bilbo

[Crumpy]

I must say Phil ...it looks goog in the flesh, but you will need to uprate the brakes as the bike is now 3 inches longer you will be closer to the car in front

[kiwidave]

I had to fabricate and pin a piece of steel underneath my FXWG frame neck as those raked cups are deeper than stock and the new FXWG bottom yoke's fork stops no longer hit the neck.....


hopefully you won't have that problem, but that is one solution.

Good luck. Careful of tools on tank paint though.....

[Bilbo]

Cheers Dave, I think you can just make out in the bottom photo that the lower cup has a new fork stop milled into it, so I should be OK on that score.

[Bilbo]

Much as it pains me to say it, after all the effort and money it has taken, but the results - visually - of the 3 degree rake bearing cups has been slightly disappointing. It is noticeable, but not very. That's a bit strong actually, because it does sit more level, which is what I wanted.

To start where I left off, when I got the fork stem and bottom yoke back from the machine shop and did a trial fit, the fork stem was too long for my yokes, so it had to be shortened by 3/8". Once this was done it was a fairly straightforward reassembly.

I haven't ridden it yet, as I'm still waiting for the front brake line, but here are the before and after photos.

BEFORE:



AFTER:



I've taken the photos in the same place, so that a comparison can be made, but I've also changed the bars and risers as I thought there were too many changes of line.

All in all, looking at the two photos, I have achieved what I wanted and I'm fairly pleased with the results.

Now, what's next ! ! ?

Cheers

Bilbo

[kiwidave]

Don't be too negative...i think it looks HEAPS better.

But i will say what a lot of other folks may be still thinking.....and I will say it because you know I have been supportive and tried to pass on a couple of tips....

Change the fork tubes for shorter ones. Just bite that bullet.

Your bike will look REALLY good then.

It is vastly improved now. I really did not care for its stance at all before you fitted the raked cups. Not that this has to matter a damn to you, because you **MUST** do whatever the hell YOU WANT TO DO with your own bike. But I can detect you had similar thoughts, hence the raked cups.

With shorter fork tubes, that bottom frame rail will come close to parallel to the ground ...and that will really make it sit well and you won't be looking at it thinking ''it's not quite there''.

It's not called ''trial and error'' for nothing. We all have loads of stories...not all of us have the guts to post pix and invite opinion.

[Bilbo]

I hear what you are saying Dave, but I like it and it can stay the way it is for the time being. I've taken a good long look at it and it's pretty much what I wanted.

[John_Zee]

Looks like it's a very noticeable drop to me Phil.

[John_Zee]

Seems like a half inch rise on the rear springs will bring it perfectly in line too, would still be very low at the back.

[Bilbo]

Originally Posted by Squiz

Seems like a half inch rise on the rear forks will bring it perfectly in line too, would still be very low at the back.

I've sent the front wheel off to be respoked with an 18" rim, John, and a 90/90 Avon Venom, which should lower the front the last 3/4".
Crumpy is dropping it off at Will Burrow's for me today on his way back from Blackburn. Hopefully the lanes around Garstang will be OK.

The only other thing to do then will be to reprofile the holes in the front fender brackets so that it sits correctly on the smaller tyre.

That should have it low and level. Job done.