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Thread on front forks on a Raleigh bike

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mike barrett 124/05/2021 08:09:43
14 forum posts

I have a 1990's Raleigh bike which has RST suspension fronts forks. The forks have fallen apart (inside springs rusted away) and I dont think I can repair them,
I want to replace then but cant anything similar. The steering shaft from the forks is140mm long and have a threaded end to retain the top bearing and are 38.6mm (1 1/8" diameter. The handle bars use a quill fitting inside the shaft.

Most forks are now plain with a clamp to hold the bearing. I cant find a threaded shaft version that is only 140mm long so was wondering if I could buy a plain version and then cut the shaft down to size and cut a thread on it.

The question is what thread is used on the shaft and where can I buy a die for it?
Any suggestions welcome. I am trying to keep as much of bike original if possible.

Thanks Mike

Chris Evans 624/05/2021 08:17:48
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2156 forum posts

It is my belief that 1990s bikes are a lottery for thread due to so many parts being made in the east. I have made a new stem for one of my old motorcycles, screwcut at 26 tpi and brazed into the lower yoke.

Bo'sun24/05/2021 09:03:23
754 forum posts
2 photos

Good morning Mike,

Before you get too involved, check that your selected plain steerer will accept the quill.

mike barrett24/05/2021 09:31:58
16 forum posts
Posted by Bo'sun on 24/05/2021 09:03:23:

Good morning Mike,

Before you get too involved, check that your selected plain steerer will accept the quill.

Good point! One of the problems is finding any technical (sizes) details of what being sold on line.
I think I need to find an old school bike shop to visit.
Also thinking of going back to see if I could rebuild the original forks. The springs have rusted badly but I should be able to replace them. There are a couple of plastic bushes that are worn but i could make new ones.
the part I dont understand is what stopped the forks coming apart, They now fall apart. There was no bottom fixing as far as I could see unless it has rusted away. I cant find a manual for the original forks, The company used to publish manual but was taken over and the manual doesnt seem to be available any more.

regards Mike

JasonB24/05/2021 10:03:12
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25215 forum posts
3105 photos
1 articles

Quite common to have to cut down the steerer on a pair of forks be they old style or new, most likely 1 1/8 x 26tpi see here

Bo'sun24/05/2021 10:28:48
754 forum posts
2 photos

Sheldon Brown. Always a good source of reference.

mike barrett24/05/2021 11:47:11
16 forum posts
Posted by JasonB on 24/05/2021 10:03:12:

Quite common to have to cut down the steerer on a pair of forks be they old style or new, most likely 1 1/8 x 26tpi see here

thanks excellent site!

mike

Bo'sun24/05/2021 12:01:32
754 forum posts
2 photos

Hi Mike,

I'm sure there will be other suppliers of steerer tube dies. This one from "Park Tools" is unlikely to be cheap, but at least they're out there.

https://www.parktool.com/product/1-1-8-cutting-die-607?category=Frame%20%26%20Fork

It might even be worth seeing if a local bike shop has one you could borrow.

old mart24/05/2021 14:42:40
4655 forum posts
304 photos

You might as well forget the threaded stem and just get a plain one with a clamp on top. You can get spacers to raise the handlebar clamp, if you do, then don't cut the fork tube to length first.

First, try googling "installing bicycle forks", there are many helpful answers.

Edited By old mart on 24/05/2021 14:47:00

Roderick Jenkins24/05/2021 15:18:13
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2376 forum posts
800 photos

If it were me I would replace the headset as well (they don't need to be expensive). You will then have freedom to mix and match to suit your head tube diameter, head set and steerer tube.

Rod

Howard Lewis24/05/2021 15:31:16
7227 forum posts
21 photos

It used to be that all threads on cycles were 60 degree form and 26 tpi, but with the march of progress, and imported machines and parts that may longer be then case. So you might well be finding replacements that are metric in size and pitch.

You might find yourself making Imperial to metric adaptor collars!

Howard

Bo'sun24/05/2021 15:35:48
754 forum posts
2 photos

The headset is going to have to change anyway, along with the stem, if Mike decides to go down the threadless steerer route. I would also suspect the choice of fork (depending on the quality required) to be somewhat limited, as many are now using tapered steerer tubes.

Robin Dufton24/05/2021 16:04:58
38 forum posts
10 photos
Posted by Bo'sun on 24/05/2021 15:35:48:

The headset is going to have to change anyway, along with the stem, if Mike decides to go down the threadless steerer route.

Many combos of modern parts aren't guaranteed to work on old Raleighs. I had a headache when trying to sort out a 70s bike and had to make a bush for BMX bars to fit. No stems would fit the fork so it had to be the Raleigh specific stem. Changing the forks would have meant making new bearing cups.

mike barrett24/05/2021 18:34:42
16 forum posts

Thanks for all the helpful answers. I am/was trying to keep the bike standard but its begining to be a bit like Trigger's Broom ... it would have been easier to buy a new bike but I do like repairing stuff!

But.

I can get a 1 1/8" 25 TPI die from one of the online suppliers in stock, buts it £45.
I have managed to find a set of forks with a threaded steering tube (1 1/8" that seems to be the correct length.
I am hopeful it will fit as the original forks were made by RST and seem to be standard set.
Will know when the new forks arrive. if I need to lengthen the thread then I will buy the die.

Regards Mike

Edited By mike barrett on 24/05/2021 18:35:23

Neil Wyatt25/05/2021 12:53:13
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19226 forum posts
749 photos
86 articles

I share your pain, I have an early 90s MBK Triathlete IU'm trying to keep as original as possible, and the hardest thing to source was old style brake blocks to fit the Weinmann side-pull brakes!

Is it a mountain bike or a road bike?

Personally I wouldn't like to use a bike with a quill stem on anything more than pretty level ground.

Neil

mike barrett25/05/2021 13:54:27
16 forum posts
Posted by Neil Wyatt on 25/05/2021 12:53:13:

I share your pain, I have an early 90s MBK Triathlete IU'm trying to keep as original as possible, and the hardest thing to source was old style brake blocks to fit the Weinmann side-pull brakes!

Is it a mountain bike or a road bike?

Personally I wouldn't like to use a bike with a quill stem on anything more than pretty level ground.

Neil

Its a road bike so I am happy with the quill stem, I have never had any problems with it.
Old bikes seem so difficult to maintain, there are no manuals and no standards for parts!
I have had triumph classic cars for over 30 years (Herald, Vitesse, Dolly, Stag, GT6, TR6 and now have a 13/60 herald with EFI) and they are easy to run and maintain mainly because there is so much good information and data about the cars.

cheers

mike

Mike

Bo'sun25/05/2021 15:22:41
754 forum posts
2 photos

Hi Mike,

Unusual, a road bike with boingy forks. Surely that wold lift the front up a bit high for a road bike and change the head angle and steering geometry?

It's not going to go down well with the hardened roadies out there.

Roderick Jenkins25/05/2021 16:07:39
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2376 forum posts
800 photos

It used to be so simple, road bikes had 27" ( or 700C) tyres and mountain bikes had 26". Then hybrids came along with 700C tyres and may or may not have had suspension forks. Back in the day I remember that some pro teams tried suspension forks for the cobbles on Paris/Roubaix. I put my bike together from a cyclo cross frame with carbon forks and cantilever brakes. That was 12 years ago - nowadays you would call it a gravel bike. Definitions and styles constantly change, mostly to do with marketing. Mix and match any combination of bits and you will end up with something that a marketing focus group has already coined a name for.

Modern life eh!

Rod

Bo'sun25/05/2021 17:12:03
754 forum posts
2 photos

Hi Rod, Gravel Bikes. Another fad maybe? or just road bike lovers not liking to admit that off-road biking isn't that bad after all.

JasonB25/05/2021 18:55:20
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25215 forum posts
3105 photos
1 articles

Well you could also fit 650B rims to your gravel bike Rod so it can take some wider tyres or even slip a 26" MTB tyre on though 29ers seem to be the way to go on MTBs these days.

Never had a problem with old style quill stems on my MTBs both solid fork and Rockshock equipped but then again did not have those big wide 750mm bars they ride now, think my Ritchey's were 500mm

Anyone who likes their MTB racing should keep a look out on Redbull TV as they cover all the world cup rounds with both Short course XC on the Friday and Olympic XC on the Sunday. Replays of the first two round of this years worldcup available here and here

And for a Small yearly Sub GCN is worth having as they do the full Cyclocross season in the winter and a lot of road stuff the rest of the year, just off to watch the Lotto Ladies tour now, ladies racing seems to be a lot more exciting than the mens as it is attack from the off not a Sunday club run to the last 20k as a lot of the mens stage races seem to be

Edited By JasonB on 25/05/2021 18:56:50

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