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Strange S3 forks

Posted: Sat May 21, 2016 8:05 am
by tippo88
The forks on the S3 I'm rebuilding don't seem to match the normal data as per Stickies etc. Headset bolt cutout is on the side of the tube with no sign of any modifications. However flat area below bottom steering bearing is 62 mm so no lower dust cover as per D2.
Measurement bearing track to top of fork stem is 462, to bottom of thread 406 and to centre of steering stop 360 which doesn't really match any of those listed in Stickies.
I guess I'll just rebuild as is and see if they work ok (rebuilt them with MB internals and disk fork links, weld on damper brackets)
Am wondering if early Italian S3's had some variances perhaps?

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Re: Strange S3 forks

Posted: Sat May 21, 2016 10:36 am
by bristolmod
where was the bike sourced from? As far as you know is it Italian? Were there any local "builds" in your country? Do the forks fit OK anyway or were they sourced separately?

Chris

Re: Strange S3 forks

Posted: Sat May 21, 2016 10:44 am
by shocky
What is the measurement to the cut out from the bottom of the bearing stop

Re: Strange S3 forks

Posted: Sat May 21, 2016 10:45 am
by shocky
Are the fork boots fully welded

Re: Strange S3 forks

Posted: Sat May 21, 2016 11:20 am
by tippo88
Thanks for responses. It's a 64 and has been in Malaysia since new I believe. Don't think there were any local builds ad from frame no I believe it should be Italian. I bought it in one piece and running, sort of. Nothing to indicate forks have been changed but to be honest in 50 years in Malaysia anything could have happened.
Fork boots spot welded as per attached photo.
Have just fitted forks so will pull apart to take additional measurement if required but not sure what bottom of bearing stop means.
The fork seems to fit except only just enough thread exposed to fit lock nut and am wondering if fork should pull further through. Photos attached.

Thanks!

ImageImageImage

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Re: Strange S3 forks

Posted: Sat May 21, 2016 12:33 pm
by HxPaul
S 2 forks had a hole for the front mudguard bolt,as in your 1st photo,S 3 didn't.

Re: Strange S3 forks

Posted: Sun May 22, 2016 3:00 am
by tippo88
Yep bottom of forks definitely S2 specs but headset bolt is definitely S3 and definitely "factory".
Am really just interested to know firstly what they are and secondly if there are any obvious issues with the setup as per the photos.
Cheers
Tippo


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Re: Strange S3 forks

Posted: Mon May 23, 2016 3:51 pm
by Grumpy225
Why does the left foot of the fork look like it's been welded different than the right foot?

Given its known history I'd have them blasted clean before I did any more work on then.

Re: Strange S3 forks

Posted: Mon May 23, 2016 9:28 pm
by firekdp
HxPaul wrote:S 2 forks had a hole for the front mudguard bolt,as in your 1st photo,S 3 didn't.
I'm sure early series 3 did, my '63 TV175 with the early type cable guide certainly has one.

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Re: Strange S3 forks

Posted: Tue May 24, 2016 1:10 am
by tippo88
Thanks!
The forks have been blasted and repainted. Don't remember there being anything strange about the welding but will take another look tonight.
Might be irrelevant but when I put on the look washer and tried to install the top lock nut the new lock nut wouldn't get started as it didn't have enough thread, whereas the old lock nut went straight on.

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