HD JD I-beam fork facts

[big jesus 151]

Hello Boys & Girls, After years of bench racing, can anyone give us some facts on the I-beam fork !! I know there are 3 variations for a fact. They are not in parts books. #1 fact - there expensive #2 rare lol.. Jump in guys, would like to hear the scoop on the creation of these fine forks. Thanks All Big Jesus 151 Pusherman Racing

[Chris Haynes]

Lots of variations. Big Twin, 45", and Single. Which are you interested in?

[big jesus 151]

Hello, 1929 & back big twin, Thanks Chris

[Chris Haynes]

Hello, 1929 & back big twin, Thanks Chris

I may be wrong, but I think that '29 was the first year for the I beam fork on the JDH.

[big jesus 151]

To the best of my knowledge that is correct. I am only concerned with the 29 big twin fork. I just threw 29 & back in there incase there was some info I didn't obtain. The story I have always heard is, the forks for the 29 year ( I beam ) were made as a replacement 29 fork / prototype fork for the 1930 line. Possibly made from an outside source since they are not in the parts books ?? Apparently well recieved & modified for the 1930 line. Of course, all of this is genuine hearsay!! I have never read any factual evidence to support this subject. Always wanted to get to the bottom of this. Thanks Gang Carl Pusherman

[fabercycle]

I always believed they were replacement forks. Unless Chris has a factory photo actually showing them on a new bike.

[Chris Haynes]

I always believed they were replacement forks. Unless Chris has a factory photo actually showing them on a new bike.

Sorry. No luck.

[sveger]

I beam fork

Have said this before but this fork is "quite" common in Scandinavia on the later type IOE HD`s. Think the reason is the bikes where in use for many years on sorry roads, and when the original fork eventually broke this I beam fork was what they got as an replacement. Mine 1927 had this fork when found. Know one -29 JD with this fork but if it was there since new I dont know.
Find it strange tough that it is not in any parts catalogue.

Regards
Sverre

http://AmericanMotorcyclesNorway.blogspot.com

[big jesus 151]

Well Gentleman, I was hoping this thread would go much farther than it has. So they are a mystery... So lets presume they were made by HD. Why wouldn't they be in the parts book. Are there any other parts that fall into this category Thanks Carl Estes Pusherman Racing

[rwm]

carl 2 years ago a guy had one at jefferson.he would only trade it for a complete 1915 fork. he told me that the fork was a replacement from the accessories catalog and not offered on the bikes.

[big jesus 151]

Hello all, Thanks Rob, good lead, so lets open our accessory catalogs, the earliest acc. catalog I own is 35 & it's not in there, too late model. Come on guys, get them out. We need a full report here ! Thanks Carl Estes

[Chris Haynes]

Hello all, Thanks Rob, good lead, so lets open our accessory catalogs, the earliest acc. catalog I own is 35 & it's not in there, too late model. Come on guys, get them out. We need a full report here ! Thanks Carl Estes

They are not accessory parts. They are replacement parts.

[Perry Ruiter]

As I recall this was covered a few years ago. At the time I trotted out the usual drivel, maybe JDH, maybe 30's replacement and - as is so often the case with esoteric topics - Tommo posted and set the record straight. I don't recall now what he said, but I think he had a parts book supplement that listed them to back up what he said. That was back before we moved the website and so those old posts are not indexed by the search function (would be nice if that could be done, hint, hint). I just spent a good half hour rummaging around looking at old posts and didn't find it. Hopefully Tommo can be prevailed upon to repost ... Perry

[Tommo]

I have in my collection a number of Parts Book Supplements, some of which are factory dated but most are not. They are HD printed loose leaf leaflets that were posted to the dealers with the intention they were to be glued into the appropiate Parts book.
One such leaflet is headed "1928 Parts Book Supplement", it is a single page, printed on both sides and in the section headed "Parts Used on 1928 H Motors" there is a short introductory paragraph that reads as follows;
Quote;
The following parts are the same as used on L motors for 1928; cylinders, pistons, rings, pins, connecting rods, bushings, flywheels bare, carburettors. These H models are fitted with narrow tanks, solo handlebars, forged front forks and small wheels (25 x 3.85) as standard equiptment. All other parts are the same as used on standard models unless listed below.
Unquote;
This is the only reference I've ever found of the J model I beam or as they call it the forged front forks. Like the narrow tanks there is no part number reference that I have been able to find but an old Jones Brothers employee ( Jones Brothers were the NZ importers) reckons these parts were included in a special parts book that covered the racing stuff and that only importers got copies of it.
Somewhere on this site is a copy of this supplement that I sent to the then Admin guy and he put it up on line for me.
As Perry says so much was lost during the change over and those involved have got a lot to answer for.
Hope this helps.

[fabercycle]

I wonder why not one factory photo ever showed them in 28-29 pictures.