Springer Question....

[c.o.]

I was wondering if anyone had a 45 springer laying around and if someone could give me a measurement from the top fork casting to the top of the tube? I took the Flanders tree and risers and (ack!) apehangers off the other night and proceeded to put on my stock bars. Simple job right? Well, I've got the top nut buttoned down so that the tubes are flush with the bars and I've got a fair bit of thread on the neck stem showing. This has led me to believe that the tubes were maybe changed out somewhere along the line to bolt on that massive Flanders bit! Any thoughts on this would be appreciated. Thanks in advance!!!

[Perry Ruiter]

Sorry don't have a springer to measure, but the handlebar centre casting should be snug down on top of the fork nut. The stainless cover plate has a lock pin that fits into one of the notches on the top of that nut. Are the left and right leg uppers tubes or solid? Solid would imply a modification ... Perry

[c.o.]

Quick answers! Glad you showed up Perry! The uppers are tubes, but if I snugged the bars down tight I'd have close to 3/4 of an inch of tube and neck stem sticking out the top! It's got me scratchin' my head....

[Rubone]

Cory,
Are the outer bearing races in place? I have seen a springer with a similar problem that was assembled without the outer races. The guy who built it thought the centering cones were the outer race and just put the balls in the cup and put it together. It actually ran like hat for a couple of years and he brought it to me for help on something else. That is when I discovered it because the top of the stem stuck way out.There is no reason to modify anything for Flanders top trees, they are a direct interchange with stock. Also check the overall lenght of the top nut and make sure it wasn't shortened at one time. I've seen that too, when someone had the forks on a different frame (British).
Good luck
Robbie

[c.o.]

Robbie.....that certainly gives me something to think about. I've not yet played too extensively with an H-D springer...... When Harleys got real popular I drifted away from them and went strictly Injun... now look who's askin' questions about Harleys! When I got this bike I had to fix and re-work a lot of things. So it looks as though I should get my butt back out to the shop and really take a good look at how things were put together. Thanks for the suggestion!

[c.o.]

Couple more shots...... It looks as though it's put together proper.....am I missing something? As always any advice is appreciated....

[Rubone]

Cory,
Did you lift the top nut and actually check the bearings and races? This is not an external visual thing! My point being, if all the parts are in the correct places it is impossible for the stem to protrude. The stem itself could be the problem as it should only be about a 1/4 inch longer than the tubes. Is it hollow? You don't picture a steering damper which goes through the center hole. You are going to have to do some dis-assembly as pictures will not tell the tale. The top nuts are not right, why?
Robbie

[c.o.]

Don't have a damper at this time. I guess somewhere along the line it got put on a shelf when the bars were changed and must have stayed there, or got sold or trashed.... I'll never know. As for the top nut in the picture, it's just started into the stem nut, I didn't see any point in torquing it down yet with the extra space and all. As far as being not right, I'm not sure what you mean. I've got the stem nut and is the top nut not the piece that the damper goes through? I've already started a list of small pieces I need to get my hands on. Maybe I'm missing something again... hmmmm..... hadn't counted on tearing the front end apart, but it's sounding like I'll have to anyway. Thanks for taking the time to put down your points Robbie.

[Chris Haynes]

[c.o.]

Thanks Chris! I'm gonna run out to the shop now and see what I get for a measurement!!!

[Rubone]

Cory,
Some pics to ponder.
1st is an assembled fork. The dark line in the middle is the bottom damper nut which fits Flush on the top nut.
2nd is an unmounted fork to see the relationship of the stem to tubes,
3rd is a fork without the damper. Stem ends flush with the top nut, tubes flush with top tree.
All pictures taken tonight!
Robbie

[c.o.]

You guys are awesome! I yarded the bars off and measured and was only a hair off of Chris' measurement. O.K. that answered my question. Thanks for the pics Robbie! That gives me the proper assembly. I guess it's back out to the shop to rip the rest of it apart to check on this outer bearing race business! My to-do list just got bigger!!!

[Chris Haynes]

How about measuring the neck of your frame compaired to another? Could someone possibly have shortned it?

[c.o.]

I think things are O.K. with that part Chris. Your picture cleared that up. Here's a couple more shots with a little more teardown. Whaddya think Robbie? Does this look correct? I've included a pic of the stem nut lined up with the ratchet cone... probably wrong term... but anyway everything looks good there.....

[Rubone]

Cory,
Not at all correct, in fact it is exactly as I described in my note. Where is your inner race? Unless you removed it, it is not there, which makes me believe the lower one is not there as well. That is your problem. It will account for your excess stem length. What you term the ratchet cone is shaped that way on the bottom to CENTER the inner race, it is not a bearing race in itself. All of the pieces are pictured in any parts breakdown as shown in a parts book. You do not have them all in your assembly.
Robbie