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Is there any 'spec. for the number of leaves on the front spring of the prewar ('38 in this case) Chief?
I've seen pictures that are anywhere from a single sided pack of about 7 leaves up to a big double-sided pack (leaves both above and below the main leaf) with as many as 12 leaves. Seen the same variance on pictures of Four's... though most of them seem to have a bigger double-sided pack, which would make sense for heavier bike?
Were the number of leaves irrelevant, but a poundage specification supplied? Did people adjust according to whether they wanted firm/soft ride? Or add leaves as the leaves fatigued (instead of re-arching?)
What's the method for setting these up right? My guess is that a correct front spring setup is really, really critical to making one of these bikes handle at their best.
On vintage cars, leaf-spring suspensions are one of the things we spend a lot of time getting right. Grinding springs, getting shackle bushings fitting perfectly, lots of lubricant, setting the arch and deflection right. It makes a huge difference in how the car runs on the road. They don't all ride like buckboards. My instinct is that these leaf spring front ends are even more sensitive to wear, fatigue, rust smacking (rust growing between leaves), galling, etc. than cars...
Cheers,
Sirhr
I've seen pictures that are anywhere from a single sided pack of about 7 leaves up to a big double-sided pack (leaves both above and below the main leaf) with as many as 12 leaves. Seen the same variance on pictures of Four's... though most of them seem to have a bigger double-sided pack, which would make sense for heavier bike?
Were the number of leaves irrelevant, but a poundage specification supplied? Did people adjust according to whether they wanted firm/soft ride? Or add leaves as the leaves fatigued (instead of re-arching?)
What's the method for setting these up right? My guess is that a correct front spring setup is really, really critical to making one of these bikes handle at their best.
On vintage cars, leaf-spring suspensions are one of the things we spend a lot of time getting right. Grinding springs, getting shackle bushings fitting perfectly, lots of lubricant, setting the arch and deflection right. It makes a huge difference in how the car runs on the road. They don't all ride like buckboards. My instinct is that these leaf spring front ends are even more sensitive to wear, fatigue, rust smacking (rust growing between leaves), galling, etc. than cars...
Cheers,
Sirhr
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