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In case anyone doesn't know about the difference in fork shafts between the 1946-47 forks and the 1948 forks.
I'll use the uppers, short shafts here. The longer lower shafts are the same.
!946 and 1947 Chiefs came with needle bearings in the 8 places in the fork and trees. Because of the hardened needle roller bearings, they made a hardened and ground shaft to work. This shaft is Indian #205005 and was ground and polished on the bearing surfaces to a diameter of .5625", virtually zero bearing clearance.
A NOS set of these hard shafts are pictured, above the ruler.
In 1948 Indian switched to bushings in all 8 positions. Bushings didn't require a hard shaft, but needed .002" - .003" clearance. These shaft's are soft and .561" diameter for the length of the shaft and are Indian # 205010. A set of NOS bushing shafts are pictured below the ruler.
I believe that all the repro shafts sold today are soft, .561" shafts. You absolutely cannot use the soft shaft in needle bearings. The hard needles will dig into the soft shaft and spread chips thru the bearing, ruining both. And you'd have .002"-.003" clearance in something meant to be 0. If you have the fork apart, use bushings---always.
IMG_2178.jpg
I'll use the uppers, short shafts here. The longer lower shafts are the same.
!946 and 1947 Chiefs came with needle bearings in the 8 places in the fork and trees. Because of the hardened needle roller bearings, they made a hardened and ground shaft to work. This shaft is Indian #205005 and was ground and polished on the bearing surfaces to a diameter of .5625", virtually zero bearing clearance.
A NOS set of these hard shafts are pictured, above the ruler.
In 1948 Indian switched to bushings in all 8 positions. Bushings didn't require a hard shaft, but needed .002" - .003" clearance. These shaft's are soft and .561" diameter for the length of the shaft and are Indian # 205010. A set of NOS bushing shafts are pictured below the ruler.
I believe that all the repro shafts sold today are soft, .561" shafts. You absolutely cannot use the soft shaft in needle bearings. The hard needles will dig into the soft shaft and spread chips thru the bearing, ruining both. And you'd have .002"-.003" clearance in something meant to be 0. If you have the fork apart, use bushings---always.
IMG_2178.jpg
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