Stick a fork in me . . .
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Stick a fork in me . . .
Hi fellow C&V forum members, I would value any advice you might care to offer with a challenge encountered assembling my build. In brief, I found a 1978 Centurion Super le Mans in great condition and hardly any wear, but the frame is too large. The next day I found a 1974 Centurion le Mans frame (all this dated by the ever-helpful T-Mar). A simple matter to swap the frame over, right? Not for me! Because the front forkend/fork dropout distance on the old frame is about 95mm and not the more usual 100mm, in particular the hub width of the lovely alloy Suntour wheel I propose to use from the newer, and larger frame. Yes, I can get the old fork to accept it but it's really a struggle and I don't want to court a catastrophic failure. Of course, the fork from the newer frame won't work because the steerer tube is longer, and although I could cut it down, there isn't enough thread.
Any thoughts like trying to set the forks, somehow reduce the axle length, etc. would be most gratefully received. And for amusement, here is the story of how I got the Centurion in the first place: https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...r-le-mans.html
1974 Centurion le Mans "Designed by Mitchel"
Any thoughts like trying to set the forks, somehow reduce the axle length, etc. would be most gratefully received. And for amusement, here is the story of how I got the Centurion in the first place: https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...r-le-mans.html
1974 Centurion le Mans "Designed by Mitchel"
__________________
A bike is the closest I can get to a magic carpet . . .
A bike is the closest I can get to a magic carpet . . .
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Alta California
Posts: 14,265
Mentioned: 415 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3811 Post(s)
Liked 3,338 Times
in
2,178 Posts
-----
most regulars are going to have the same thought
i.e. "wait for a better frame"
if you are a first timer you are going to discover many little snags such as this on the project you have set yourself
when you factor in the time, effort, work, & possible additional expense to accomplish what you have set yourself you should think about the question of "what will i have when i am done?"
-----
most regulars are going to have the same thought
i.e. "wait for a better frame"
if you are a first timer you are going to discover many little snags such as this on the project you have set yourself
when you factor in the time, effort, work, & possible additional expense to accomplish what you have set yourself you should think about the question of "what will i have when i am done?"
-----
Likes For juvela:
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Central Virginia
Posts: 4,781
Bikes: Numerous
Mentioned: 150 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1678 Post(s)
Liked 3,097 Times
in
913 Posts
I have a Park dropout alignment tool, but if you don’t have one you can look up how to make your own. Use that tool to push the forks out to some point past 100 mm, like 120 mm. Use that technique to symmetrically expand it out to near 100 mm.
The brute method is lay fork on floor on its side, step on one leg and pull up on the other. Flip over and do the other side for symmetry. That does lack some precision however.
The brute method is lay fork on floor on its side, step on one leg and pull up on the other. Flip over and do the other side for symmetry. That does lack some precision however.
__________________
N = '96 Colnago C40, '04 Wilier Alpe D'Huez, '10 Colnago EPS, '85 Merckx Pro, '89 Merckx Century, '86 Tommasini Professional, '04 Teschner Aero FX Pro, '05 Alan Carbon Cross, '86 De Rosa Professional, '82 Colnago Super, '95 Gios Compact Pro, '95 Carrera Zeus, '84 Basso Gap, ‘89 Cinelli Supercorsa, ‘83 Bianchi Specialissima, ‘VO Randonneur, Ritchey Breakaway Steel, '84 Paletti Super Prestige, Heron Randonneur
N = '96 Colnago C40, '04 Wilier Alpe D'Huez, '10 Colnago EPS, '85 Merckx Pro, '89 Merckx Century, '86 Tommasini Professional, '04 Teschner Aero FX Pro, '05 Alan Carbon Cross, '86 De Rosa Professional, '82 Colnago Super, '95 Gios Compact Pro, '95 Carrera Zeus, '84 Basso Gap, ‘89 Cinelli Supercorsa, ‘83 Bianchi Specialissima, ‘VO Randonneur, Ritchey Breakaway Steel, '84 Paletti Super Prestige, Heron Randonneur
#4
Full Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Palm Springs, California
Posts: 462
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 206 Post(s)
Liked 460 Times
in
176 Posts
You could take the fork to your local shop and have them cold set the fork to 100mm, while you're there, have them thread the steerer down to where you need it.
#5
Old bikes, Older guy
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Fiscal Conservative on the Lefty Coast - Oregon
Posts: 843
Bikes: A few modern, Several vintage, All ridden when weather allows.
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 251 Post(s)
Liked 167 Times
in
115 Posts
Also, there’s a bike co-op/bike kitchen in Tempe that should be able to help you.
Cheers, Van
__________________
Remember: Real bikes have pedals.
...and never put a yellow tail on a Red, White and Blue kite!
Remember: Real bikes have pedals.
...and never put a yellow tail on a Red, White and Blue kite!
#6
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Thanks for the suggestion - I will try increasing the dropout width using something home-made. Re the interesting suggestion to look for a better frame - any thoughts as to what I might use, in keeping with a fairly good set of components? I'm keen to hang on to the components if possible.
__________________
A bike is the closest I can get to a magic carpet . . .
A bike is the closest I can get to a magic carpet . . .
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Near Pottstown, PA: 30 miles NW of Philadelphia
Posts: 2,186
Bikes: 2 Trek Mtn, Cannondale R600 road, 6 vintage road bikes
Mentioned: 83 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 472 Post(s)
Liked 1,028 Times
in
404 Posts
So, my caution is that you may find mechanics who say they can respace your fork. And you may or may not find mechanics who actually can do it well and have the tools and measurement means to ensure its done well. But to do it well could take some considerable time which, at shop rate, may cost way too much for you. Caveat emptor.
#8
Go Ride!
Join Date: May 2019
Location: Minnesota—55346
Posts: 268
Bikes: Klein Quantum Pro, Klein Attitude, Azuki SS, Merckx AXM, Klein Quantum Race, Klein Quantum
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 109 Post(s)
Liked 155 Times
in
87 Posts
Albion, with the caveat of sounding too “bush mechanic” on this...if you laid the fork on a table, set a ruler along the dropouts and then “sighted” thru the steerer tube to find center, would that allow you to determine if perhaps one of the legs had been pushed in 5mm? Either way, using the ruler and sighting you could cold bend the leg(s) back out to 100mm quite easily while staying centered on the steerer tube.
#9
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Hi Sonofamechanic, many thanks for this. I checked the forks as suggested and they seem to be in alignment. The remains of a wheel the frame came with also is 95mm, and I noticed that the great Sheldon brown states that some older front hubs are 96mm, here: https://www.sheldonbrown.com/frame-spacing.html
So I think I shall give it a try. If that doesn't work, I'll take the fork from the larger frame and see if my LBC can extend the threaded portion (the Park die and holder is more than $200!)
So I think I shall give it a try. If that doesn't work, I'll take the fork from the larger frame and see if my LBC can extend the threaded portion (the Park die and holder is more than $200!)
__________________
A bike is the closest I can get to a magic carpet . . .
A bike is the closest I can get to a magic carpet . . .
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada - burrrrr!
Posts: 11,674
Bikes: 1958 Rabeneick 120D, 1968 Legnano Gran Premio, 196? Torpado Professional, 2000 Marinoni Piuma
Mentioned: 210 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1372 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1,751 Times
in
938 Posts
Perhaps, if there are spacers in the hub/axle assembly, removing one from each side might solve the problem. If that can be done, be sure that the axle ends do not extend too far past the drops.
__________________
"98% of the bikes I buy are projects".
"98% of the bikes I buy are projects".
#11
Go Ride!
Join Date: May 2019
Location: Minnesota—55346
Posts: 268
Bikes: Klein Quantum Pro, Klein Attitude, Azuki SS, Merckx AXM, Klein Quantum Race, Klein Quantum
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 109 Post(s)
Liked 155 Times
in
87 Posts
Thanks for that info. That smaller fork has the matching paint and fantastic patina....hope you can find a way to keep it with the frame!