Unshave my fork? Is welding new tabs ok?

[Torchard]

Do I need to disassemble my forks if I were to tack some fender tabs? Is heat a concern? Note that it wasn’t me who removed all but the brake tabs. Thanks. T.

 

[jetmechmarty]

If it were mine, I believe my choice would be to replace the fork lowers. Saying that, I don't know the difficulty in that at your location.

Look at some of what's available direct bolt on:
http://motolanna.com/ourshop/cat_367915-Fenders.html

 

[Jim]

I think there a good chance you'll ruin them if you do. They need to be perfectly round for the upper tube to slide with as little stiction as possible. Heat distortion would be a real concern.

 

[Torchard]

I thought you’d say that. The PO is causing me some grief I wasn’t aware at the time. Good thing the price was right. .

I think there a good chance you'll ruin them if you do. They need to be perfectly round for the upper tube to slide with as little stiction as possible. Heat distortion would be a real concern.

 

[kshansen]

Agree distortion from the heat would be one concern. The other to me would be the possibility of an explosion if attempted with them assembled!

 

[Torchard]

Fun. No worries. I’ve moved on from that idea. But thanks to all.

 

[WideAWAKE]

If it were mine, I believe my choice would be to replace the fork lowers. Saying that, I don't know the difficulty in that at your location.
View attachment 198974
Look at some of what's available direct bolt on:
http://motolanna.com/ourshop/cat_367915-Fenders.html

Made something very similar for 9 bucks with a fender off Amazon. Drilled out the spot weld on my original fender (PO cut it down and painted it so no harm done by me anyways). Pulled the fender - riveted the 9dollar fender to my original brace.

bad pic but pretty easy to make and could use a bigger/ longer fender if you desired.

 

[Jan_P]

If I get this right it is the Tubes that has been cleaned / shaved if so I would look into
making some sort of Clamp that sits on the tube with bolts -- perhaps aluminum flat bar
on the outside With new mount holes

 

[Torchard]

If I get this right it is the Tubes that has been cleaned / shaved if so I would look into
making some sort of Clamp that sits on the tube with bolts -- perhaps aluminum flat bar
on the outside With new mount holes

Agreed. Unless I change the tube bottoms which I’m not gonna do at this point. Thanks.

 

[GLJ]

Be careful with clamps on the tubes. Very easy to distort the tubes.

 

[Mailman]

Be careful with clamps on the tubes. Very easy to distort the tubes.

Yes, I had to buy new fork lowers for my XS2 because a previous owner had clamped the legs in a vise to change out the fork seals and caused the legs to be out of round.

 

[RC4MAN]

What year and size forks do you have, 34mm or 35mm
You can probably find someone that will switch with you or find used lowers at reasonable cost

 

[Mailman]

What year and size forks do you have, 34mm or 35mm
You can probably find someone that will switch with you or find used lowers at reasonable cost

I think I paid $100 for a complete set of Xs2 forks from an eBay bike dismantler, like Mr. Monkeyclaw. At first I was kinda pissed I had to buy a whole set of forks to get the legs, but I wound up needing some internal parts after I started rebuilding them, so it turned out for the best.

 

[Torchard]

Thanks all. I’m good for the moment. I’ll install a fork brace. Might forego the fender on the short term. I’ll replace the bottoms when it’s time for lowering (bike build 2.0). And I’ll keep an eye out locally for a pair.