Converting an "old" Lightening to a more efficient touring bike.
 

A fellow recumbent rider I know has an older model Lightening. He wants to upgrade it so it can be a better touring bike. For part of this he wants to put disc brakes on it. For the rear it really isn't a problem.

But the front is a bit of a challenge. It has a 17" wheel. The fork won't accomidate a 20" wheel & he doesn't want to use a 16" wheel. So that leaves changing out the fork entirely. But the problem with that may be the diameter of the area of the frame that receives the top of the fork tube, (I don't know the correct terminology). Because there may be a difference in the diameter from the original fork to a new one that will accomidate a 20" wheel he may not be able to change the fork.

If, because of a possible diameter problem that may prevent the fork form being changed, does anyone have any possible solutions? Which is the most common problem with diameter size? A new fork is to large of a diamater or to small? If it to small will shims work to take up the excess space?

A new fork should be the same diameter. The length may need to be cut down in order for it to fit. Power On has some forks: http://www.poweroncycling.com/FORKS.htm They're really good people to deal with. Give them a call or e-mail them if you have any questions and I'm sure they can help you out.

[QUOTE=N_C]A fellow recumbent rider I know has an older model Lightening. He wants to upgrade it so it can be a better touring bike. For part of this he wants to put disc brakes on it. For the rear it really isn't a problem.
I don't think it is necessary to install disk brakes on a P-38 to make it a better touring bike. For that matter, I have toured in Europe with a friend that (at that time had a Mounton (17") front wheel.

You can install 20" (406) fork. Lightning will even sell you one. I think the steerer tube is a standard 1" threaded on all LCD bikes. I replaced a 16"(349) fork with a 20"(406) on my P-38.

The best improvement I nade to my P-38 was to replace the Original LCD brakes and levers with Shimano XTR. If the older P-38 does not have V-brake bosses on the fork and stays, new ones can be welded on a lot cheaper than getting Disc brakes and a new Disk brake wheels.