fork sizing
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 173
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
fork sizing
I recently ordered a replacement fork for my road bike off ebay for a nice $15. It just came today and to my surprise the wheel doesn't quite fit. The tire rubs between the legs of the fork. Just rubs enough to make it hard to turn the wheel. I thought hm, maybe the person selling it was confused and sold it as 700c when it was in reality for 650 wheel. I took it out and put it in the frame and put the caliper in, and the caliper sits only a few mm lower on the rim than with my old fork. This makes me think that it is in fact a 700c fork with only a manufacturing difference to account for the few mm's of size.
Current wheel is a Mavic MA2 700c rim with a Maxxis Xepher Un Catergorie 700 x 25c tire. Tire is not too wide, just too tall (comes out too far away from the rim).
I can make it work out if I pull the axle a few mm's out of the dropout. Seems very unappealing to me to have the axle not sitting all the way inside the dropout. In a workable configuration the axle does not even start to protrude from the dropout, so it's still entirely "inside" the dropout. Is there some sort of spacer I can put on the axle (shimano qr skewer) so I don't have to rely on clamping the skewer ultra tight? I'd hate to be going down the road and hit a bump and have the axle slide fully into the dropout causing the tire to rub on the fork, and likely me to go flying over the bars.
Wow, that was way longer than it needed to be...
Current wheel is a Mavic MA2 700c rim with a Maxxis Xepher Un Catergorie 700 x 25c tire. Tire is not too wide, just too tall (comes out too far away from the rim).
I can make it work out if I pull the axle a few mm's out of the dropout. Seems very unappealing to me to have the axle not sitting all the way inside the dropout. In a workable configuration the axle does not even start to protrude from the dropout, so it's still entirely "inside" the dropout. Is there some sort of spacer I can put on the axle (shimano qr skewer) so I don't have to rely on clamping the skewer ultra tight? I'd hate to be going down the road and hit a bump and have the axle slide fully into the dropout causing the tire to rub on the fork, and likely me to go flying over the bars.
Wow, that was way longer than it needed to be...
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 9,428
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
Originally Posted by propagandrew
I can make it work out if I pull the axle a few mm's out of the dropout. Seems very unappealing to me to have the axle not sitting all the way inside the dropout. In a workable configuration the axle does not even start to protrude from the dropout, so it's still entirely "inside" the dropout. Is there some sort of spacer I can put on the axle (shimano qr skewer) so I don't have to rely on clamping the skewer ultra tight? I'd hate to be going down the road and hit a bump and have the axle slide fully into the dropout causing the tire to rub on the fork, and likely me to go flying over the bars.
..
#4
Klaatu barada nikto
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Southern NH
Posts: 1,453
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Originally Posted by DocF
Put your $15 fork where my $15 fork sits--in a storage shed.
Doc
Doc
#5
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 173
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Hm, it's actually a very nice Pinarello Oria steel fork. Just seems as though it's meant for some super low-profile tires or possibly tubulars maybe. I'm not above lining the dropouts with 4 or 5 layers of cut-out soda can, but if there is an existing spacer for such a thing, that's the question.
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Montreal
Posts: 6,521
Bikes: Peugeot Hybrid, Minelli Hybrid
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
You will need to stack a lot of soda can strips to make "a few mm". You will also want to be sure you have the same amount of shim on both sides. Make your shims from something like small diameter water pipe that gives the right thickness in one go, and hold them in place with epoxy.
#7
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 173
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
best repair ever is the one that works perfectly and costs $0.
my 25 tire just plain isnt very big, are there any tires out there known for their low-profile?
my 25 tire just plain isnt very big, are there any tires out there known for their low-profile?
#8
Banned.
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Torrance, CA
Posts: 3,061
Bikes: Homebuilt steel
Mentioned: 18 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2193 Post(s)
Liked 425 Times
in
337 Posts
Don't attempt to ride with the axle less than 100% seated, it will slide down as you ride which will cause the binding you noted.
You could try some different tires...or scrap the fork.
Bummer
You could try some different tires...or scrap the fork.
Bummer
#9
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 173
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
problem solved, found some goofy ol hutchinson 700x22 (yes, 22) tires in my closet that dont rub. guess i'll be using those from now on up front.
#10
Senior Member
Is it possible that it's a track fork? Usually those are SUPER tight with 23mm tires, the crown will be cut to just fit the tire in. You may actually be able to sell it for a decent profit if that's the case.
#11
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 173
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Originally Posted by DiegoFrogs
Is it possible that it's a track fork? Usually those are SUPER tight with 23mm tires, the crown will be cut to just fit the tire in. You may actually be able to sell it for a decent profit if that's the case.
Here's how the 25mm tire "fit"
https://home.mn.rr.com/goons/25mmtire.jpg
Here's the 22mm tire
https://home.mn.rr.com/goons/22mmtire.jpg
Here's the fork from the side
https://home.mn.rr.com/goons/sideview.jpg
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 9,438
Bikes: Trek 5500, Colnago C-50
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 7 Times
in
6 Posts
That's an interesting looking fork. I don't know anything about track specific forks but from the pictures I would guess that the crown was designed and possibly machined especially for use with small tires. I think DFrogs is on to something. The overall quality of the fork does not look cheap. The leg curvature and steel threaded steer tube has older classic look. I'd keep using small tires and ride it in good health.
Al
Al