Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Bicycle Mechanics
Reload this Page >

Fork/Tire Clearance Question

Search
Notices
Bicycle Mechanics Broken bottom bracket? Tacoed wheel? If you're having problems with your bicycle, or just need help fixing a flat, drop in here for the latest on bicycle mechanics & bicycle maintenance.

Fork/Tire Clearance Question

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 05-27-09, 12:06 PM
  #1  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
etherhuffer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: West Seattle
Posts: 1,421

Bikes: Surly Long Haul Trucker,81 Fuji Gran Tour SE, 83 Fuji S12S LTD, Voyageur 11.8 chrome, Raleigh R300 Touring, Voyageur 11.8

Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 283 Post(s)
Liked 503 Times in 228 Posts
Fork/Tire Clearance Question

I put Marathon 700x38 tires on my touring bike. There was just barely not enough clearance on the front fork so I had to take a Dremel and smooth out a high spot on the fork just above the tire. I now have a whopping 2mm clearance. Rode the bike a while, no rubbing, etc. Any minimal clearances for any reason anyone can think of?
etherhuffer is offline  
Old 05-27-09, 01:47 PM
  #2  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,157
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
Is it going to rub once wheel gets little bit out of round ?
Esteban32696 is offline  
Old 05-27-09, 02:28 PM
  #3  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
etherhuffer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: West Seattle
Posts: 1,421

Bikes: Surly Long Haul Trucker,81 Fuji Gran Tour SE, 83 Fuji S12S LTD, Voyageur 11.8 chrome, Raleigh R300 Touring, Voyageur 11.8

Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 283 Post(s)
Liked 503 Times in 228 Posts
NO! My wheels are absolutely perfectly round and will last forever! I hope......
etherhuffer is offline  
Old 05-27-09, 02:35 PM
  #4  
Galveston County Texas
 
10 Wheels's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: In The Wind
Posts: 33,221

Bikes: 02 GTO, 2011 Magnum

Mentioned: 19 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1350 Post(s)
Liked 1,243 Times in 621 Posts
What Clearance?
Felt F-80
700 X 28's

__________________
Fred "The Real Fred"

10 Wheels is offline  
Old 05-27-09, 03:39 PM
  #5  
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
Why not save that big tire to use on the back and put a smaller tire on the front. Grinding on the fork doesn't sound like a good idea to me.

Al
Al1943 is offline  
Old 05-27-09, 05:24 PM
  #6  
cab horn
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Toronto
Posts: 28,353

Bikes: 1987 Bianchi Campione

Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 42 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 26 Times in 19 Posts
Originally Posted by Esteban32696
Is it going to rub once wheel gets little bit out of round ?
A tyre seating unevenly will cause a much bigger "out of round radial/lateral" situation than a wheel trueness. It'd have to be VERY bad to be noticeable over the tyre.
operator is offline  
Old 05-27-09, 05:52 PM
  #7  
Senior Member
 
Yan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 2,929
Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1946 Post(s)
Liked 643 Times in 440 Posts
When you pick up a squirrel in your wheel, it'll jam in your fork instead of passing through, likely causing you to fly over your bars.

I think it'll be fine unless you go offroad and start picking up mud and pebbles.
Yan is offline  
Old 05-27-09, 05:53 PM
  #8  
cab horn
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Toronto
Posts: 28,353

Bikes: 1987 Bianchi Campione

Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 42 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 26 Times in 19 Posts
Originally Posted by Yan
When you pick up a squirrel in your wheel, it'll jam in your fork instead of passing through, likely causing you to fly over your bars.

I think it'll be fine unless you go offroad and start picking up mud and pebbles.
Lol. Do you know how big a clearance you'd need for the squirrel NOT to jam?
operator is offline  
Old 05-27-09, 06:57 PM
  #9  
Old fart
 
JohnDThompson's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Appleton WI
Posts: 24,784

Bikes: Several, mostly not name brands.

Mentioned: 153 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3587 Post(s)
Liked 3,400 Times in 1,934 Posts
Originally Posted by Al1943
Grinding on the fork doesn't sound like a good idea to me.
If it's a steel fork there's little risk grinding the bottom of the crown. In fact, that's pretty much standard practice with pursuit frames to get the extremely close clearances ("f@g paper clearance" as the Brits say) required in such races.

But for a touring bike, more clearance is a good thing, not only to allow the occasional piece of gravel to pass under the crown, but also to allow mounting fenders to keep the rider and luggage drier in wet weather.
JohnDThompson is offline  
Old 05-28-09, 06:07 AM
  #10  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,157
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
Rather than saying " out of round," I should have said warped. If you had a little damage while riding, that caused the wheel to warp, even slightly, is it going to rub the fork. Would make a hard ride back home !
Esteban32696 is offline  
Old 05-28-09, 07:19 AM
  #11  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: angus scotland
Posts: 600

Bikes: Grifter BSA 20

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
hey Im building a recumbent. Im using a BMX fork to hold an, er front wheel, at the rear. Its a sort of Zox 20 copy, front wheel drive bike Im thinking of. The forks on the rear are from a bike that had 18" wheels. But I filed off some of the lower fork crown. The forks are lying flat and the tubings large diameter. So there shouldnt be too much trouble
griftereck is offline  
Old 05-28-09, 11:29 AM
  #12  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
etherhuffer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: West Seattle
Posts: 1,421

Bikes: Surly Long Haul Trucker,81 Fuji Gran Tour SE, 83 Fuji S12S LTD, Voyageur 11.8 chrome, Raleigh R300 Touring, Voyageur 11.8

Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 283 Post(s)
Liked 503 Times in 228 Posts
If its a flying squirrel, we can fly together!

I did think of what you are saying. I had the idea, bordering between genious and stupidity, of mounting a bent toothbrush on the brake bolt with the brushes just at the tire tread level to knock off rocks. And, far more importantly in Seattle, SLUGS! Damn, on the trail last year I hit a veritable slug herd and got coated with slime. Could I mount a salt shaker up there too?
etherhuffer is offline  

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off



Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.