Hitchcocks Forum

All in the title really. I am attempting to replace the main spring in the girder forks of a Model C. I am having trouble with getting it fitted to the top of the steering head.

Hi , Do you mean getting it to compress enough to allow forks to assemble or how it actually attaches to top/bottom?

Vince,

I have already assembled the forks and attached them to the frame with the steering head. I am now trying to insert the spring. The spring itself should screw onto the top of the steering head. It is this I am having trouble with. Should I have inserted the spring before assembling the forks?

Assemble complete fork with spring before attaching to frame. Its an awkward job to get head nut started on the thread. use a couple of racket straps to compress forks. alternative remove links get headstock on then use straps to put top and bottom links on. easier to do than explain! come back if having problems and i'll try to explain better

Vince,

Main spring is now properly attached. My last problem for now is how to attach the retaining rings for the check springs.

Hi Jeff, I use a long thin V section bar (bit like a metal tent peg) attach the spring to the bottom lug, pass bar through top ring and with the v section inverted on the top lug, lever up and the spring slides down the bar and pops on the lug! Repeat several times! I use the same to put on bullet stand springs.

PS You must have a late model C as the check springs are not fitted to the early models. Dont know if you have ridden yours yet but they go best if buzzed, they're fitted with a no 5 slide for economy and go better low down if you reduce the cutaway. power drops off on the hills . Its grandad in my collection probably about 60mph if pushed but you can throw it around bends as its very light.

Vince,

Yes mine is a 45/46 model. I bought it as a wreck 27 years ago. Stripped it down and started the restoration then. Children and work then stalled the work. I have recently restarted it as I have retired.

I had already fitted the check springs it is the little circular retaining clips I am finding awkward to fit.

The bike was bought in Cardiff just after the war. The owner used it for 3 years and put 7300 miles on it before it broke down. He then shoved it into an outhouse and left it there to rust. I bought it off the original owner.

Hi again, All the post war Model c were refurbished ex wd by the factory who brought them back off the military to get production started, they have some CO parts not in original w/d spec.

With regard to the retaining clips, I have to admit that the the ones I worked on the springs were just retained by the bulb end of the lug so I am interested how they work!

Before you run it up pour oil into the tappet box and let it drain into the timing case as the designed feed tends to leave this area under lubed.

Yes the REOC chap told me I'd find khaki paint under the black but there isn't any. It does, as you say, have some later CO parts fitted, such as the forks. Thanks for the tip re the oil.