BTR leaf spring build

[james65]

Although my BTR may be more of a cruiser due to the fenders, I have made a fork more fitting for a BTR.

1. All moving joints are bushed.
2. Spring connecting rods are adjustable to change spring preload'
3. The pivot arms are reversable to change stiffnes of the desired ride.
4. The adjustable spring connecting rods are built to be connected for leading or trailing setup.

The existing fork will be used on a new Cruiser build.

 

[lanternman]

Nice, did you have a longer axle? What did you make the spring from. I'm building a truss fork and may go for the spring. Louis

 

[james65]

leaf spring & axle

The axle being used is the standard axle supplied with the Husky wheel. The length of the axle is APROX 128mm.
The inside useable space between the pivot arms is APROX 104mm.

The spring was purchased at Harbor Frieght. I purchased the lightest trailer spring they had. I also ground it as shown, to make it have more give (that may not be needed).

 

[james65]

Back from Christmas shopping with just enough time to get the fork painted. Holidays are screwing up the schedule!

 

[lanternman]

Like the pictures. I am thinking of using a lawn mower blade for a spring. They are good steel and could temepered to make a spring. What do you think? Louis

 

[james65]

Yes that sounds interesting. But with the amount of work getting the right temperment, it would be easier to buy a trailer spring. A single trailer spring cost about $20 and you can make two spring forks from it.
A boat & trailer repair shop may even give you an old one.

Plus with just half a blade that mower will run vibrate like crazy!

 

[lanternman]

I like to try to make something out of junk. sometime it don't work.

 

[james65]

I like to try to make something out of junk. sometime it don't work.

Sometimes I make something into junk! Have a good holiday!

Jim

 

[Sgt. Howard]

Garbage In Garbage Out does not nessisarily apply to motorbikes... however, springs are a tricky bit of buisness. Mower blades are closer to tool steel than spring steel, I would avoid useing them. Better off scrounging a boneyard- you might have to purchase a whole cluster, but even that ought to be cheap. Do golf carts use leaf springs? Never gutted one, don't know... seems the coiled spring variety of springer would be easier to replicate- but I gotta admit James- THAT looks sharp!
the Old Sgt.

 

[james65]

leaf attachment point

This is how the leaf is attached to this fork.