Planet Minis

Bowwow · 11-14-2009, 01:54 PM

New to the forums, very inspired by your projects!

I "rescued" a 1977 CT70 that lived through four boys on a farm. Runs great, but needs some pretty serious attention.

The forks seemed to be binding - they weren't moving freely at all. Today I removed the top triple clamp and voila! The forks suddenly weren't binding any more! The moved much more smoothly. So I took the forks off and removed the triple crown (preparing for paint and rebuild), and rested the bottom clamp on the top to compare them. It appears that the top clamp is about 1/4" narrower than the bottom! I've attached a photo showing the difference.

I suspect the former owner replaced the top clamp, and got the wrong one. How can I find the correct top clamp? I'd like to get a top clamp that would allow me to use regular bars (I'm definitely not a purist - apologies to those of you who are - *wink!*), but I want it to fit. I also want to keep the stock fork due to budget considerations. Help!!!!

Thanks for your inspiration and help!

Steve

mexicanyella · 11-14-2009, 09:26 PM

Can you measure the center-to-center distance between the two holes the top fork bolts go through, on that upper triple clamp? I could compare your measurement to the CT forks and Z50 forks I have here, maybe that could tell you something.

dirtbkr188 · 11-15-2009, 01:26 PM

I measured the center-to-center distance between the two fork mounting bolt holes and got 6-7/8" or 174.62mm. The plate was a chrome one, from the early models CTs, the K3-'78 models had a black mounting plate.

Bowwow · 11-16-2009, 08:20 PM

I measured the bottom triple clamp - 6 7/8" C to C. Then the top clamp - 6 1/2" C to C.

So the top clamp must be from a different bike, maybe a Z50?

Can I buy aftermarket triple clamps? I'd like to convert to regular bars, so a top clamp with regular risers would be best...

Thanks for all your help!

Steve

dirtbkr188 · 11-16-2009, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bowwow

I measured the bottom triple clamp - 6 7/8" C to C. Then the top clamp - 6 1/2" C to C.

So the top clamp must be from a different bike, maybe a Z50?

Can I buy aftermarket triple clamps? I'd like to convert to regular bars, so a top clamp with regular risers would be best...

Thanks for all your help!

Steve

I'll see if I can get mio compadre mexicanyella to measure up his hardtail and post the results.

Bowwow · 11-17-2009, 12:25 PM

Wonder of wonders, we found the original top clamp! It was under the workbench in the farmer's quonset, along with half of the broken bar clamp. One of the holes for the bar clamps had been welded closed, so I drilled it out, slapped a bit of paint on it, and I'm now reassembling the bike to take the "before" pictures.

I'm still interested in aftermarket triple clamps, or if there is a swap from another model that will work. I want to go to standard bars...

I'll start a resto thread with the pix...

Thanks!

Steve

11-14-2009, 01:54 PM	#1 (permalink)
Bowwow PM Newbie Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Cardston Alberta Canada Posts: 3	Triple Clamp Trouble New to the forums, very inspired by your projects! I "rescued" a 1977 CT70 that lived through four boys on a farm. Runs great, but needs some pretty serious attention. The forks seemed to be binding - they weren't moving freely at all. Today I removed the top triple clamp and voila! The forks suddenly weren't binding any more! The moved much more smoothly. So I took the forks off and removed the triple crown (preparing for paint and rebuild), and rested the bottom clamp on the top to compare them. It appears that the top clamp is about 1/4" narrower than the bottom! I've attached a photo showing the difference. I suspect the former owner replaced the top clamp, and got the wrong one. How can I find the correct top clamp? I'd like to get a top clamp that would allow me to use regular bars (I'm definitely not a purist - apologies to those of you who are - wink!), but I want it to fit. I also want to keep the stock fork due to budget considerations. Help!!!! Thanks for your inspiration and help! Steve Attached Thumbnails Last edited by Bowwow; 11-14-2009 at 07:22 PM.

11-14-2009, 09:26 PM	#2 (permalink)
mexicanyella El rey de los puntos Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Troy, MO Posts: 972	Re: Triple Clamp Trouble Can you measure the center-to-center distance between the two holes the top fork bolts go through, on that upper triple clamp? I could compare your measurement to the CT forks and Z50 forks I have here, maybe that could tell you something.

11-15-2009, 01:26 PM	#3 (permalink)
dirtbkr188 3rd Gear Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: New Jersey Posts: 2,969	Re: Triple Clamp Trouble I measured the center-to-center distance between the two fork mounting bolt holes and got 6-7/8" or 174.62mm. The plate was a chrome one, from the early models CTs, the K3-'78 models had a black mounting plate. Last edited by dirtbkr188; 11-15-2009 at 02:02 PM.

11-16-2009, 08:20 PM	#4 (permalink)
Bowwow PM Newbie Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Cardston Alberta Canada Posts: 3	Re: Triple Clamp Trouble I measured the bottom triple clamp - 6 7/8" C to C. Then the top clamp - 6 1/2" C to C. So the top clamp must be from a different bike, maybe a Z50? Can I buy aftermarket triple clamps? I'd like to convert to regular bars, so a top clamp with regular risers would be best... Thanks for all your help! Steve

11-17-2009, 12:25 PM	#6 (permalink)
Bowwow PM Newbie Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Cardston Alberta Canada Posts: 3	Re: Triple Clamp Trouble Wonder of wonders, we found the original top clamp! It was under the workbench in the farmer's quonset, along with half of the broken bar clamp. One of the holes for the bar clamps had been welded closed, so I drilled it out, slapped a bit of paint on it, and I'm now reassembling the bike to take the "before" pictures. I'm still interested in aftermarket triple clamps, or if there is a swap from another model that will work. I want to go to standard bars... I'll start a resto thread with the pix... Thanks! Steve

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