Stelvio fork clamps

[wrinkley]

Morning folks,
I've just introduced myself in the appropriate section, but I'll say Hi again. Recently purchased myself a much unloved 09 Stelvio pre abs. Cosmetically it looks fairly sad but nothing that's insurmountable.

Roller tappet conversion is done and it runs lovely..gearbox is nice...41.000mls. My intention is to run it for a couple of months and see how far I wish to go with a renovation over the winter.

I paid £1900 which I think is around $2500...Not sure about in the US but a very cheap bike in the UK.

Anyway, as I've said there's nothing insurmountable, but the big headache is the right side fork clamp is split. New in the UK the lower leg is around £800 including taxes...ouch.

My question is, did anyone ever come up with a fix?  I'm considering making a plate from 2mm stainless which will need to be fastened to the top of the rhino horns and bent over the front of them.

Any help or advice gratefully received.

PS I've looked through every thread I can find on this subject...not found a solution yet. Think I'd possibly be better off breaking the bike than shelling out for a new fork leg...very little chance of finding an undamaged used one in the UK.

[pete roper]

I take it you mean the wheel spindle clamp casting on the bottom of the leg has snapped? Not one of the fork yokes?

Pete

[wrinkley]

Sorry for not making myself clear. Yes, it's the Rhino Horn on the right side wheel spindle clamp.

[pete roper]

If you can find a lower fork leg snap it up now. They have been NLA from the factory for a while for the 50mm forks because Marzocchi ceased production. Also invest in a 1/4 drive, inch pound torque wrench and use it religiously on the pinch bolts which should be swapped for Allen heads from the stock Hex heads to discourage over tightening.

Pete

[wrinkley]

Thanks Pete, looks like I'm going to have to figure some way to repair it. Although I have read Guzzi do not see it as a safety problem.

[pete roper]

No of course, having a broken casting that holds the front wheel on is nothing to worry about at all! I'd love to see how that stacked up in a court of law!

Given its an alloy casting repair would be very difficult and its success and safety dubious in my book. If you can find a bent fork tube with an intact casting you should be able to get it swapped onto your leg easily enough.

The alternative is to look for another front end. Multistrada perhaps?

[malik]

You do know of Reboot Guzzi Spares? Give them a ring, & ask them to keep an eye out.

[leafman60]

Somebody with proper skills and equipment could probably repair the leg or make it safely usable.

[lorazepam]

Get some JB stick, that stuff will fix anything metal. 

[Lannis]

Somebody with proper skills and equipment could probably repair the leg or make it safely usable.

I would tend to agree.   I know some guys who know an AWFUL lot about welding and joining all kinds of metal, and once shown the part and the application, could very likely do a repair that would not fatigue or embrittle or otherwise damage the part ... ?

Lannis