Top fork nuts made of aluminium

[ray bear]

Rebuilding my Eldorado forks with new tubes and the threads were showing age and wear in the top nuts so ordered two new ones from SD and they arrived and made of aluminium , A little shocked as I feel they need to be made of something a bit more substantial than alloy, I will more than likely run a die nut over the old steel ones and put them back into service , They are only holding a taper  firm but I feel just not good enough , why not make them out of steel as the originals . Ray

[Stevex]

Most bikes fork caps are alloy, even on my Le Mans 2. I wouldn't worry about it.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Rebuilding my Eldorado forks with new tubes and the threads were showing age and wear in the top nuts so ordered two new ones from SD and they arrived and made of aluminium , A little shocked as I feel they need to be made of something a bit more substantial than alloy, I will more than likely run a die nut over the old steel ones and put them back into service , They are only holding a taper  firm but I feel just not good enough , why not make them out of steel as the originals . Ray

I had the same thought when I saw those on Crusty Cycles. Unlike the top plugs on Tonti Guzzis, the top plugs on Loops pull and hold the tapered fork tube into the matching taper of the top plate. The plugs need to be fairly tight and while the alloy ones may be up to the job, I'd still rather have the original steel ones.

[SIR REAL ED]

Whatever you install, apply Never Seize to the threads first.

Every fork cap I have ever seen has super fine threads.  I take great care not to cross thread during installation.

Cross threading is probably the biggest problem.  It is my biggest concern since a lot of aluminum alloys are just as strong or stronger than a lot of steel alloys. Flame on!

I suspect a lot of manufacturers use aluminum for fork caps simply due to if something gets buggered during assembly, replacing the fork cap is a smaller headache/loss than replacing the fork tube.

[ray bear]

I wont be using them, my old ones are sort of OK but I am going to build them up and turn them back and cut new threads . If they come loose  they will damage the taper on my tubes and top tree, then I will be upset

[Stevex]

I had the same thought when I saw those on Crusty Cycles. Unlike the top plugs on Tonti Guzzis, the top plugs on Loops pull and hold the tapered fork tube into the matching taper of the top plate. The plugs need to be fairly tight and while the alloy ones may be up to the job, I'd still rather have the original steel ones.

 So there is no pinch bolt to hold the forks on the upper yoke?

[ray bear]

Correct just the nut

[Air-Cooled]

It looks like you can get them in steel from MG Cycle:

https://www.mgcycle.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=5384

And I think they are getting them from Stein-Dinse who manufacturers and sells them as well:

https://www.stein-dinse.com/en/moto-guzzi-fork-tube-plug-v7-700-850-gt/item-2-1429372-12504500-.html

[ray bear]

Stein Dinse are aluminium and I purchased the last one thinking it was steel (the add doesnt say its alloy ) and MG cycle have none and they contacted their supplier for me  who is not making any more at this point in time , I wanted new as so many people belt the living daylights out of them trying to break the taper on the tube as one of mine has experienced at some stage of its life  ( I remove the nut and use a gear puller so easy) . Harpers have good used ones in stock  and  have contacted Curtis and he  had one in the post same day.

[Air-Cooled]

Stein Dinse are aluminium and I purchased the last one thinking it was steel (the add doesnt say its alloy ) and MG cycle have none and they contacted their supplier for me  who is not making any more at this point in time , I wanted new as so many people belt the living daylights out of them trying to break the taper on the tube as one of mine has experienced at some stage of its life  ( I remove the nut and use a gear puller so easy) . Harpers have good used ones in stock  and  have contacted Curtis and he  had one in the post same day.

Good info, thanks for clarifying.