California Front End on old T3?

[Guzzer]

Does anyone know if a mid 90s California front end will fit on a T3 frame?  If anyone has actually done it, I'd love to hear from them!

[Dick]

Haven't done it, but the steering head/neck is longer at the upper end, so would assume the fork tubes and stem are longer also. Though, I'm sure it's been done.

[acguzzi]

I put a califormia 1100 fork assembly on my 79 lemans, you can slide the fork tubes up in the triple clamps to compensate for the longer forks, you can also press out your old steering stem to put in the california triples which makes the spacing correct for your steering head.

[Guzzer]

Thanks guys.  Good info! 

[salsaman1964]

Another option is to lengthen the headstock. Radical Guzzi in Germany supply a headstock extension. Here is a link to the page http://us-en.radicalguzzi.com/an_einbauteile
I fitted a set of Cali Ev Forks to my lemans 3. I popped the steering stem out of the bottom yoke with a press. I chopped a bit out of the middle, 50mm from memory, joined the two halves together with a piece of bar in the middle and rewelded.
I wasn't aware of the headstock extension at the time but thats the way I'd go if I was doing it again.

[fotoguzzi]

 
I fitted a set of Cali Ev Forks to my lemans 3.

got any pics?

[rodekyll]

I should think you could slip a sleeve over the longer post to make up the difference -- the bearing wont care.  I'm not understanding the need for re-posting the tree or buying an extension.  What don't I understand here?

[acguzzi]

the steering stem tubes from the old tontis Is a different length, the longer one from the newer bikes is too long, if you try to fit a new one to an older bike the thread doesn't go far enough to allow the top nut to screw down onto the bearing, I suppose one option is to cut the longer one down and re-thread it, but they press in and out really easily, its a simple matter to swap them out in five minutes with a press.

[John A]

I tried pressing one out of an EV tree and couldn't. it would not budge, even with heat in a 20 ton press. it finally bent the stem without moving. Not at all like a T3 stem that pushes right out. What was I doing wrong?

[Guzzer]

I really like the 95 California front wheel & dual rotors, maybe I could just try & put them on the T3 for now & save the fork job for winter.  Is that going to work or will axle be the wrong size or calipers in the wrong place or ?

[mar54]

got any pics?

[Rough Edge racing]

I tried pressing one out of an EV tree and couldn't. it would not budge, even with heat in a 20 ton press. it finally bent the stem without moving. Not at all like a T3 stem that pushes right out. What was I doing wrong?

 I've done a bit of swapping front ends on a variety of bikes. The stems press out sometimes...And sometime if the bottom yoke is steel the stem might be oven brazed....You may have to get it red hot if you haven't already done that...I also have machined the stem to remove it .....Generally it presses out from the bottom side...sounds like you are pressing on the top of the stem?
  Something else to consider with front end swaps is the stem offset...The centerline distance between steering the stem and fork tubes...More distance speeds up steering and less slows it down...Probably all very similar on Tonti frames...

[John A]

Yep, I was pushing on the stem on the assumption that if it came out the other way it would pull out when you tightened the stem nut unless there was a step on it which I did not see. The tree came off a wreck and was bent on the lower yoke anyway so it was a learning experiment . If it's still around I'll try pushing from the bottom.

[Rough Edge racing]

Yep, I was pushing on the stem on the assumption that if it came out the other way it would pull out when you tightened the stem nut unless there was a step on it which I did not see. The tree came off a wreck and was bent on the lower yoke anyway so it was a learning experiment . If it's still around I'll try pushing from the bottom.

  Yes..some do have a lip on the stem to prevent pullout...check the stem OD on the bottom side and top side of the yoke with the bearing removed....

[John A]

my question is can a stem be pressed out of a 98 on Cal series triple tree without destroying the stem or yoke? I tried on a damaged one by pushing on the stem and failed, I am hesitant to try on a good one without knowing for sure if it can be done. has anyone here done it and how?

[acguzzi]

when I used california 1100 forks I had SP3 triples, that stem pressed out easily, it accommodates the 40mm california forks. Both the Sp and the lemans stem had steps so you could only press it out one way.

[John A]

when I used california 1100 forks I had SP3 triples, that stem pressed out easily, it accommodates the 40mm california forks. Both the Sp and the lemans stem had steps so you could only press it out one way.

Just to clarify you did or did not push a stem out of a Cal Series triple tree? Im holding one in my hot little hands and it sure looks like it wont push out from the bottom.I hate to be thick headed but it seems I don't understand unless I have to mill the bottom of the stem to get it to go through