Landracing Forum
East Coast Timing Association => ECTA Rules Questions => Topic started by: MiltonP on June 05, 2009, 12:12:52 PM
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A few of my friends, including one or two who do track days, are having trouble accepting that I drilled my front forks to safety wire the front axle and nut. I told them I wasn't the only one down at Maxton who had done this and many were on faster bikes than my Ninja 500 but they think we must be crazy to drill qhat must be a highly stressed part! I am curious, has anyone seen any issues related to this. Even if a rider went down for other reasons, did anyone notice if the forks cracked at that point? Not worried about it in my case but curious. As in this case, I would check with the gang on the best solution for whatever bike I may run in the future. :cheers:
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How many drill bits did it take to drill the forks? They are very hard, you are drilling a very small hole,amd there is a lot of metal there. You will be fine. :-D
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Depends on where you drilled. Got pics?
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Okay -- here's some comment from one of the inspectors that tells you about drilling for safety wires. Remember, though -- these are my personal comments, not necessarily what the sanctioning organisation might say.
First of all -- yes, we've considered whether drilling the fork leg might weaken it. To that end we now often suggest that instead of drilling the fork leg itself -- that you take advantage of the fact that a good many forks have a hole in the bottom of the leg. Drill the bolts and run the safety wire through the bolt heads and through the hole already in the fork leg. You'll have secured the bolts without affecting the leg.
If you can do it that way -- you'll pass tech and not make your friends worry for you.
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Actually, my forks were very soft metal compared to the axle and no drill bits were sacrificed in the process. I drilled out front not very far in from the outer edges but felt ok with it. Actually, I am wondering now if corrosion in there could be an issue down the road. I wasn't bright enough to look underneath for an existing hole. Too embarrassing if I look and see one now! :roll:
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The lower leg (near the axle) is under compression but almost no bending at all (unlike the top of the leg, and the entire exposed tube), and should be quite safe if carefully planned.