Stumped on Shelby Fork

[ADVHOG]

Hello all.

I am stumped.

I'm trying to use a ladies Shelby fork on my men's Shelby frame. Of course the steer tube is longer than it needs to be. I need another 3/4 inches of thread. No big deal...I grab my trusty chinamart 1 - 24 tpi die...no dice! I measure...it's Definately 1 inch diameter and I count roughly 24 threads in an inch but still no! I went through all my parts and tried all my threaded races on this fork...none fit.

I saw recently where somebody cut slots in there threaded race to use as a die but I only have one that fits. I can cut the tube and reweld shorter but that's a last resort.

Any ideas? Is Shelby it's own strange thing?

What would you guys do?

 

[horsefarmer]

Maybe you need a generous chamfer to help the die get started?

 

[ADVHOG]

I don't know what the 1-24 die will do to these threads tho. I tried 2 dozen other upper races and only the one that came with the fork works. I just fit it up again with the bearings in the cups and it's really only 1/4 inch off. Maybe I should space the lower race?

 

[RustySprockets]

Do you have another steer tube with which to perform a quick test? If so, I suggest you carefully try threading your Shelby upper race on a different 1-24 steerer just to see how it fits. I'm with Horsefarmer; it sounds like your threads are a bit buggered.

 

[ADVHOG]

Ok...I just tried to thread it to another steer tube. It threads on but it's loose. Not tight fitting like the shelby fork. The threads look very good to me. I tried to get a pic...

I'll try to put a chamfer on it, but I'm inclined to think it's just a slightly different pattern.

 

[RustySprockets]

I doubt it's a different pattern...they're just cut a little more deeply. I experienced something similar with my own Shelby Flyer, but I simply wrote it off as old rusty parts. The original locking ring was completely wasted, so I substituted something modern. Installation was tough and required lots of lube. Again, I didn't feel that the threads were different, just crusty.

At this point, I doubt there is any practical way to precisely duplicate the snug-fitting Shelby cut--you're stuck with chasing the threads. I can't help thinking that a thread file would be an excellent tool to have right about now, but I'm also guessing you don't...have one, that is.

 

[ADVHOG]

You guys were right. It was threaded shallow. I chamfered it up and forced the die on it. It was a beast but it's done.

Thank you guys. I was about to cut it off and weld on a new one.