1972 Penton 175 fork slider tube

[gps1]

Here is a question for any of you Penton experts. I am restoring a 72 Penton 175, but have run into small problem.
The fork tubes that came off the 175 which has production date of 6/72 has 23 1/2 chrome tubes, I have taken the 32 mm tubes from a 1972 Penton 125 and they are almost 24 1/2 inches long. I purchased a tube from Alan Buehner, but his are 24 1/2 as well.

Does anybody know why my 175 has 23 1/2 tubes vs. the 24 1/2 tubes of the 125.
And were I might be able to locate a 23 1/2 tube.
Thanks



 

[jj]

I have two '72 125s with 32mm fork tubes and the early one has 23 1/2" fork tubes and the later one has 24 1/2" tubes. They also have unique top & bottom fork plates. The early one has one cinch bolt at each end of the plate for a total of 4 bolts clamping the tubes and the later one has 2 cinch bolts at each end of the plate for a total of 8 bolts clamping the tubes. The 125's changed to the 2 bolt clamp sometime duing the '72 model run and continued through the '73's.

I have a '72 175 service manual that shows a single bolt clamp and a '73 175 service manual that shoes the 2 bolt clamp. My 175 spare parts manual 004 shows 2 bolts with a tube part #1.627.10, while my 125 spare parts manual 003 shows one bolt with a tube part #1.519.05.

I don't recommend mixing and matching because the single bolt plates clamp the tubes in a lower position in relation to the frame then the 2 bolt plates. You will end changing the frame geometry and the bike may not handle as intended. I did a lot of measuring and found that the correct combination in both configurations yields the same final frame geomety.

One more issue; The top & bottom plates have a different center to center distance between the tubes. The later 2 bolt plates place the tubes farther apart. The spare parts manual 004 shows that it requires an additionl bushing on the non brake plate side and while I have not actually measured one, it looks like it uses a differnt axle as well.

John J Slivka

[gps1]

John thanks,
To add to the delima, both the 175 and the parts bike the 125 have the 8 bolt set up, but yet the 125 had 24 1/2 tubes. Both clamps on the 175 & 125 are identical. Also both front wheels are identical. So if I read your answer correctly I should have
24 1/2 inch fork tubes. I know my 175 was a mid year model by the serial numbers, engine date stamp and it has the bing carb.

I do not plan to mix tubes or change to the 24 1/2 tubes since the 23 1/2 was stock. I was hoping that someone had a 23 1/2 in
32 mm that they would be willing to sell.

thanks