Six Days Front Wheel Mounting

[jay cohen]

This is one time I really feel embarassed about asking a question but I need help again. I didn't pay any attention when I took the front brake off the wheel when I started restoring my '72 Six Days. Now when I mounted the wheel this afternoon for the first time with it's new tire,ss spokes, and powder coated rim, it sits cockeyed off to the left and is not centered between the forks. One side of the brake has a nut that holds on the backing plate and the other side of the hub has another nut.  One is thick and one is thin. Is the thick one the wrong nut maybe? It's confusing and not very clean in the manuals.

[cubfan1968]

Thin guy on the brake side.

Rod Whitman
Omaha, Nebraska
1972 Six Day (Rider)
1972 Six Day (Project)

[cubfan1968]

Jay, I got 2 of these pups and like'em alot. What all are you doing to your ride?

Rod Whitman
Omaha, Nebraska
1972 Six Day (Rider)
1972 Six Day (Project)

[Ron]

Jay,
Their are 2 triple clamps used on the 72/73 bikes. A sinlge bolt and double bolt, upper and lower clamps.
The 2 bolt clamp is also "wider" by about a 1/4". They used a spacer about a 1/4" wide on the right (foot brake) side to center the wheel.
Fork tubes are also longer by about an 1, on the 2 bolt clamp. Much more sturdy set up. (careful not to mix to many parts)
Got mine running today. Can't say enough good things about using a PVL ignition, WOW!
Starts on half a kick. Haven't open her up yet, literally started her up about 2 hrs ago for a little run in time. Another Six Day bike comes back to life YEA!!
Good luck,
RonW

[jay cohen]

Thin one is on the brake side. What now?

[jay cohen]

Ron, I am using the original triple trees. I do have a parts bike that I have interchanged parts from, but I haven't changed these. I did need a fork leg off of it, but both forks legs are the same length. Anyway it would be the thickness of the leg that would be causing my problem not the length. I'm completely stumped right now.

[cubfan1968]

OK on the brake (left) side there is 16 x 1mm nut between the fork leg and the backer. On the right side you also have a hexagon nut between the hub and the leg.
Do you have a parts book or one of Al's cataloges?

Rod Whitman
Omaha, Nebraska
1972 Six Day (Rider)
1972 Six Day (Project)

[t20sl]

Jay:  With the wheel in the forks is the hub centered between the forks?  If it is and the wheel rim is not you may just have to adjust spokes.  This can take care of maybe 3/16" at most.  How much are you off?

[jay cohen]

I do have the parts book and shop manuals. The picture is not so clear about the nuts. It appears to be off by about .25in to .50in.
to the foot brake side. The wheel is trued up fine. I have to leave for a party but will be messing with it tomorrow. I'll get back tomorrow.

[Ron]

Jay,
I couldn't make a lot of sense with the manual either.
If you have the 2 bolt clamps your axle should be the correct width between the forks. You should have a 1/4" wide spacer on the brake side.
I don't know if its correct but I put the rounded nut against the hub and the spacer next to it and installed the wheel, seems to workout fine.
If you don't have the spacer I would think a stack of washers would do the same job.

[Ron]

Jay,
Sorry forgot to mention, without the spacer the axle tries to go into the fork leg (foot brake side).
When you tighten the axle it pulls the forks inward and binds the forks.
I keep calling it an axle, but I'm talking about the part of the wheel with threads that fits throught the hub of the wheel and the actual axle goes through it when you install the wheel..
RonW

[jay cohen]

I have the single bolt triple trees. One of the nuts that goes on the hub is narrow, cone shaped. The other is about 5-6mm that goes on the foot brake side. I did swipe a tube and fork leg off of my later Six Days parts bike. It does look about an inch longer than the other tube, but that shouldn't make any difference in all of this. The fork legs are identical on both year bikes. I'll call Al tomorrow maybe he can figure this out.

[tofriedel]

Jay,

Some of those bikes came with a speedo drive on the front wheel.  if that drive is missing, that may be your problem.  If no speedo drive there was a bushing to take up the difference.  Another thought, I believe there are 2 different bushing on the front wheel, one on the brake anchor plate side and one on the opposite side.  These bushings are of different widths, but same diameter.  Did you get them mixed?

Tony

[jay cohen]

Tony, There are no bushings on my bike. Only nuts. I went out and measured them. The wider one is 8mm and the narrow one, which is somewhat cone shaped is 5mm wide. Do I have the right pieces? The parts manual says one is suppose to be only 1mm wide.

[jay cohen]

I spoke with Al this morning and once again he's a gold mine of information and help. I don't know what we would do without his services. I can't say enough about the guy. Sounds like because I don't have the speedo drive I need the bushings. The drawing in the parts book is correct. The thicker nut goes on the brake backing plate. The thinner, cone shaped nut is on the foot brake side, along with two bushings. I'll let you know how it goes together. On another side note, there is a press release from the Museum written by Mark Mederski saying that the POG is one of the finest/enthusiastic single marque groups. You betcha! Thanks guys for making this work.