Simple Beam Narrowing?

[Clem]

Speaking with someone at the weekend who really knows what hes doing, he told me how to easily narrow a bay beam sulbtley ('extreme' narrowists need not read on )

He just said to remove the trailing arms, knock off the grease seal housing and then grind/cut back the housings to the first 'step'. Then tap the bearing in a bit further and re-fit the trailing arms - and cut/redrill one end of the leaves. Put back together using generic o-rings for grease sealing and youve lost about two inches simply and without excessive work.

Ive had a look at a beam today with this in mind, and it looks too good to be true. Anyone done it? Any glaringly obvious concerns?

Ta

 

[RICH-I-AM]

MMMmmmm interesting stuff.
Will be keeping an eye on this thread.
The price of a new set of seals and thats it or do you need track control arms aswell?

Rich

 

[Clem]

MMMmmmm interesting stuff.
Will be keeping an eye on this thread.
The price of a new set of seals and thats it or do you need track control arms aswell?

Rich

Just change the fixed for an adjustable would suffice, I think

 

[dubdubz]

Speaking with someone at the weekend who really knows what hes doing, he told me how to easily narrow a bay beam sulbtley ('extreme' narrowists need not read on )

He just said to remove the trailing arms, knock off the grease seal housing and then grind/cut back the housings to the first 'step'. Then tap the bearing in a bit further and re-fit the trailing arms - and cut/redrill one end of the leaves. Put back together using generic o-rings for grease sealing and youve lost about two inches simply and without excessive work.

Ive had a look at a beam today with this in mind, and it looks too good to be true. Anyone done it? Any glaringly obvious concerns?

Ta

You'd need to redrill/shorten both ends or redo the middle and one end.........
I cannot remember the distance to the inner bush in relation to the machining on the arms.....it maybe 20mm could be accomodated - I have a beam out I'll measure it in the morning....
The grease seal is good at it's job, not sure what would work in it's place as well as the original?

knock off the grease seal housing and then grind/cut back the housings to the first 'step'

what's meant by this? the bearing step or the outer tube?

 

[RICH-I-AM]

Think youd have to remove central springs wouldnt you?
Where they go through the central boss(s) is there not a grub screw that holds the leaves in place?
Gotta do a few bits 1st the morning, think im gonna take a looksy.

Rich

 

[dubdubz]

Think youd have to remove central springs wouldnt you?
Where they go through the central boss(s) is there not a grub screw that holds the leaves in place?
Gotta do a few bits 1st the morning, think im gonna take a looksy.

Rich

to redrill the torsion leaves in situ would be very tricky, so yes they'd need to come out and either shorten both ends by 1/2 narrowed amount or narrow from one end.....and then redrill the middle dimple

as these springs get 'a set' I think they call it I'd do same amount off each end approach....

actually thinking about it on my 4" beam I did the inner bushing did need moving further in....this was done by drilling out the dimples and knocking it further in, thankfully the outer casing of the bush covers the hole....

I'll post up my measurements in the morning

 

[Clem]

I forget, is the centre of the leaves dimpled? I thought it was just held by the central piece?

We reckoned about 2cm each side which would be an easy win. Grease seals shouldn't be too big an issue with regular maintenance?

A mate has a split done like this, seems ok

 

[Nick-Rackham]

Nederbug has done this (see http://forum.earlybay.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=17219&start=20" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; towards the bottom) I read on his link to http://www.nederbugs.nl" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; that he just tapped the outer bearings in 15mm and ground of the end of the beam. refitted the collar and seal simples

 

[Clem]

Nederbug has done this (see http://forum.earlybay.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=17219&start=20" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; towards the bottom) I read on his link to http://www.nederbugs.nl" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; that he just tapped the outer bearings in 15mm and ground of the end of the beam. refitted the collar and seal simples

Yeah, I thought last night that it would be easy to refit the og collars and seals. It was Johns' (Nederbugs) mate, Marco, that explained the system to me so, I reckon its a goer?

Its just under an inch and a half, all told. My wheel offset is pretty good already, so it should be a worthy mod.

 

[wayne]

Anyone try this?

 

[radish]

You may need to knock the inner bushes in abit too. They are 36mm wide, so if the trailing arms are pushed in then about 15mm of the arm will be on the bush. Pump it full of more grease too.
This is a hell of alot easier than the scratch built beam im building!

 

[Clem]

Anyone try this?

Not yet, due to other stuff to do!

Its deffo on the 'to do' list though.

 

[dubdubz]

might help?

 

[sparkywig]

Anybody had a go yet?
This might cure my slight rubbage problem...

 

[Clem]

April!

Maybe

 

[user 422]

Had a look at my beam today with a view to doing this, seems pretty straight forward!

Only tricky bit I can see is getting the cut straight and parallel

Beam earlier this week (first time it's ever come off my '71 UK bus!!)

Beam stripped and then freshly painted

Seal retainer off and cleaned up a bit

and the end of the beam tube revealed

I think you could easily knock the needle bearing in 15mm each side, and lop off 15mm off the end of the tubes, then re-fit the seal retainer and grease seal! And a quick measure of the track rod says it should take up the 15mm per side too!

Looking like a winner, I may have a go at it this weekend...

Matty

 

[sparkywig]

Go on then, you know you want to...

 

[Clem]

Go on then, you know we want you to...

Fixed that for you! :lol:

 

[K@rlos]

I may have to dabble at this :msn4:

 

[sparkywig]

Go on then, you know we want you to...

Fixed that for you! :lol:

That's what I was inferring.