Gents, this seems to be a well discussed topic but as I hold mine up and try to make them work like a suspension unit, it seems they are very hard indeed.

This is actually a continuation of the problem I was having getting the headstock to tighten up nicely around the balls on the head races. Glyn sent a pack of bearings for me to examine and the problem seems to be that when I tighten the round nut on the top of the headstock, compressing the two forks together, the sprung part of the forks didn’t want to go down to meet the balls on the frame. New brass bushes had been made for the fork bottoms when I bought it and these were too close a fit and preventing a free movement of the fork legs within.

Still though, there appears to be no springing whatsoever of the suspension cylinder and when I use a jig to try to compress it, it still seems stuck, as if rusted in place. Has anybody come across this because it is in my hand now and I might as well try to get something resembling suspension.

It appears like I might be able to get a bit of play in the bottom button to appear and then possibly cut the spring to allow it to be separated. Are these springs available if this has to happen.

Thanks for your thoughts, Will.

Thanks, Will.