Cross Shaft Between Ski Spindle Ears - Should I get one?
- Thread starter Frostbite
- Start date
I hit a rock with mine in and it bent the spindle but didn't tear the bolts out so I managed to beat it back straight I don't think it would have be fixable with out the cross tube
R
Rush44
Well-known member
I decided not to run one and took mine out. I just do not want anything that prevents the spindle from folding and instead transferring the energy to the forks and damaging those. I can buy 5 spindles for the price of one good set of KTM forks. And seeing as I go through a spindle every year (hey, it's tradition man!) I know how many opportunities I've had to thrash a tube.
One vote Yes! TS claimes to prevent fork damage.
One vote Yes! TS claims it prevents fork damage. (So I was told.)
Made sense to me to help keep the clamps from rotating and denting the bottom of the fork tubes during a catastrophic failure.
I made mine with 7075 Aluminum using the stock length bolts. I believe that it will pull the treads out and inhibit clamp rotation before it would pull a class 8 bolt threw the spindle ears.
Knobbies and Tracks make great trails.
One vote Yes! TS claims it prevents fork damage. (So I was told.)
Made sense to me to help keep the clamps from rotating and denting the bottom of the fork tubes during a catastrophic failure.
I made mine with 7075 Aluminum using the stock length bolts. I believe that it will pull the treads out and inhibit clamp rotation before it would pull a class 8 bolt threw the spindle ears.
Knobbies and Tracks make great trails.
I don't think the brace makes the spindle any stronger, it will still collapse. The brace should help protect your expensive fork tubes when the spindle crumples. Has anyone bent or dented their fork tubes, and not destroyed the spindle?
Use it
Before I saw that TS new kit included this I was thinking it would be a goo idea and my reason is this. When you hit something and the spindle starts to tear out the clamps are being forced around the inside of the legs It is when the clamps be come loose on the legs and are scraped by the damage is caused. Now if the clamps are still bolted together tight the damage will be applied to only the spindle. It will be very hard for the flat surface area of the clamp to crush the legs.
I built a few spindles and left the rear flat strap out of them so that would be my crumple zone. Last weekend when getting a little jump happy I hit a hard cornice to jump up on to and about went over the bars when it drove into instead of up and over. Didn't notice till later in the day but the spindle did fold back some like I was planning. I wanted to fix it so I straightened it out and put in the flat strap now so probably wreck crap next time
Before I saw that TS new kit included this I was thinking it would be a goo idea and my reason is this. When you hit something and the spindle starts to tear out the clamps are being forced around the inside of the legs It is when the clamps be come loose on the legs and are scraped by the damage is caused. Now if the clamps are still bolted together tight the damage will be applied to only the spindle. It will be very hard for the flat surface area of the clamp to crush the legs.
I built a few spindles and left the rear flat strap out of them so that would be my crumple zone. Last weekend when getting a little jump happy I hit a hard cornice to jump up on to and about went over the bars when it drove into instead of up and over. Didn't notice till later in the day but the spindle did fold back some like I was planning. I wanted to fix it so I straightened it out and put in the flat strap now so probably wreck crap next time
P
PalousePoo
Well-known member
If you want the real reason why TS engineered it and sent it out with every 2014 kit, call them! Yes, its sold seperately, no, its not expensive. It uses the same bolts, they thread into it, instead of the original nuts.
The forks can take the beating with the reinforcement . The original set up was not quite finished . The Hawks use a clamp to help strengthen the set up and I doubt if there's anyone that's gonna say a Hawk is light and also none of them are known for breaking .
I've sheared the bolt that holds the ski to the spindle a couple of times , which is quite a bit bigger than the bike kit bolt , finally I made my own bolt . I also informed Simmons of it a few years ago , The weak point of the bolt is the threads and that's where it was breaking so I put a longer bolt threw and shortened the thread length to only the out side or the spindle . Problem solved and of course when I received the new T/S Simmons ski I had to make another bolt for her ride .
I've sheared the bolt that holds the ski to the spindle a couple of times , which is quite a bit bigger than the bike kit bolt , finally I made my own bolt . I also informed Simmons of it a few years ago , The weak point of the bolt is the threads and that's where it was breaking so I put a longer bolt threw and shortened the thread length to only the out side or the spindle . Problem solved and of course when I received the new T/S Simmons ski I had to make another bolt for her ride .
M
mtn-doo
Well-known member
The cross brace helps stabilize the fork clamps. Stabilizing the rear bolts with the rod prevents the back of the spindle from folding "in" so easily. Without it, it is easy and frequent to have the clamps rotate and start to pull the bolts through the spindle in the front. Hard riding and "pounding" has shown that to be an issue.
The spindle and it's attachments are designed to be a "fusible link". They are designed to fail before the expensive forks are damaged. The first two designs were a little to light. Spindle and attachment damage was frequent and a little pre-mature. This support is designed to aide in pre-mature failures but still fold and absorb prior to fork damage.
The spindle and it's attachments are designed to be a "fusible link". They are designed to fail before the expensive forks are damaged. The first two designs were a little to light. Spindle and attachment damage was frequent and a little pre-mature. This support is designed to aide in pre-mature failures but still fold and absorb prior to fork damage.
Sounds like maybe I should add one of these to my kit. I have lots of 6061 or better round solid stock kicking around. It'll be faster and easier for me to just make one up than to order one and wait etc etc. What OD are they made from? I think I will tap it with a fine thread while I'm at it and replace the bolts.
M5
M5
Im not sure if it does "save" the forks in a crash or not. Im guessing it really depends on how hard you hit. When I hit, it didn't matter. I bent both lower fork tubes, and the spindle and the cross shaft and the bolts......
I get why its there. I just think the what you hit and how fast you are going is going to decided what bend and what doesn't.
I get why its there. I just think the what you hit and how fast you are going is going to decided what bend and what doesn't.
Last edited:
I hear what your saying but something is not right . If you can crush those forks with the cross brace that is now added they ought to be hauling you to the hospital . I'm wondering if it's got something to do with turning the forks around to mount the kit ?
Or maybe it's the mounting points , that might also have something to do with a patent .
Or maybe it's the mounting points , that might also have something to do with a patent .
Last edited:
M
mtn-doo
Well-known member
Exactly. Just like a sled's A-Arms. You hit something hard enough, stuff breaks.
M
mtn-doo
Well-known member
Their the same as a Polaris bolt , maybe that's why they breaksorry that was uncalled for .
mtn-doo , I don't understand why they would still have it as a week point ? Unless it's weight ? Or the bearings in the steering post can't take it ?
It is designed to be a "weak point" in the chain of your front-end components. Designed to "fold" or absorb the impact and relieve the stress of the impact. Like the front end of our modern vehicles. Designed to bend and soak up the energy to spare the rest of the chassis. It is $300 impact damage cost, but saves $1200 forks, then the bikes frame would be next. If they were stronger by much, they would no longer be the release point. The forks would be next. It is a fine line. You want them as a "fusable" link but withstand hard riding at the same time. You hear people who hit a bolder at 40mph and bend a spindle complain about a bent spindle. They could be built indestructible very easily, but the rest of the bike would pay the consequences on an impact.
They are a little stronger now, more ridged, but still designed to fail upon a serious impact. Not "over strong", if you will.
Last edited: