55 KHK Triple trees

[rmcveigh]

Hi guys - I am having a minor brain freeze over my triple trees - I am restoring my 55 KHK, and sourced some triple trees, ostensibly 50's but when they arrived, checking against the manual, they didn't look to have the correct brackets & mount tabs for my year - graciously the seller just sent me on another pair, with the brackets that looked correct to the parts manual.
When the replacements arrived they looked perfect against the manual so I had the lower tree powder coated & the top tree stripped & rechromed & I have just tried to marry them up on the frame & the top tree just doesn't look right, the neck hole doesn't match to the the lower tree if the forks are lined up & vice versa - so I have tried the original trees he sent and they do fit, as does the original top tree (with incorrect holes/brackets) to the second lower tree he sent me -
the pictures show them side by side & then overlaid, so I am fairly positive it's the chromed top tree that's wrong, which looks exactly like the parts manual but just won't marry up ?
thoughts ?
Ray

[JerrryR]

Your chromed top tree is the early one used 52 3 and 4. You are probably trying to match it to the later 55 and newer bottom tree. They won't line up The aluminum upper tree that you have lines up because it was used with that later lower tree. I think at the website in the technical section there are pictures that will help you tell the early from the later trees.

[Ferrous_Head]

Early bottom trees are easy enough to identify. The have a -57 casting number. The later trees have a -57A casting number.

[JerrryR]

-52 Bottom tree used 52-54. -52A Bottom tree used 55>

-52 & -52A Bottom Trees.jpg (101.1 KiB) Viewed 46397 times

Top chrome tree is the early one used with the -52 bottom tree 52-54. Lower black top tree used with the -52A bottom tree 55-58.

Early and Late Top Tree.jpg (72.83 KiB) Viewed 46397 times

[Yard Dog]

Ray ,
The top tree you need is the version used from 55 thru 58 . It is similar in appearance to the early tree you have except the fork stem hole is further out. I have the one that you need and would trade you for the early version. If you are interested, message me and I will send pictures.

Jack

[Ferrous_Head]

Sorry, yes. My mistake. A -52 versus -52A casting number.

The early version has the stem "angled" in relation to the fork stanchion tubes. The later ones are parallel to the tubes. So you need either both early top clamps and trees or later top clamps and trees - you can't mix'n'match them.

The early ones will reduce the trail on your bike. (Which may not matter to you)

[rmcveigh]

Thanks for the clarification ! Much appreciated, have already sourced a 52A Yard Dog but I will message you with regards to a trade as I am still missing some other parts in my rebuild !