Atlas Front Fork Help

I’m working on my front forks on my new to me, 1964 Atlas project. These were in terrible shape and someone gave me lower legs with springs, so I have those. I need new fork tubes and chrome oil seals, but I think I’m missing something. Did the 1964 Atlas have bushings or seals?

The picture below IS NOT mine, but these are the parts I have. Notice the lack of bushings like the Commando.

My question is, what bushings and seals do I need?

Below is the parts list for forks on 61-62 bikes. Probably identical to yours.
Cheers

Terrific, thank you

Are you talking about #2,3 and circlip #4? The seals are common to the Roadholders and pretty easy to find.

I’m just trying to find out what I need. I have all of the parts in the picture above. Just hoping someone can tell me what I’m missing. That diagram is hard to decipher.

Like I said, I have the parts in the picture above, is all that I’m missing in the bush & oil seal kit you mentioned?

I think this is what I need.

Yes, that is the seal/bush kit you need. Don’t forget the grommet that goes between your headlight ears and the top yoke. I think it’s #33 in the diagram.

Be aware that there are two different lengths of stanchions
( tubes ? ) . Not certain if Atlas took the long or short ones .

Short (~21 3/4”)

kernel65 said:

Short (~21 3/4”)

Click to expand...

Thanks - short Roadholder at 21 7/8 “ according to Andover
- long Roadholder at 23.3 “ according to Andover
and not to muddy the waters but Manx shorter yet at 20 3/8 “ , again dimensions as per Andover site .

This bike is all original but it’s been out in the elements (I’m told in a barn) for decades. These forks were very rusted. I couldn’t get the tube to spin, even after soaking it penetrating oil for a few days, a large vice and pipe wrench. So I pulled out the cutting wheel.

There was a crack in the alloy on the lowers that came with the bike, so they were are unusable. I didn’t mind cutting it.



Here is what’s inside. They are the 21” shorter ones. I’ve also confirmed the bushings and washers. Thanks for the advice!

Here are the ones I’m looking at with confidence. I’m assuming that the larger bronze colored washers are for the top fork tube nuts.

Thanks again for all your help. This forum is invaluable.

Don’t hate me for not going original. If you see my profile picture, I like British racing bikes and I’m building this one like a Manx racer. It’s a 1964 engine and frame. Not matching, but in the first thousand or so Atlas’ built that year. I have a pretty clear vision as to what I want to build.

This is what I brought home. It was very rough. Took a few weekends on a wire wheel and bench grinder to clean it up.



Here’s what I got so far, but it’s only been a few weeks. My focus right now are the forks.



This is my guide or one very similar, except mine with have the twin 750.



The only question of my plan is the color. This is that Fi glass racing tank from either the 60’s or 70’s with parts of an original decal, so I’ve not decided what to do about that yet. It originally had the strap to hold it down and there are still marks remaining on the tank from where the strap sat. There is likely a racing heritage to the tank also as these were the go to racing tank of the day, but probably just club.

I’m going to compound it some and see if I cleans up. If it does, I may keep it white with white (off white) fairing. That would be the same color I did my Commando in a few years back. Neither were the color of choice, but parts are only original once.

Looks like you will need a pair of lower aluminum sliders. I can probably help you with that.

A lot of 'image not found' but that first pic! Is anything but melting down for scrap gonna be worth it? Not trying to be sharp, but wow. Andover has all the bits and great diagrams linked to each part, they are invaluable.

Stephen Hill said:

Looks like you will need a pair of lower aluminum sliders. I can probably help you with that.

Click to expand...

I have an extra set, thank you!

gpzkat said:

A lot of 'image not found' but that first pic! Is anything but melting down for scrap gonna be worth it? Not trying to be sharp, but wow. Andover has all the bits and great diagrams linked to each part, they are invaluable.

Click to expand...

Strange, I see all the pictures on my site. Let me try to do it again. It’s a shame, I spent a lot of time doing this.

I tried to repost. Let me know if you can see the pix