Can I drill my fork?

woodford2barbican

I am trying to fit new brakes to a steel frame and fork.

The rear brake is no problem, however the front brake is an issue. The sleeve that fits over the fitting bolt is too big to fit into the hole drilled in the fork.

Is it possible for me to simply widen the existing hole by using an electric drill and the correct drill bit? Or is that just asking for trouble?

I have another brake which fits by nut on a longer fitting bolt, but I would rather use the new brakes that I have just bought for this bike.

Thanks of any advice.

pieinthesky

Yes you can do it but make sure you drill the new hole concentric with the original. Also only drill the hole at the back of the fork.

Shadowduck

How much of a size difference is there? If you're only widening the hole a tadge there shouldn't be a problem (taking into account pieinthesky's comments) but I'd be nervous about widening it too far.

gundersen

It is not a problem as the fork is steel.

woodford2barbican

thanks for the quick advice, i don't have a vice - can i do it with the fork still on the bike with the frame held in a workstand, and do I need to use a drill bit for metal not masonry?

gundersen

metal
if you have a steady hand - go for it

Shadowduck

woodford2barbican wrote:

thanks for the quick advice, i don't have a vice - can i do it with the fork still on the bike with the frame held in a workstand, and do I need to use a drill bit for metal not masonry?

So long as it's not going to move while you're drilling, it doesn't really matter how you hold it. As you're widening an existing hole, there's a bit of a risk the drill will hook up on one of the flutes and leave you with a triangular hole - use a metal ("twist" / HSS) drill bit (ideally with a drop of oil on it) and don't put too much pressure on, it'll hopefully be ok.

woodford2barbican

Great thanks. Will try and report back with tales of joy or woe later this weekend!

pieinthesky

Try drilling with incresing sized drills until you get to the correct size. You are more likely to get a good round hole this way. Also some drills might drill oversize.

Dont let a masonry bit anywhere near your bike.

top_bhoy

woodford2barbican wrote:

The sleeve that fits over the fitting bolt is too big to fit into the hole drilled in the fork.

Thanks of any advice.

I'll assume that you have checked that a smaller, more suitable size, isn't available to fit the existing hole?

Smokin Joe

Make sure you put a bit of paint over the bare metal after drilling, otherwise the dreaded tin rot will set in.

woodford2barbican

Nobody ever got laid because they rode Shimano

Did anyone get laid because they rode Campag? Or does SRAM have that effect?

Anyway, I drilled the hole, it was surprisingly easy. I sensibly wore goggles as well. If you ever do this, wear them!

As a result of this I just cycled the first bike I have built round the block.

The brakes work but need tightening and the gears are indexed fine but Jump on several of the cogs. Probably because it is a new chain and the cassette is several thousand miles old.

At least I went round the block...[/quote]

aracer

Top_Bhoy wrote:

woodford2barbican wrote:

The sleeve that fits over the fitting bolt is too big to fit into the hole drilled in the fork.

Thanks of any advice.

I'll assume that you have checked that a smaller, more suitable size, isn't available to fit the existing hole?

Was very unlikely, as there are only two sizes for the hole AFAIK - the smaller size which is the diameter of the brake bolt, designed for long brake bolts, and the bigger size to take a nut. If he had a smaller hole then there's no nut which would fit through that and also thread onto a bolt of the same diameter as the hole.

woodford2barbican

I did try another set of brakes which had a longer bolt with a nut fitting. They did work but they were real cheapos and not very good. Also the drop on the rear brake was too much for them to work as a set.