Cycle Repairing and Adjusting
With a Chapter on building a Bicycle from a Set of Parts

OVERHAULING A BICYCLE 31 The fork crown is a very vital part, and to examine this it should be removed from the head of the machine, and examined where the steering tube enters the fork crown. When a cycle has a tendency to run to one side, the defect is probably due to a fall, which has had the effect of putting the frame or fork out of truth. In order to test this and correct it, see that the front wheel is true between the forks at the rim. Then with a straightedge placed against the side of the rim, test each side with the handle- bar stem. The straightedge should be at the same dis- tance from the handle-bar stem on each side. Unless the tyres are quite true, they should be removed before trying this. If the fork is found to be out of truth, it must be removed from the head, the .wheel removed, and the forks pulled over in the vice one at a time. When correct, replace and, with the machine upside down, place a long straightedge against each side of the back rim, noting whether it falls equidistant at both sides of the front rim. If this is correct, turn the machine right side up, and try the straightedge from the rear wheel rim sides to a piece of |-in. tube placed in the fork tube. If these are correct, the machine should “ track ” or run true. If “ out,” the frame must be pulled over or twisted accordingly. The front fork should also be tested to see that the blades are parallel with each other. To test this, place a piece of straight tube or rod through the spindle holes and a straight- edge across the blades near the crown ; they should be parallel with each other. Finally, see that the handle-bai is set quite square with the front wheel.