My recent purchase has a set of Bob Martin Leading Links fitted. (BME035) To be 100% legal in NSW they need to be certified, No problem although from what I can research Bob Martin is no longer operating. Talking to an engineer today, he said it would help if we had detailed information about these as it could make his job easier & save a few $$$$$. Does anyone have anything relating to his leading links that may help.
G'day SB !!! Bob passed away a few years back now. His son was running the business for a while after but from what I have been told his son isn't a certified engineer. I'm sorry but this is of not of much help to you. But the son may have some info worth a try. Hopefully someone on here may know of him or have some contact details.
Thanks, His business is still listed in Yellow Pages and a few other places, tried ringing & the number is disconnected.
This may be a bit naughty, but as the bloke is dead and his son isnt carrying on the business, can't you make your own info that you need and print it out? I mean, they cant check it can they?
I've already told the engineer that it looks a lot stronger than his own design from my limited engineering knowledge, it had been on the road for a while albeit in Tas & Vic on a heavy bike & shows no apparent stress or signs of failure. He was looking at materials used, thicknesses & an Engineering Drawing etc. I don't actually know the full detail of what he wants, so I could spend a lot of time and achieve nothing. He has also said he will certify the sidecar, although not needed due to age for the included price. This can only be a win situation if something happens in the future. From what I can see it appears the Tubes are actually solid, does anyone know for sure?
Not an engineer by any stretch of the term but just looking at the picture these tool to be very ridged from the lower triple tree down. Not that that is all together bad , but seems to concentrate stress to that one point. I guess if the tubes are of sufficient strength that may never be a problem. Feel free to tell me I'm wrong.
The "ridging" is where the fork is welded. You have a pair of tubes in the triple clamps that are welded to a fabricated piece going down to the bottom pivot. That method of construction makes it light weight and strong. I'd be staggered if the bottom 'tubes' are solid. They would be way too heavy and very little stronger / stiffer than a well designed arrangement of tubes. I'm not familiar with the certification you need, but I imagine its to do with someone qualified saying they are strong enough to be used. Unless you can get actual dimensioned technical drawings of the components, the material specs and the method statement for the build then you are not going to get anyone qualified to put their stamp on them. After all if you don't have the facts and have to guess at most of the design and construction details then you may as well just guess whether they are strong enough. Is there no way that you can hold up other examples of the seller's work and justify your forks on the basis that he made x others to the same design and they havent broken so why should yours be any different?
If push came to shove and you couldn't get anyone to certify them, I'd be looking for a set of forks from a wrecker to swap in until all the registration etc is done and then on a dark night when no one is looking, sneak out to the garage and re-fit the leading link You could also try PM-ing McCardigan on here as he knows a lot of people in the sidecar community in Victoria and may be able to put you on to someone that can help. Cheers. Paul.
Just spoke to Mcardle and he has the name of the person who can help. When he gets home he will find it.Ashley Martin from the Bob martin business All is not lost yet Cheers Flodder