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Fork steer tube length needed for 49 higgins Westfield/Columbia built needed

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JWick

'Lil Knee Scuffer
I’m currently on my first build. I think it’s a 49 JC Higgins straight bar- Westfield/Columbia built. Pics of frame below.


Mostly been trying to accumulate parts off EBay, and have made a few mistakes here n there. Expenses are adding up. Lol.

My latest one, I purchased a truss Rod style fork, but apparently it’s for a bicycle with a longer head tube, possibly a womens bike? Anyways, once I got bearings in place, the threads on steer tube don’t come down far enough. So either I have to try and machine new threads lower down the steer tube, than lop off the excess, or try and seperate the steertube from the fork in hopes of replacing with the correct one. Last or probably the easier option would be to just find a different fork.
So does anyone know what size I would need. I assumed that they would all be standard size and have enough threads on the steer tubes to adjust a bit if you run a truss Rod collar, etc.

Included is a picture I took of the measurement of bare headtube with no cups installed. Depending on how accurate my tape is, and what angle I can hold the tape and snap a pic, it looks like headtube is between 5 3/16” and 5 2/8”.

What length steer tube should I be looking for when looking for another fork? Also, if I was to use truss Rod and collar off of the fork I already have, should I be looking for a different length as well. See last pic for truss forks I currently have

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I’m currently on my first build. I think it’s a 49 JC Higgins straight bar- Westfield/Columbia built. Pics of frame below.


Mostly been trying to accumulate parts off EBay, and have made a few mistakes here n there. Expenses are adding up. Lol.

My latest one, I purchased a truss Rod style fork, but apparently it’s for a bicycle with a longer head tube, possibly a womens bike? Anyways, once I got bearings in place, the threads on steer tube don’t come down far enough. So either I have to try and machine new threads lower down the steer tube, than lop off the excess, or try and seperate the steertube from the fork in hopes of replacing with the correct one. Last or probably the easier option would be to just find a different fork.
So does anyone know what size I would need. I assumed that they would all be standard size and have enough threads on the steer tubes to adjust a bit if you run a truss Rod collar, etc.

Included is a picture I took of the measurement of bare headtube with no cups installed. Depending on how accurate my tape is, and what angle I can hold the tape and snap a pic, it looks like headtube is between 5 3/16” and 5 2/8”.

What length steer tube should I be looking for when looking for another fork? Also, if I was to use truss Rod and collar off of the fork I already have, should I be looking for a different length as well. See last pic for truss forks I currently have

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What is your head tube measurement? I may have a non truss rod fork that would work..
 
Thanks guys. Was waiting for some spare time to mess with it a bit. Ebay’d a die and Amazon’d a handle.
I just got out the blue tape and sharpie and got some good threads cut/extended. Used a Vice with some copper jaw covers and fork wrapped. Worked pretty good.
Next on list is to extend the lock washer key way. My plan of attack is to run the die all the way down past where I will cut the key way. Then use the die to chase the threads and clean up the boogers from cutting the key way on the way back up. I’m still not sure if I should use a carbide bit in a die grinder, or drill/mill. It doesn’t seem too crucial, as the original key way doesn’t look too exact.
For the Truss Rods, I assume I can run a tap thru the top end. And just like the fork, use the existing threads as a guide. Extend the threads further down the rods, measure, then cut off the excess.
Meanwhile I’ve been slowly collecting parts. Most are 40s-50s. Not sure bout the bars, but they caught my eye. Got some black ball end grips to go with. Still considering de-chroming bars, and cranks, and torch and blue them. Anyways, got some wartime nd hubs,
repro tires on deck. Still eyeballing seats and maybe a lucky 7 post on eBay. Got some beater Torrington pedals, not sure if I’m gonna run them. Pretty much everything so far has been either off eBay, offerup, or cl.
Did a quick mockup with some of the parts-

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