Pace fork question

[Bootstrap Bob]

So I am rebuilding my Kona (build thread soon) and I wanted to fit my old Pace Airforce front forks however I am having a problem with tyre clearance under the bridge. The big problem is lack of space to fit mud guards.
Knowing that the bridge is a bolt on item on Pace forks I was wondering if anyone knows whether any other forks share the same bolt pattern and equally import do they have more tyre clearance? For example the RC35, RC36 or Airforce II.

 

[ishaw]

I don't think you'll find many, I'd any options other than the original bridges. The bolt pattern varies between pace forks, iirc the air force are 2 bolts each side of the bridge. Even the 2 bolt versions vary iirc, some use the same bolt size/head per hole, later ones use a bigger bolt in one of the 2 holes each side. Rc36 used 3 bolts each side I think.

You might be best looking for mudguards that fit via the steerer tube and over the bridge but the fork may well hit it on full extension.

Justbackdated is the pace guru on here, he will know for sure what's possible.

 

[Bootstrap Bob]

That's what I was afraid of.
I have currently fitted the fixed forks and will have to think about my next steps.
Cutting the Mudguard and making a bracket that wraps around the bridge may work or just stopping the guard at the bridge.
The neater solution would be to design a plate aluminium bridge of my own that does what I want and replace the standard one.

 

[justbackdated]

Ah, late to the party as usual, but I was on holiday!!
The original RC38 Airforce fork shares its bridge bolt pattern only with the RC36 Evo2 and also the RC37. No other Pace bridges will fit unfortunately.

The magnesium bridges are very fragile around the bolt holes as you may know.

 

[baron von greenback]

Just get dirty

 

[Bootstrap Bob]

Ah, late to the party as usual, but I was on holiday!!
The original RC38 Airforce fork shares its bridge bolt pattern only with the RC36 Evo2 and also the RC37. No other Pace bridges will fit unfortunately.

The magnesium bridges are very fragile around the bolt holes as you may know.

Thanks JBD. Do you happen to know whether either of those options have taller bridges? i.e. more tyre clearance?

 

[justbackdated]

No, the Airforce (1) and Evo2/3 mag bridges are identical parts.
The RC37 bridge is a stronger alloy machining with a non structural carbon insert, but is of roughly the same profile as the mag bridges.
Incidentally, the similar looking silver painted magnesium bridges on the RC36 Pro Class 2 and Airforce 2 have different bolt pattern and larger lower bolts so do not fit the earlier forks but have a very similar profile.
If you do make a replacement bridge with more clearance just make sure there is no chance of it coming into contact with the crown and headset on full compression.