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Post by 97point6 on Mar 29, 2014 18:52:00 GMT
Yamaha Recall Letter & Installation Instructions, Dated Oct. 10, 1981. Letter was sent to Viscount owners for recall of original Viscount cast aluminum fork. Letter was included with package of replacement fork, headset and/or brake hanger, as well as a redeemable coupon for bicycle shop in lieu of payment ($20). This letter was included with the 'death fork' I purchased on eBay a number of years back. I lost my original letter decades back. |
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Post by cusqueno on May 30, 2014 11:37:54 GMT
Sending out the recall letters in 1981 was really slamming the stable door after the (alloy) horse had bolted. The 'death forks' (although Mk III ones were not deadly) were produced from when Lambert started in 1972 through to probably c1977 (? - a good question for any ex-Viscount workers out there: when did Viscount stop using the alloy forks?) I suppose the need for the recall shows how badly Lambert/Viscount managed the original problem - apparently they never recalled the earliest versions, just made incremental improvements until they stopped breaking.
Meant to add - OT - 10 October is my birthday. It was in 1981 I bought my first Viscount - a lugged (all steel!) Aerospace 400 - but I can't remember when exactly.
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Post by vtchuck on Aug 23, 2014 21:11:13 GMT
FWIW, Here's the complete recall fork in the original packing. Postmarked November 1981: Fork
Cheers |
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Post by triitout on Aug 23, 2014 23:32:33 GMT
FWIW, Here's the complete recall fork in the original packing. Postmarked November 1981: Fork
Cheers Nice to see a New Englander on the forum. I once read about a Death Fork rally on Cape Cod years back.... not far from VT. PM me if you ever think about parting with the fork. Looks great! |
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Jem
Viscount
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Posts: 3,380 
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Post by Jem on Aug 24, 2014 5:54:15 GMT
FWIW, Here's the complete recall fork in the original packing. Postmarked November 1981: Fork
Cheers Thanks for that great photo of the replacement fork, and packaging. 97point6 - the $20 redeemable coupon for fitting at a bike shop would be an interesting little piece of Viscount memorabilia. |
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Post by velocipete on Aug 24, 2014 6:16:44 GMT
Now that's a shiny thing of beauty!
Cheers,
Pete.
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Post by triitout on Aug 25, 2014 3:09:16 GMT
Now that's a shiny thing of beauty! Cheers, Pete. It's coming to Long Island this week. Just picked it up off of ebay  It'll go on the next rebuild/tourer winter project. |
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Post by velocipete on Aug 25, 2014 6:20:03 GMT
Well done on that.Good luck with your build,and,as ever ,photos will be much appreciated.
Cheers,
Pete.
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Post by vtchuck on Aug 25, 2014 21:14:07 GMT
Now that's a shiny thing of beauty! Cheers, Pete. It's coming to Long Island this week. Just picked it up off of ebay It'll go on the next rebuild/tourer winter project. Since I have a G3 fork, I knew I would never use it. Pleased it went to someone on the list. It went out in today's mail. I wrapped the original box in craft paper, so as not to ruin the mailing label & postmark. Just listed the Middlemore saddle today, FWIW. Cheers Tom |
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Post by triitout on Aug 26, 2014 2:08:30 GMT
I toyed with using an old Raleigh fork but this was unexpected nice piece of Viscount folklore and a much more appropriate choice. I did need a headset and a shiny new brake guide/QR will also come in handy. Too bad the saddles have such a bad reputation for ride ability otherwise I'd own half of your Pro and would have paid for it myself!   |
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Post by triitout on Aug 28, 2014 3:17:24 GMT
Got the Yamaha package today.... well packed VTChuck! Still has the original shipping address to whom is now 63 year old gent in Illinois after doing a people search. I'll bet he'd be surprised to see that package still kicking around in such nice original shape. Vt Chuck, wondering if you learned about the history/former life of your new Pro? I never tire hearing about what these bikes have "seen" and if they have a story to tell from their previous lives  |
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It'll go on the next rebuild/tourer winter project.
