The forks in question were in a duplex frame early 60's. I have worked out that the bottom yoke has had the steering stops cut off at some stage
Afaict, Triumph bottom fork yokes did not have steering stops until the unit 650? Then additional metal was cast on the back edge of the bottom yoke to bear on studs below the frame bottom steering bearing housing. Then, bottom yokes intended for US market models with small tanks, the additional metal was ground off during casting machining.
According to the 61 650 parts book, duplex frame steering stops appear to be two bolts in the frame? As the parts book also shows locknuts, guess says the bottom yoke back edge bumped against a bolt head on full lock either side, the bolts were adjusted so the bottom yoke hit them before the nacelle hit the tank, the bolts were kept in position by the locknuts?
installed the forks back into a 1955 single tube frame
All unit 350/500 models had a single downtube frame, pre 67 steering stops are special nuts with long studs on the bottom yoke stanchion pinch bolts, part number 97-1335:-
... end of the stud hits the frame downtube on full lock.
rear axle has been machined up?
bike has history of being owned by a NSW Australian bike racer.
The axle in your photo appears to have been hard chromed? If yes, ott for a home brew?
Reiterating my suggestion posted earlier, I believe you should ask more widely, the axle could simply be from another make of bike?
was also running the TLS break but I have gone back to a 8" SLS
more period.
So far, does not read like you are building a show bike? In which case you will be riding it amongst 21st century vehicles with disc brakes on all wheels? Your bike and SLS front brake will not look very "period" jammed into the rear bumper of a 21st century vehicle that stopped quicker than your bike's SLS? Ime, owners of old Triumphs do not fit the late 1960's TLS just to be contrary ...
