Good evening fellow fatties
The website finally decided to let me in. It's been a bit frustrating logging in several times and not being able to do anything. I'm not a geek by any means but I have owned a computer since '84 so I'm not really a novice either. That said, how the F do you put pics up on this site?
If I remember correctly, we started experimenting with anti-chainsuck devices near the end of the Olive Square period. I don't think anything went into production until we moved into the Linden Ave shop. I remember doing lots of chain-stay repairs. Some were beaten so badly the entire stay was cut off and replaced. Some were smoothed out and the dents and gouges were filled with brass by brazing.
I didn't get that involved with frame design so I can't be really accurate about inquiries as to when design changes were implemented. The Yo may have started out without any compensation for a suspension fork. You guys probably know more that I do.
I was in charge of welding. At our busiest, I had 6 people working for me and it was a daily challenge to keep up with ordering consumables, coordinating with the production planner (Lawrie), maintaining the equipment, and developing techniques to increase the welding speed and constantly striving to improve the quality. I did a lot of tool, jig, and fixture building as well as the lion's share of production welding. I tried to be involved as much as possible with the manufacturing end of the business rather than the design and function of the bike itself. I left that to the real riders and racers in the shop. My competitive edge was with the speed and quality of my torch work. Towards the end in '94, I could weld a Buck Shaver main triangle in 17 minutes and I could weld a titanium frame complete in 1 hour.
Feel free to ask any type of question. I've been getting into trying to remember all the cool **** we used to do.
Scott