Springfield Variations & the next Smoke Signals

In your next Smoke Signals Magazine there will be an article on improving braking for 1940-52 Springfield Chief’s one thing that consistently crops up on modifications or even standard parts are variations on bike to bike, note the 1947 Chief of Chris Horner’s & my own 1948 Vindian how the valance on each guard (fender) is positioned, on the 1947 the Twin Leading brake conversion involved drilling a 1.1/2 hole to let the rear arm through. The fender valance varies through the sheet metal from 4-6mm (without body filler) which can “cock” the plate slighty and cause a scraping noise which happens on standard plates this involves a washer on the locating bolt sometimes to keep it all lined up