There are several types of front forks used by Triumph. We believe the pre war ones are Triumph self made while the once from the 3HW are from Webb.
3S / 5S
This is the mostly known as the civilian model. This one had the handlebars mounted in rubbers and a winged nut to adjust the damping. The swing arm hing pin on the t-stem of off-centered to the rear. We believe that these forks are Triumph made.
3SW / 5SW
The complete fork is the same as the 3S / 5S one, except that the steering has been mounted with fixed clamps. As you maybe can image driving through a field with a handlebar mounted in rubbers might be an issue. I know from experience this is indeed not relaxing, also when you need to pull the motorcycle from the mud you want the handlebars to be rigid.
Next to the clamps the winged nut adjuster on the side has been replaced by a simple nut.
3HW
These front forks are completely different. The blades are wider and it’s a different model. The swing arm hing ping on the t-stem axle is centre mounted and the links are therefore of a different length. There is only one friction disc. This early 1942 model still has a steering damper mounted. Starting from this model we believe these are Webb made.
We believe the 3HW was first manufactured with a steering damper knob but later in the war they omitted the steering damper and used a blanking nut instead.
T-Stem
3S / 5S
For the 3SW the swing arm hinge is located to the rear of the t-stem. When mounted the other way around it will make the angle of the front fork wrong and steering the motorcycle will be difficult.
3HW
For the 3HW the swing arm hinge is located in the centre. This also means that the links are of a different size than the 3SW once as the front fork is still in the same angle.
Steering damper
3SW / 5SW
The early type of damper knob which sink into the aluminum nut.
3HW (~1942 only)
The early 3HW’s seems to have been fitted with a specific damper knob. Below is the high nut on which the steering damper knob site. Pictures of the knob itself will follow.
3HW (without damper)
Somewhere in the end of 1942 or beginning of 1943 the steering damper was replaced by a simple nut.
