Featherbed/Road Holder forks.

Too many configurations to answer in one go Bill. Have a read of the Dominator Service Notes document that is available on-line at this website. Many of your questions are answered in that text. Once you've done that any more questions can be answered quickly. regards, Howard

The long forks were used on brazed frames from the late 40’s through to the mid 50’s, then the short forks were used on the “featherbed” frames until the Commando came out. Long road holders are virtually undamped, just having an oil restricter, whereas the short forks have proper damping. (Early Manxes with long forks did have dampers and they can be added to bikes not so fitted).
The “slimline” frame is narrower near the riders knees.
John

Or rather- Long Roadholders have springs external to the stanchions, and fit between the underside of the bottom yoke, and collars screwed into the tops of the sliders. Short roadholders have springs inside the stanchions: these fit over the damper rod, which screw (with a short cap) into the underside of the retaining nuts on the top yokes, and at the lower end to the damping unit, held in place in the bottom of the slider by a bolt up through it.
So, long roadholders have short external springs, and short roadholders have long internal springs.
Then there are the yokes themselves- but that is another topic!

I have a 55 wide line 99 and on rebuilding the short road holders I found I had 2 pairs of shrouds 1 numbered 19337 which are correct fit and 1pair numbered 19338 which do not fit, what should they fit and should the shrouds have a leather washer under the top yoke, any advice please.