Ok so my forks aren't bent but I'm still needing help.

So yeah I was riding around on my bike which I just got on Saturday and I noticed somehting was off today as I was riding it during my lunch break. I notice in order to go strait I had to turn the bars ever so slightly to the right, maybe 1-2 degrees. So after I got home I put the bike on the center stand and started eye balling the bike. And when I looked strait down the front forks I noticed the cause of my steering issues. The right fork is bent forward about 1/4" - 1/2" of the left fork.

So do you know if forks that are tweeked out of spec like this can be tweaked back or is it the dumpster for these things?

Here's a picture to show what I'm seeing.




-Matt

 

Re: BAH! My forks are bent, can they be repaired?

I seriously doubt that your forks are bent. Most likely the triple tree is missaligned with it's lower tree. Someone with experience doing this will post with the info.

 

Re: BAH! My forks are bent, can they be repaired?

Loosen the Pinch Bolts.
Rotate the one you think is bent through 360-Degrees.
Look for obvious run-out.

Run-out?
Yes. You should get a new tube ...
But ... there are Machine Shops that have a the capability to PRESS it straight.

Leave that option to the Pro's.

It's normally a situation best cured with a straight new or used fork.

 

Re: BAH! My forks are bent, can they be repaired?

i'am with bluemaxim, i doubt anythings bent rickco's test will tell for sure
when you spin the tubes have the front wheel off the ground, there's still a spring in there and any weight makes it harder to spin
now that the wheel is up check the steering bearings, grab the wheel and push and pull it to check for looseness then turn the wheel left and right look for smoothness and no detent in the center
might as well check this stuff before getting that wheel straight, or you'll do it all over again to replace bad bearings

 

Re: BAH! My forks are bent, can they be repaired?

Kill this Thread.

Photos posted on the OTHER Thread Confirm Damage.

 

Re: BAH! My forks are bent, can they be repaired?

what other thread?

 

Re: BAH! My forks are bent, can they be repaired?

Ah man I didn't even think of this. I'm such a n00b when it comes to motorcycles.

I'll have to give this a try tonight. Will post up my results when I can tonight.

 

Re: BAH! My forks are bent, can they be repaired?

Mkay so I go the bike inte air and loosned the pinch bolts and gave the tubes a spin, didn't notice anything sanificant or any changes in the positions of the fork. So I loosened the pinch bolt and big 'ol bol on the top of the triple tree, put he front wheel between my legs and turned the handle bars. Hey the forks moved around. But they kept wantingto go back to their original position. So I loosened the headlight brakce both top and bottom and give it another twist, same thing. Alright so maybe I need to twist harder, gave is a good hard twist, *pop* and the fork are more even now. Tighten everyhting back up and took a look, forks are looking better but still not perfect. So I took it out for a ride and yeha its still requiring some more adjustment.

I'm wondering if there is somethign I didn't loosen that kept me from easily adjust the alignment of the triple tree. Things I loosened was

The pinch bolt on the triple tree and the big bolt under it. The top and bottom fork pinch bolts, the headlight/intsrument panel bolts.

-Sorry for bieng a pain.

 

Re: BAH! My forks are bent, can they be repaired?

front axle
maybe you unadjusted the steering bearings too

 

Re: BAH! My forks are bent, can they be repaired?

lord I hope not. so loosen front axle too then try again?

EDIT: To loosen the fron axle just loosen the pinch nut right?

 

i'd do the pinch bolt and the big nut with the cotter pin, do the fender too
under the top triple clamp where the stem comes threw the clamp there are
two slotted nuts to adjust and lock the bearing adjustment if their not loose your ok
check with the wheel up for a little bump or notch when you turn the bars back and forth right at the center
that would be bad steering bearings and they do ugly things to your handling
your sure the bars aren't bent, right
or there's plan b: don't look at the bars, look where your going

 

I checked the steering earlier today, was nice and smooth from lock to lock. Yeah teh two slotted nuts onder teh triple are nice and tight and the handle bars don't look bent in any way. So tomorrow when I have some light I'll try again with the fender off and the wheel loosened up.

Thanks again polock.

Oh and no worries I'm always looking ahead... mostly.

 

Finally got time to work on the front end again, this time with some help. So I got everything loosened this time including the axle and ta-da! Everything is all lined up and looking good. So I took it out for a quick spin and rode just great, no more turning right to go strait. So I decided to take it out to the parking lot and practice up on some 1st and 2nd gear turning and dragged my kick stand a few times on some left turns.

Now my steering is all sorted out, I just have to fix the exhuast leak, tackle the weak front break, clean and sync the carbs, and address the fuse box. It's never done, but damn does it feel good when you get it working right again.

 

Man, ain't that the truth!