Topic: Can a slightly-bent fork be safely straightened?

[Tugboat]

...or is it best to just replace the whole thing?

This came up in a conversation last night. I said no, others said yes.....

[Elan]

Someone on here sent out a fork the be straightened. It costed as much as getting a new(used) fork and was still not straight in the end...

[LesterPiglet]

Are you talking about a fork tube? If so yes.I had one rolled a long time ago and it turned out fine. As long as the tube isn't banana shaped it should be ok. It didn't cost much iirc.

[K5 Keith]

I just bent a fork tube in a spill I took in October. I'm a member of the British Motorcycle Club in Colorado and long time members mentioned that the tube could be put in a press of some sort and straitened. They recommended a shop in Denver that does this often for $30. However, I spent $130 for a pair of new tubes from Z1parts.net just to eliminate the rust and scoring on the old ones. I may also have to go without the stock fork ears so wanted clean tubes that will show.

[LesterPiglet]

They are usually put between rollers so they can't really come out bent.

[MCRider]

The answer is yes. Depending that its not bent too bad. I've straightened 3 in my sordid past. Used to crash a lot and it doesn't take much to bend a 35mm tube.

Yes simply put it in the simplest of presses. The bend was always at the lower Triple, a convenient place. Support the tube with furniture at each end, the bend goes under the piston of the press. Slowly press it past straight, then release, it will keep returning to the bend. Press it again past straight, release. It will eventually stay put. Spin the tube in the furniture, it should rotate under the piston without dragging. That'll put it within 1-2thou straight.

[MoMo]

yes, as long as the metal is not creased.  We used to do it all the time back "in the day"" with a hydraulic press and the fork tube in V-blocks...Larry

[754]

If you lay it on a straightedge and it has a 1/2 inch gap, it can easily be straightened.
 I usually did them for around 60 ish bux.. And can easily get them to.003 runout ...or less.

[Red Good]

Been doing it for years and will be doing it for a while yet . Cut 3 oak blocks and do them in the big press with hand pressure not the air drive . Have a dial indicator setup in the press bed and push till it stays under .002 . Will not touch them if they are creased .

[HondaMan]

I usually did them for around 60 ish bux.. And can easily get them to.003 runout ...or less.

Wow, that's better than the ones on my bike!

[754]

I use a 100ton cylinder with an airover pump. My press is actually only good for about 25 tons.
 Because the  Enerpac cylinder is on the big side, I can work the pump with my fingertip or toe, and move small distances. A lot of tubes are very springy, have to overbend a ways before it yields.

[TwoTired]

I hit a parking lot curb avoiding a looney cage about 15 years ago and bent both front tubes on the blue 550 bike. One tube about 1/8 inch and the other about 1/4 inch bend.  No kinks.  So, I fixtured up the 12 ton press and bent then back so they would roll flat on the cast iron table saw top.

Seem to work every bit as good as before the incident.

[bryanj]

Insurance companies used to say straighten if there is no crease or bulge on the "inside" edge

[MoMo]

Insurance companies used to say straighten if there is no crease or bulge on the "inside" edge

iirc,  the mechanic was allocated an extra .5 hour to straighten a tube.   Insurance jobs were good flat rate money makers for the mechanic

[Tugboat]

Thanks for the answers fellas! Learn something every day...