Author Topic: Crooked Front End  (Read 2170 times)

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Offline Zeke

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Crooked Front End
« on: May 19, 2005, 08:36:43 PM »
Hey All:

Since I bought my bike I've always had the feeling that when I'm going straight the handlebars and triple clamps are slightly askew.

I've seen this on my mtn bike when rebuilding the marzocchi forks -- if you don't have an axle in place when you tighten the clamps (they are single crown forks) then it can end up crooked.

So, if they are crooked, can I loosen the triples and align, then tighten?  Or is it more likely that the rear wheel is out of alignment?

The bike seems to ride and brake just fine -- I just want the bars to be straight.

Thanks

Zeke

BTW by all outward appearances the bike hasn't ever been laid down -- but you never know.....

Offline Terry in Australia

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Re: Crooked Front End
« Reply #1 on: May 19, 2005, 09:27:25 PM »
G'Day Zeke, it's easy to twist your forks into knots, but it's no biggie, just loosen off the pinch bolts on your bottom triple clamp and (with you on the bike) bounce it up and down a few times and retighten the pinch bolts, and it should have re-aligned itself.

Be careful though, sometimes handlebars (particularly aftermarket items) are the culprit, just poorly bent in the factory, or in a light fall. Cheers, Terry. 8)
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Offline Zeke

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Re: Crooked Front End
« Reply #2 on: May 20, 2005, 06:35:10 AM »
G'Day Zeke, it's easy to twist your forks into knots, but it's no biggie, just loosen off the pinch bolts on your bottom triple clamp and (with you on the bike) bounce it up and down a few times and retighten the pinch bolts, and it should have re-aligned itself.

Be careful though, sometimes handlebars (particularly aftermarket items) are the culprit, just poorly bent in the factory, or in a light fall. Cheers, Terry. 8)

Thanks, terry.

Stock (ugly) bars on this one.  I'll try to straighten them this weekend.

Zeke

scout18

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Re: Crooked Front End
« Reply #3 on: December 14, 2005, 09:40:15 PM »
Hey there since you did not repost on this I figure that Terry's advice worked.  Ihave the same thing This one may have been down but I think the forks are definately out of whack. I will try Terry's method too.

gaijin

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Re: Crooked Front End
« Reply #4 on: December 15, 2005, 01:14:08 AM »
Terry's method will work ;) I had to do this twice on my bike when people backed into the front tire! Twisted the forks nicely, but no lasting damage done. I had really shove the tire around though to get them truly straight again.

A good way to measure the straightness of your forks: measure the distance from one fork to the next, then go buy a piece of glass and have them cut it into a narrow rectangle to fit across the forks (with a little room to spare). Glass is really damn flat, so you should be able to feel right away when the fork tubes aren't parallel.

Offline KB02

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Re: Crooked Front End
« Reply #5 on: December 15, 2005, 06:02:17 AM »
G'Day Zeke, it's easy to twist your forks into knots, but it's no biggie, just loosen off the pinch bolts on your bottom triple clamp and (with you on the bike) bounce it up and down a few times and retighten the pinch bolts, and it should have re-aligned itself.

Be careful though, sometimes handlebars (particularly aftermarket items) are the culprit, just poorly bent in the factory, or in a light fall. Cheers, Terry. 8)

okay, I have a Buddy with a '78 Hawk 400 with a simular issue. While driving straight down the road the handlebars are turned slightly to the right. We have tried straigntening them a couple of times but they always go back to the way they were. Do you think your method might help this one as well?
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Offline jdpas29

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Re: Crooked Front End
« Reply #6 on: December 15, 2005, 06:25:32 AM »
my method works better, but you'll need some large rubber mallets, some wood shims and a walk in meat-freezer.   :P
cars are gay.

Offline Terry in Australia

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Re: Crooked Front End
« Reply #7 on: December 15, 2005, 11:58:24 AM »
G'Day Zeke, it's easy to twist your forks into knots, but it's no biggie, just loosen off the pinch bolts on your bottom triple clamp and (with you on the bike) bounce it up and down a few times and retighten the pinch bolts, and it should have re-aligned itself.

Be careful though, sometimes handlebars (particularly aftermarket items) are the culprit, just poorly bent in the factory, or in a light fall. Cheers, Terry. 8)

okay, I have a Buddy with a '78 Hawk 400 with a simular issue. While driving straight down the road the handlebars are turned slightly to the right. We have tried straigntening them a couple of times but they always go back to the way they were. Do you think your method might help this one as well?

Yeah mate, it'll work fine. Cheers, Terry. (what the hell is JD talking about?)  ;D
I was feeling sorry for myself because I couldn't afford new bike boots, until I met a man with no legs.

So I said, "Hey mate, you haven't got any bike boots you don't need, do you?"

"Crazy is a very misunderstood term, it's a fine line that some of us can lean over and still keep our balance" (thanks RB550Four)

Offline dusterdude

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Re: Crooked Front End
« Reply #8 on: December 15, 2005, 12:15:05 PM »
something about his meat
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Offline jdpas29

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Re: Crooked Front End
« Reply #9 on: December 15, 2005, 12:35:54 PM »
cars are gay.

Offline Uncle Ernie

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Re: Crooked Front End
« Reply #10 on: December 15, 2005, 03:01:55 PM »
I suggest getting together with the yellow nuts guy around here...
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Offline Terry in Australia

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Re: Crooked Front End
« Reply #11 on: December 15, 2005, 04:34:01 PM »
I suggest getting together with the yellow nuts guy around here...

Who dat? Am I missing something? Man, I hate it when I'm "off the ball"! (no pun intended) Cheers, Terry. ;D
I was feeling sorry for myself because I couldn't afford new bike boots, until I met a man with no legs.

So I said, "Hey mate, you haven't got any bike boots you don't need, do you?"

"Crazy is a very misunderstood term, it's a fine line that some of us can lean over and still keep our balance" (thanks RB550Four)