Author Topic: Would You trust this front end?  (Read 3249 times)

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Offline horror

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Would You trust this front end?
« on: August 02, 2010, 04:28:41 PM »
I bought this rusted barge a while ago for a cheap quick budget ride. Here is the thread of it's resurection http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=67943.msg749972#msg749972

I have been riding it for months now and the front end has always been stiff. I got a new front tyre and when I released the wheel axle the fork leg pinged out to the side about an inch. Seems the previous owner bucled the front end and then just forced it back together.

I rotated the fork leg so I could get the wheel back in, Now I am wondering weather I should stop using the thing until the yokes and forks are replaced.
I suppose a slight bending wouldn't fatigue it too much ay, Although there's no way of knowing what sort of impact has hapened there. maybe the Yokes are weakened.
Anyway here are some pics of the old grid as she looks now.



I have had an attempted theft on the bike also, now I have to start it with a screwdriver  >:(

Offline rivetslag

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Re: Would You trust this front end?
« Reply #1 on: August 02, 2010, 09:36:33 PM »
I don't know how you make a rusty heap like that look so appealing, nice photography. Cool looking bike, I like. And I mean "rusty heap" in the best way possible.  ;D

That said, I think I would hold off riding it until you trace that problem a bit further up. Maybe you're right about fatigue on the fork, but think about what had to cause that. What other problems might be hiding that you can't see right now? Could be some nasty stress cracks somewhere you don't want them. Might want to tear it down to the triple tree and give it a good going over. That's how I'd feel about it if it was my bike, at least.

Oh, and stiff front end...wouldn't that be because of the bent fork leg? Doesn't seem to me your front suspension would cycle too well with a bent fork leg.
« Last Edit: August 02, 2010, 09:38:40 PM by rivetslag »
1978 CB750K

Offline bikerbart

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Re: Would You trust this front end?
« Reply #2 on: August 02, 2010, 09:49:17 PM »
I F$%*&#ng love this bike. ;D
its better to regret something you have done,than something you havent.Except playing with explosives.

Offline kopptl

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Re: Would You trust this front end?
« Reply #3 on: August 02, 2010, 10:22:10 PM »
id hold off for a bit, probably best to be safe ma. killer lookin bike!!

Offline horror

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Re: Would You trust this front end?
« Reply #4 on: August 03, 2010, 12:08:50 AM »
I don't know how you make a rusty heap like that look so appealing, nice photography. Cool looking bike


Oh, and stiff front end...wouldn't that be because of the bent fork leg? Doesn't seem to me your front suspension would cycle too well with a bent fork leg.

Thanks for the compliments, I had to make the best I could with such a small budget, Richard Baybutt is my pal the photographer.

Yea I realise the stiff front is the bent forks, It was a coincidence that I needed a new tyre too, the old one had been on there since the 1970's. thats when i discovered the bends :o :o :o :o
I am going to scour ebay for a front end I suppose

Offline 754

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Re: Would You trust this front end?
« Reply #5 on: August 03, 2010, 12:28:10 AM »
If you were near a guy like me, 50-70 bux would get your tubes straight..

 Quick, dirty, notsorecommemdedbutworksfix..


 Get front wheel in the air, loosen triple trees, and and axle bolts on  one side of forks... now rotate till fork if pointing forward.. watch how it moves on the axle..  Tighten. Now do the other side till it points forward as well.. tighten everything up. Now it is near where it was after impact, unless tubes were swapped. The best thing about this.. if you hit someting again... and the stars are aligned.. it may get straighter... ;D
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Offline Hush

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Re: Would You trust this front end?
« Reply #6 on: August 03, 2010, 12:31:35 AM »
I'm always amazed at what we humans believe we can tackle when it comes to ressurection!
Mind you mine was in 4 boxes and supposedly deader than a Dodo. ;D
I think the thing I most like about motorcycling is the speed at which my brain must process information at to avoid the numb skulls who are eating pies, playing the ukulele, applying make-up etc in the comfort of their airconditioned armchairs as they make random attempts to kill me!!!!!!!

Offline Cuts Crooked

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Re: Would You trust this front end?
« Reply #7 on: August 03, 2010, 03:20:48 AM »
BTW, a new ignition switch with keys is only $10.00 US. Pretty cheap and a little more secure than a screwdriver activated switch. ;)
Cuts Crooked
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Offline horror

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Re: Would You trust this front end?
« Reply #8 on: August 03, 2010, 10:47:21 AM »
When I bought the bike the ignition barrel was snapped off, I thought it a bit wierd but I suppose that's another clue to the frontal impact.

So Iv'e already bought one ignition ha ha. as ths bike is kind of a budget grid, I'm thinking of just bypassing the ignition and having some secret switch or something. I have a method of disabling the bike when parked, so the start it and ride away criminal is stumped.

Is there any reason why a front end off a smaller honda cd200 benly couldnt be used, (apart from the obvious braking power) just for example. The 400 forks don't look very heavy duty. (I'm looking for 400 ones but may have quick access to cd200 benly front)
I suppose smaller bike forks= weaker springs or somthing

Offline MCRider

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Re: Would You trust this front end?
« Reply #9 on: August 03, 2010, 11:01:24 AM »
Straightening a fork tube is a time honored tradition, we used to do it all the time. requires disassembly, but after that any basic machine shoip will put it in a press and straighten it. Back in the old days cycle shops had presses and we did our own.

Newer bikes have much beefier tubes, they don't bend as easily and when they do they're likely done for.

But the old 35mm tubes bend and straighten easily. A good machinist can judge if its too bent or not. But sounds like yours is a candidate.
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Offline 754

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Re: Would You trust this front end?
« Reply #10 on: August 03, 2010, 08:49:58 PM »
 Anyone can check their tubes. Use a straightedge against the tube part, with fork out of the tree. Check it at 90degree intervals..look for gap or rocking on the straight edge.

 or put tubes against each other, turn  90 degrees, try again .. you will see if thetre is a bend.... very quick & easy..
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Offline horror

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Re: Would You trust this front end?
« Reply #11 on: August 04, 2010, 12:11:19 AM »
Oh theyre definately bent, I put a spanner on the top and rotated the leg in the yokes, the bottom had an inch of movement in it.
a frontal impact dwells in the bikes past.

Offline vames

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Re: Would You trust this front end?
« Reply #12 on: August 04, 2010, 04:30:22 AM »
I believe you can directly swap the forks from a cb350 or cb360 twin (disk brake era) as well. Those are much less rare than cb400fs, so I assume you'll find many front ends around.

Offline horror

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Re: Would You trust this front end?
« Reply #13 on: August 04, 2010, 11:13:51 AM »
Yea I reckon, It looks like those have the same front end on them

Offline MCRider

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Re: Would You trust this front end?
« Reply #14 on: August 04, 2010, 11:43:02 AM »
Oh theyre definately bent, I put a spanner on the top and rotated the leg in the yokes, the bottom had an inch of movement in it.
a frontal impact dwells in the bikes past.
Not necessarily frontal. I've bent a couple from a twisting encounter. Forks to full lock low siding in a turn, wheel comes up on a curb, tube bends.
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1988 NT650 HawkGT;  1978 CB400 Hawk;  1975 CB750F -Free Bird; 1968 CB77 Super Hawk -Ticker;  Phaedrus 1972 CB750K2- Build Thread
"Sometimes the light's all shining on me, other times I can barely see, lately it appears to me, what a long, strange trip its been."

Offline Grnrngr

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Re: Would You trust this front end?
« Reply #15 on: August 04, 2010, 11:59:15 AM »
Mine were bent pretty good, maybe 20-30 degrees, wheel was slammed back sideways against the engine on my xs650, pulled them, had them straightened, worked great. Definitely check the clamps for cracks but it sounds like it was not a very major impact..
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Offline malcolmgb

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Re: Would You trust this front end?
« Reply #16 on: August 04, 2010, 03:16:29 PM »

I believe you can directly swap the forks from a cb350 or cb360 twin (disk brake era) as well. Those are much less rare than cb400fs, so I assume you'll find many front ends around.


In the UK the CB350/360 is probably rarer these days  :)
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Offline 754

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Re: Would You trust this front end?
« Reply #17 on: August 04, 2010, 08:46:07 PM »
If you cant afforfd to fix em, you cant afford another set.. At least point them ahead..

 
Maker of the WELDLESS 750 Frame Kit
dodogas99@gmail.com
Kelowna B.C.       Canada

My next bike will be a ..ANFOB.....

It's All part of the ADVENTURE...

73 836cc.. Green, had it for 3 decades!!
Lost quite a few CB 750's along the way

Offline horror

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Re: Would You trust this front end?
« Reply #18 on: August 05, 2010, 01:58:16 PM »

  Im going to ride it as is till a cheap set come up on epay. theyre actually functioning now
I rotated them. makes a change to have some front suspension :o
Seems from experiences of others slight bendy forks is not a major concearn. Good ol'e internet.

I wish I had a photo of my old Yamaha fs1e after a car turned in front of it. the forks caved all the way back with the wheel shoved to the engine. I wouldn't have straightened those ha ha