Topic: Would You trust this front end?

[horror]

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 

[rivetslag]

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.  

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.

[bikerbart]

I F$%*&#ng love this bike.

[kopptl]

id hold off for a bit, probably best to be safe ma. killer lookin bike!!

[horror]

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
I am going to scour ebay for a front end I suppose

[754]

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...

[Hush]

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.

[Cuts Crooked]

BTW, a new ignition switch with keys is only $10.00 US. Pretty cheap and a little more secure than a screwdriver activated switch.

[horror]

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

[MCRider]

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.

[754]

 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..

[horror]

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.

[vames]

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.

[horror]

Yea I reckon, It looks like those have the same front end on them

[MCRider]

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.

[Grnrngr]

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..

[malcolmgb]

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 

[754]

If you cant afforfd to fix em, you cant afford another set.. At least point them ahead..

 

[horror]

  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
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