Author Topic: Bent steering collar? Any way to repair (Read 7509 times)

Kickeroo · « **on:** January 13, 2011, 05:33:23 PM »

I was suspecting something was amiss. Obviously, in its 35 years, something was bound to happen, and it was apparent when I picked it up, it had been in a scuffle or two in it's lifetime,

from the below picture, you can see the collar is twisted towards the left. The rest of the frame does not appear to be greatly affected. So I ask. Can this be bent back with a long rod approxametly the same diamter as the steering rod, a hell of a lot of manual torque, and maybe some sacrificial tapered bearings?

The left fork was bent as well, however I have a local riding buddy with a set that might be a bit better.

whatever advice anyone can lend will be appreciated

d3buttz · « **Reply #1 on:** January 13, 2011, 05:40:21 PM »

eesh, no way would this frame ever be straight again, or safe. steer tube if definitely bent sideways. If the steer tube was straightened in any event, the frame would shift in other directions during the process. not to mention possible metal fatiuge that can happen and not be seen under paint. itll never track right on the road and you are playing with death

. i recommend a new frame, ill give you a non titled 550 frame if you are willing to pay for shipping. good luck

Kickeroo · « **Reply #2 on:** January 13, 2011, 05:53:21 PM »

That might be an option. i have to see how far down this rabbit hole I want to go.

Goofaroo · « **Reply #3 on:** January 13, 2011, 05:59:15 PM »

I agree with d3buttz, it's time for a new frame. I would check into the local laws and see what it will take to get a title with a bill of sale only and then either take d3buttz up on his generous offer or see if you can find a donor bike locally. If you aren't in a hurry something will turn up and you probably have plenty to keep you busy working on the rest of the bike. You might even find a titled bike and be able to use the best parts from both bikes for your build and have a lot of parts left to sell. There's plenty of us scavengers out here looking for bits for our bikes.

Bodi · « **Reply #4 on:** January 13, 2011, 06:00:57 PM »

There are shops that do bike frame straightening, I used one in Toronto years ago. I would try it at least, but the pro stuff is all hydraulic and I doubt you can produce enough force with a rod through the neck.

MoMo · « **Reply #5 on:** January 13, 2011, 06:30:18 PM »

Time for a frame, take d3buttz up on his offer. When we replaced a frame we would stamp the old frame numbers into the new frame. I did not say this, but you could fill the numbers in on the new frame, remove the plate and stamp your numbers on the replacement frame. But a donor bike with a valid title would be the best remedy...Larry

754 · « **Reply #6 on:** January 13, 2011, 09:04:17 PM »

Easy one to straighten, just check for cracks and reweld..

For those of you that are so worried, they do straighten/repair some of the newer aluminum ones, and the very thin lightweight wheels.. now those , may be something to worry a bit about..

Retro Rocket · « **Reply #7 on:** January 13, 2011, 09:20:43 PM »

Quote from: 754 on January 13, 2011, 09:04:17 PM

Easy one to straighten, just check for cracks and reweld..

For those of you that are so worried, they do straighten/repair some of the newer aluminum ones, and the very thin lightweight wheels.. now those , may be something to worry a bit about..

Thats an easy fix for a frame straightener, i have seen way worse than that fixed . Like 754 said just check all welds after straightening....

Mick

Kickeroo · « **Reply #8 on:** January 14, 2011, 03:44:55 AM »

I have to say, I do like the spirit of the Canadians and Austrailians who know of theses things being straightened.

I'm definitely on the fence as to what to do next. So far my total investment of this bike is less than $600, and I had had hoped of making it a runner by summer, and with eyes towards a total ground-up loving restoration/cafe build once I had the confidence in my own hands.

I have a question on titling. This bike came with all kinds of documentation from its original purchace in 1976. Does the motor have anything to do with that title being valid? Or does everything depend on the frame?

MoMo · « **Reply #9 on:** January 14, 2011, 03:48:20 AM »

in PA it is the frame. During state inspection the frame number is compared to the registration...Larry

damagedduck · « **Reply #10 on:** January 14, 2011, 05:07:51 AM »

south dakota,colorado,nebraska. missouri the title goes to frame ,

Kong · « **Reply #11 on:** January 14, 2011, 06:09:34 AM »

Get on the telephone and call five or six local auto body shops and ask each one of them if they do frame straightening, talk to the shop guy, not the receptionist that first answers the phone and tell him/her its a bike. If you call 10 shops my guess is 3 of them will be able to do it. It may be more a question of finding one that's willing to do it and then some reference numbers.

MCRider · « **Reply #12 on:** January 14, 2011, 06:14:08 AM »

Is the frame really bent or the lower triple tree? From the tube damage, I wouldn't have guessed the frame was bent, I've seen much worse and it was all in the lower triple tree, which is much weaker than the frame.

The lower tree is a 2 piece unit and the clamp portion will rotate around, and tweak, the pressed in pivot shaft portion.

Just a thought.

Kickeroo · « **Reply #13 on:** January 14, 2011, 06:35:29 AM »

Good question. I stopped from removing the triple tree last night, and at this point, I'm going to have to dissassemble everything anyway. I have an e-mail into a shop that does frame straightening, and I guess I'll wait until I hear from them before i go any further.

Kickeroo · « **Reply #14 on:** January 14, 2011, 07:37:31 AM »

I just verified that here in good ole' Virginia, the title is with the frame. Nertz.

754 · « **Reply #15 on:** January 14, 2011, 07:57:09 AM »

Try to find a bike frame straightening place, Body shops dont usually think in terms of bike frames. Yes they may be able to, but will take them longer than someone properly equipped.
I dont think shipping that frame somewhere in the US is very costly.

Kickeroo · « **Reply #16 on:** January 14, 2011, 08:02:44 AM »

I have a quote from a specific frame straightener. Do-able, but it'd be a while before I can follow though on it. I am, hoever curious to see if the triple tree is partially or wholly to blame. I went into the garage and compared the turning capablility of the Honda vs. my Thruxton. Fully assembled, I can say that the Thruxton, with the front wheel in the air, turns easier than the bare triple tree of the Honda. More dissassembly coming, but only after I get some Real Job work done.

Retro Rocket · « **Reply #17 on:** January 14, 2011, 02:19:02 PM »

Looking at those pics of your frame , the steering head is twisted, not a hard fix for someone that knows what they are doing. I have seen stock frames that were not straight at all, i used to go to a guy in Brisbane and have him look at every bike i hade bought and was surprised to find out that most needed tweaking. I had a GSXR1100 that had never been dropped and it was slightly out of line form the factory, 100 dollars later it was straight.....

Mick

Kong · « **Reply #18 on:** January 14, 2011, 02:23:35 PM »

The trees being twisted doesn't mean anything, trees are always twisted when there are no tubes in them to hold them parallel.

MCRider · « **Reply #19 on:** January 14, 2011, 02:30:45 PM »

Quote from: Kong on January 14, 2011, 02:23:35 PM

The trees being twisted doesn't mean anything, trees are always twisted when there are no tubes in them to hold them parallel.

But his tubes were bent, in the trees. Often that means the trees are bent too. And they can be bent in various planes, not just rotating around the stem. I've seen them, and had a few. Never had a bent frame though.

Doesn't mean his frame's not bent, I'm just saying...

Kong · « **Reply #20 on:** January 14, 2011, 02:49:17 PM »

I see what you're saying, that the stem may be bent in the tree. Could be. Even though the stem can be removed and replaced pretty easily you can buy them so cheap on E-Bay that it wouldn't make much sense to fix one. I took the picture to show that the neck was bent considerably askew, I didn't even pay any attention to the trees.

754 · « **Reply #21 on:** January 14, 2011, 07:33:27 PM »

Kong, how do you figure trees are never true.

Has not been my experience, but I have seen a few that are bent.

Kickeroo · « **Reply #22 on:** January 15, 2011, 06:54:43 AM »

I'm tabling this subject as it pertains to my bike because:

Last night (1/14) I got the Tree off. Bearings and races safely bagged and tagged, although tapered ones are on the list. More questions than answers.

Full disclosure, my eyesight is shyte, and with 3-1/2 Stellas, even more compromised. For #$%*s and giggles, I climbed onto the pegs and stared down the collar and compared it with the spine of the frame, and....It doesn't look bent

The tree came off with no drama, since it was MAYBE finger tight, which most certainly would have added to the illusion, not that I'm trusting anything that I've declared before. This wouldn't be the first time I've cried "Wolf" on such a matter.

I took a level to as many planar surfaces as I could find within my frame of referance, to at least compare one thing to another. I don't think I got a cpmarable reading anywhere.

So, unitl I can confidently say what it is I have, I know I have take this down to the frame, once and for all.

Either way, i have to, escpecially if this project is to continue in any realistic fashion.

Kickeroo · « **Reply #23 on:** January 18, 2011, 05:28:41 PM »

Business end view of my frame's wanedring ways. I guess I was right all along. Still, with the right size sledegehammer, a good set of vice grips...some chain...

nah...

Retro Rocket · « **Reply #24 on:** January 18, 2011, 05:47:00 PM »

Thats had a good hit mate.....

Mick

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Author Topic: Bent steering collar? Any way to repair (Read 7509 times)