Topic: Crooked Front End

[Zeke]

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.....

[Terry in Australia]

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.

[Zeke]

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.

Thanks, terry.

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

Zeke

[scout18]

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]

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.

[KB02]

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.

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?

[jdpas29]

my method works better, but you'll need some large rubber mallets, some wood shims and a walk in meat-freezer.   

[Terry in Australia]

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.

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?) 

[dusterdude]

something about his meat

[jdpas29]

something about his meat

 

     

[Uncle Ernie]

I suggest getting together with the yellow nuts guy around here...

[Terry in Australia]

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.