Fork alignment

[oddnumber]

Hullo folks, got a bit of an odd problem with my Dragstar. When I ride in a straight line, the handlebars and yoke are slightly turned to the right, so I'm guessing that the wheel and forks are out of whack. Loosened all the pinch bolts off, tried to twist the wheel to the right, tightened it all up but no difference. Are you supposed to take the weight of the front when you do this? I didn't - would it make a difference?

Any suggestions? It was fine last week, and nowts happened to it between now and then apart from me lobbing a new set of risers on.

Any help would be appreciated :)

[Hillbilly Deluxe]

It was fine last week, and nowts happened to it between now and then apart from me lobbing a new set of risers on.

that's the first place to check,

[oddnumber]

I've taken 'em off and out the original ones back on, them and the bars are square with the yoke, its the yoke/bars that are out with the wheel from what I can tell.

Tried a straight edge against the forks, they're ok.

I'm at a bit of a loss ...

[Blackjack]

Slacken everything off/Refit the new risers with everything finger tight.

Tweak straight.

Tighten the handlebar clamps.

Tighten the riser bolts.

Clamping the bars first helps to stop the riser turning as you tighten it and throwing everything out of whack.

[oddnumber]

I didn't keep the new risers on because they were too big, so put the old ones back on. Since refitting them, and tightening them back up, it's the wheel that's out of line with the yokes. I suppose I could have twisted it in the forks when I was tightening the riser bolts ...

[Blackjack]

It's suprising what you can do by gripping the wheel between your knees and yanking on the bars.

But...

More importantly, are the bars straight when you're going in a straight line?

[oddnumber]

No - when the wheel is straight ahead they seem to be pointing slightly to the right with the yokes :confused:

Reckon what I may have to do is jack the front end up, loosen the pinch bolts, one leg either side of the front wheel and nudge back into position. I hope :D

[Blackjack]

Nope.

Slacken the pinch bolts AND the spindle with it on the floor. Don't forget to slacken whatever holds the top yoke to the stem.

Stand it up and bounce the front up and down a few times.

Retighten from the bottom up.

Should align itself.

As long as you don't undo everything and make the forks shoot out the top of the yokes when you bounce it. :)

[oddnumber]

Thanks very much Blackjack :)

I did try that earlier but it didn't seem to do owt. I never slacked the steering stem nut though. Reckon I'll try again on Saturday.

What else would cause the same problem? The misalignment I mean.

[Blackjack]

Crashing it.

It falling over.

Because the lock stops are on the bottom yoke, and the handlebars are on the top one.

Bent forks.

Bent spindle.

Some twat not tightenig the bolts.

Some twat stripping the bolts.

It being tuesday.

:confused:

[oddnumber]

Not had chance to look at this yet but summat just occurred to me - if the spindle was bent, would that not throw the alignment of the wheel off in the forks??

Ta very much for your help Blackjack

:)

[gothtec]

Crashing it.

It falling over.

Because the lock stops are on the bottom yoke, and the handlebars are on the top one.

Bent forks.

Bent spindle.

Some twat not tightenig the bolts.

Some twat stripping the bolts.

It being tuesday.

:confused:

Eyesight!? :D

[Blackjack]

Eyesight!? :D

Nothing I can add to that really......

:D

[DID]

Hullo folks, got a bit of an odd problem with my Dragstar. When I ride in a straight line, the handlebars and yoke are slightly turned to the right, so I'm guessing that the wheel and forks are out of whack. Loosened all the pinch bolts off, tried to twist the wheel to the right, tightened it all up but no difference. Are you supposed to take the weight of the front when you do this? I didn't - would it make a difference?

Any suggestions? It was fine last week, and nowts happened to it between now and then apart from me lobbing a new set of risers on.

Any help would be appreciated :)Get bike up square loosen top yoke bolts off,hold the wheel between your legs move the handle bars and top yoke the oppisite way when lined up do bolts bac up should be ok then, making sure that new risers are fitting properly.

[oddnumber]

Ta very much :)

I had a go at it today - lifted the front up, took axle out to check it but couldn't find a flat enough suface to roll it on LOL. I think it might have a *slight* bend. Seen one on EBay anyway.

Loosened pinch bolts, refitted wheel, lined everything up by the method you mentioned DID, torqued it all up and that was that. Its a lot better, still slightly out, but loads better than it was.

Thanks very much for the advice :)

[oddnumber]

Errr .. just noticed something. When the bars are turned from side to side, the stem nut moves with 'em.

Is this right? :confused: :o

[Dougie]

Yes,cos the stem moves at the same time.If it didn't........ :eek: