Fork straightening?

[mnkyboy]

Hello,

Would anyone know where to get forks straightened? I checked my bike over today after my bin and found my forks are slightly twisted. Then I found out that replacements are around 2k ex japan and for a poor(ish) person that's a wee bit expensive.

There doesn't seem to be any creasing, but I am not sure...I am not overly informed in such areas.

Any sage wisdom would be appreciated.

BTW. Bike is a 99 Kwaka VN250 (new shape)

David

[degrom]

Hello,

Would anyone know where to get forks straightened? I checked my bike over today after my bin and found my forks are slightly twisted. Then I found out that replacements are around 2k ex japan and for a poor(ish) person that's a wee bit expensive.

There doesn't seem to be any creasing, but I am not sure...I am not overly informed in such areas.

Any sage wisdom would be appreciated.

BTW. Bike is a 99 Kwaka VN250 (new shape)

David

Go-second hand... its the only way you will be able to get a good set for not to high a price.

Call a few wreckers and ask if they can help you....

Keep your eyes on TradeMe and E-bay. Shipping it is a lot better than paying 2K!!!

Good luck!!!

[Animal]

You poor bugger! I've been through this exercise a few times and it's always resulted in huge amounts of money wasted on achieving substandard results. If there's even the slightest crease, your fork seals are going to leak. You'd be very lucky if you can get them straight enough to prevent this. Before you start spending money, shop around. Check out the bike wreckers across the ditch too. And good luck.

[MSTRS:Me]

Are they bent or twisted? There is a difference.

[Pussy]

Try giving Engine Components a phone. They are at Hamilton Airport. They do aviation hard chroming. The guy I have dealt with there, Russell Emery, is a biker himself. Prior to re-chroming, Russell always takes care of any bends etc that the forks may have in them. He does a superb job. Might be worth a crack

[tri boy]

Wheel and Frame NZ. Cambridge Waikato. Ask for John. Robert T put me on to them to straighten my badly bent Daytona tubes. Awsome work. Highly recomend them.

[moT]

this is how you do it forget about getting new forks go find a solid pole and line up your wheel and hit it against the pole with the handle bars and bend it back into shape... this is much better than spending any money at all... once its straight if the forks are leaking oil then get the seals replaced for about $40... only replace them if ther fucked beyone repair. I have done this many times when i have twisted my forks slightly and they still work mint... if you take it to a shop to untwist they will do exactly the same but in a less brutish fassion (useing wheel clamps and so on) but to the same result and cost you money..

Hope that helps

[degrom]

Try giving Engine Components a phone. They are at Hamilton Airport. They do aviation hard chroming. The guy I have dealt with there, Russell Emery, is a biker himself. Prior to re-chroming, Russell always takes care of any bends etc that the forks may have in them. He does a superb job. Might be worth a crack

Nice... I was thinking of getting my forks done by them.
Why did you get you forks re-done?(If I may ask...)

Mine are pitted and will need re-chroming... I Know Engine Components uses chemicals to remove the chrome but I was not sure how mush prep work they did before re-chroming it. Good to hear that they do a good job.

They charge about $200 to re chrome an inner fork tube.

[moT]

if u wanna come down ill straighten them for you in the method i discribed

[Pussy]

Nice... I was thinking of getting my forks done by them.
Why did you get you forks re-done?(If I may ask...)

Mine are pitted and will need re-chroming... I Know Engine Components uses chemicals to remove the chrome but I was not sure how mush prep work they did before re-chroming it. Good to hear that they do a good job.

They charge about $200 to re chrome an inner fork tube.

I did up an old Katana 650 a few years ago that had been sitting around for yonks....the chrome was pitted. Then in 2000 I bought a brand new RF900, the chrome on the forks gave up in a few months. Most OEM chroming is only decorative quality, Engine Components will oversize hardchrome your forks, and precision grind them back to size. They will come back a lot higher quality than new. Russell is very particular about quality

[Pumba]

Would anyone know where to get forks straightened? I checked my bike over today after my bin and found my forks are slightly twisted.

You need to confirm if the forks are in fact bent or if the have just twisted in the Triple Clamp.

Toms crude way of doing it may be all that is required, however there are otherways of doing it with a little more finess.

[tri boy]

Could you straighten these for me please Tom?
I think you should leave it to the professionals mate.

[moT]

Could you straighten these for me please Tom?
I think you should leave it to the professionals mate.

hmmmmmm if you have access to a big vice that might be able to do it

[TDC]

Could you straighten these for me please Tom?
I think you should leave it to the professionals mate.

I have seen the work of Wheel & Frame first hand and was impressed with the work they do. Remember if the tube is creased you are getting new parts...

[tri boy]

I have seen the work of Wheel & Frame first hand and was impressed with the work they do.

Yep, John is old school trained, I thought I used to be pretty good with the Press and dial gauges, but i acknowledge a master craftsman when I meet one.
Both tubes straightened to perfection (as Robert requires) for $130. These were right on the edge of being chucked in the bin.