A little bend here.. and there... and over there

[Cooked]

Hey Guys,

First I want to thank Dave8338 for responding to my tripple clamp question posted -> http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=106042

At first I was thinking the handle bars where offset... however after playing around with it last night, it appears that perhaps the right side of the handlebars (side the bike was once dropped) is bent. But I am not completely sure. In fact so many things in the front end seem to be off... I am not really sure where to begin.

It was dropped on the right side (as I said)... the brake lever has clear wear marks from it (so it appears not only to be dropped... but while moving)... the right headlight bracket is bent, the headlight bucket seems to off, instrument panel is loose (broken in places), right direction is broken, and the right foot peg is aiming in a direction... well... that it shouldn't be.

The frame "looks" good... no stress cracks around the neck. (you folks set me looking for stress cracks last fall) But I am not sure if the forks are "sitting" where they should be. I can't tell if the front fender is bent... if so it is only slightly.

Due to my current health condition and limited funding... I really need to complete as much work myself as possible... so I would rather not drop it off at a garage to have them go through it. I am not to familiar with bikes... but I have spent countless hours on vehicles with four wheels.

Is there a way to take measurements from fork to frame and if so what would the process be? Also... how would I go about checking the fender? Do I need to start replacing the Headlight bracket and bucket? Does anyone have a magic wand I can borrow?

To get a idea of how bent things may be... check out my bent bracket photo.... http://s107.photobucket.com/albums/m304/cooked_76/?action=view&current=BentBracket.jpg I tired taking other pics to show the offset but do they don’t really show much.

Thanks folks...

~ Russ

[chiphead]

Did the bike hit something with the front end or was it laid over and slid a bit?

[Cooked]

I am not sure. My sister bought the bike last summer and then decided it was to big for her and found another one (She gave it to me as gift). We don't know the history of it.

It slid I know that... but not sure if hit anything.

[chiphead]

Well if it was me, I'd straighten or replace the obviously bent parts and ride it down the road to see what's what. Have you ridden this yet and felt the front end is way out of line or are you just concerned because a few things look bent?
Do either of the fork tubes hit the tank on a full lock turn?
With limited funding, straighten what you can and ride it then decide what to do from there. I checked your other thread and the advice about tweaking the front end after somewhat loosening the triple clamps is valid. You may not even need to do this.

[Zooks]

For the handlebars -

Take handlebars off. Place them on an empty tincan on a flat level surface and let them hang. Make sure they are sitting dead centre across the can and in the middle of the bars. If they are straight they should both hang down and touch the surface underneath evenly. If they are bent, one side will touch and other other wont - or - they will both touch but will lift off the tin unevenly.
Try various size cans to compensate for the shape of the bars. It's all about geometry. Most bars have a couple of bends when they are made and are difficult to judge by eye. However they should be fairly balanced and when allowed to 'hang' will reveal if they are bent.

If this doesn't make sense, I'll post a picture.

[Zooks]

Measure from the forks to the frame on full lock each way.

ie: turn right and measure from fork to frame on right hand side and vice-versa. You obviously have to make sure that you measure from the same point on fork / frame each side. They should be within a couple of mms of each other.

Do it from various points up and down the forks and frame and see what you get.

I've been repairing bent bikes, cars & trucks for 20 years. Post back here and I'll keep checking in.

Good luck.

[Cooked]

I haven't riden the bike yet... there is other work to be done... ie get the carbs hooked back up (she had them cleaned) and I am having some difficulty getting the air damper box on the inner two carbs... anyhow...

I am more concerned because things look bent. And before I start putting money into it... want to make sure it is doable (fixable) with my limited budget.

I don't recall the forks hitting the tank when locked... I believe I checked this out... however I will double check when I follow Zooks' advise on measuring them out.

Thanks for the advice in checking the bars and measuring the forks. I will do this before replacing the headlight bracket and other items.

It may be a day or two until I can return with the results of my finding.

Thanks all of your time!

~ Russ

[Cooked]

Already then...

I was finally able to score some time for the bike. The handle bars are bent (off by about 1/2 inch).

As for the forks... I am still having difficulty getting measurements. I have tired strings and levels.. yet I never feel as though I am taking measurements from the same place on each side. (More so considering everything is round and there no "solid" side to go from)

How often are forks bent? Should I move forward and deal with them later? There is plenty I can be working on at the moment.

Thanks for your time and help!

~ Russ

[chiphead]

Replace the bars and move forward. Riding it will tell the story.

[Zooks]

Agree ^

[Cooked]

Moving Forward then... Thanks!

[Dave8338]

How often are forks bent? Should I move forward and deal with them later? There is plenty I can be working on at the moment.

Thanks for your time and help!

~ Russ

If the forks are not bent enough to visually see them as such, it is unlikely that they are. I'm not suggesting that they can't be, but it is unlikely. To get a simple and quite effective means of checking them, measure back from the axle bolt on both sides to the engine block. Repeat the process until you end up with the exact same measurement on both sides and then set a light source at the rear wheel and site down the front tire to the back. If it is off, you'll see it right away. You can also use a tape maesure as a straight edge and once you have the forks centered as explained above, lay it down along the wheels, front to back and have a look. Hope this helps.

[t3rmin]

Make sure the front wheel is aligned. Loosen the front axle nut (the big one, not the two little ones that hold the pinch block on the other side), then bounce the front end up and down vigorously. Then tighten the nut again (trying not to tweak it in the mean time). At least that's what my Clymer says to do. ;-)