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Upper fork tree misaligned, adjustable, fixable?

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    Upper fork tree misaligned, adjustable, fixable?

    Bummer, my 1100G fell over and partly off trailer on a left turn. Front end was tied down and when the bike fell over the opposing forces wrenched the forks and tree.
    Looks like the fork tubes are straight, it's the steering heads that took the stress, the upper and lower stems are misaligned.
    Haven't taken it off yet.
    Wondering if this is adjustable, or were the parts damaged?
    Thanks
    1982 GS1100G- road bike
    1990 GSX750F-(1127cc '92 GSXR engine)
    1987 Honda CBR600F Hurricane

    #2
    When my 1000g hit a deer the tree got bent. Messed up steering real bad. Unfixable.
    2002 bmw r1150gs 1978 gs1000E skunk les pew 1979 gs1000L dragbike
    82 gs1100L probably the next project
    1980 gs1000G the ugly 1978 gs750E need any parts?
    https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=m_m2oYJkx1A
    1978 gs1000E skunk #2 RLAP
    https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...2f1debec_t.jpg

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      #3
      Just me, but before deciding your triple is FUBAR. I'd get it on the center stand. Loosen everything from the stem collar nut, fork holding bolts in the triples, on down through to the (fork brace if there is one) fender, axle nut and axle holder bolts under the forks, and see if you can set things straight. I would think that you could see once everything is loose, whether something is out of kilter. If you get it straight, tighten in reverse order, from the bottom up.
      Rich
      1982 GS 750TZ
      2015 Triumph Tiger 1200

      BikeCliff's / Charging System Sorted / Posting Pics
      Destroy-Rebuild 750T/ Destroy-Rebuild part deux

      Comment


        #4
        Next step will be to remove it. I'm thinking the splines are stripped.
        1982 GS1100G- road bike
        1990 GSX750F-(1127cc '92 GSXR engine)
        1987 Honda CBR600F Hurricane

        Comment


          #5
          Hard to imagine just falling over could strip those splines. You say you can see the upper and lower are out of line, how much out? Waaaay more common for forks just tweaked in clamps and not tracking straight. In that case just unsnug lower pinch bolts, twist forks back straight, and re tighten.... Those splines got to be pretty tough.
          1983 GS1100E, 1983 CB1100F, 1991 GSX1100G, 1996 Kaw. ZL600 Eliminator, 1999 Bandit 1200S, 2005 Bandit 1200S, 2000 Kaw. ZRX 1100

          Comment


            #6
            Splines? There aren't any splines locating the top triple. There's just a taper and the nut. It can rotate relative to the rest of the triple and steering stem.

            The machined surfaces where the forks slide in can indeed end up twisted and ruined, but that takes a fair amount of violence.

            If the fork tubes are still straight, 99% of the time in oopsies like you mentioned, you can put it on the centerstand (and support the front end so it doesn't fall through when you loosen everything else) loosen the pinch bolts, loosen or remove the fender, (maybe the wheel, too) loosen the nut on top of the upper triple, loosen the axle, then wiggle everything back into alignment.
            Last edited by bwringer; 07-19-2023, 07:08 PM.
            1983 GS850G, Cosmos Blue.
            2005 KLR685, Aztec Pink - Turd II.3, the ReReReTurdening
            2015 Yamaha FJ-09, Magma Red Power Corrupts...
            Eat more venison.

            Please provide details. The GSR Hive Mind is nearly omniscient, but not yet clairvoyant.

            Celeriter equita, converteque saepe.

            SUPPORT THIS SITE! DONATE TODAY!

            Co-host of "The Riding Obsession" sport-touring motorcycling podcast at tro.bike!

            Comment


              #7
              Glad you chimed in Brian. I wasn’t sure why Bill mentioned splines.
              Rich
              1982 GS 750TZ
              2015 Triumph Tiger 1200

              BikeCliff's / Charging System Sorted / Posting Pics
              Destroy-Rebuild 750T/ Destroy-Rebuild part deux

              Comment


                #8
                Why I'm asking, because I never had this problem. Never taken this assembly apart before.
                Old eyes, looked like splines in diagram. I don't see any splines in ebay samples.
                1982 GS1100G- road bike
                1990 GSX750F-(1127cc '92 GSXR engine)
                1987 Honda CBR600F Hurricane

                Comment


                  #9
                  Ah, first time for everything!

                  I bet it's fine; just loosen the stuff mentioned and wiggle it back into alignment. Done it many times.

                  Assuming it's all good, maybe install upgraded tapered steering stem bearings.
                  Last edited by bwringer; 07-19-2023, 07:15 PM.
                  1983 GS850G, Cosmos Blue.
                  2005 KLR685, Aztec Pink - Turd II.3, the ReReReTurdening
                  2015 Yamaha FJ-09, Magma Red Power Corrupts...
                  Eat more venison.

                  Please provide details. The GSR Hive Mind is nearly omniscient, but not yet clairvoyant.

                  Celeriter equita, converteque saepe.

                  SUPPORT THIS SITE! DONATE TODAY!

                  Co-host of "The Riding Obsession" sport-touring motorcycling podcast at tro.bike!

                  Comment


                    #10
                    Been so long, He said splines and I knew I'd never heard of them stripped. We just loosened the clamps and twisted the forks back straight. Glad you found out before taking it all apart.... Really simple and cheap...congrats,
                    1983 GS1100E, 1983 CB1100F, 1991 GSX1100G, 1996 Kaw. ZL600 Eliminator, 1999 Bandit 1200S, 2005 Bandit 1200S, 2000 Kaw. ZRX 1100

                    Comment


                      #11
                      bwringer​ posted it best, Just loosening everything up could cause them to go back to their original spot. Some wiggling, slightly loose, but loose, is a good idea. If they can't straighten out like that, being cast aluminum, you can't force it back, it will crack, if not now, possibly in the future, in any event, I wouldn't trust it. If it does go back to straight without forcing anything, just a loose and wiggle, you're good to go.

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