Installing Forks - Fitment Issue?
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 5,120
Likes: 17
From: Indiana
Yea I would think that would be a good dent/bend tightening them down in that position or the potential of it seating properly (if this isn't right) and the pinch bolts backing off while riding. Hopefully a WG owner can put up a pic or go to a dealer and look for your self if that's possible.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 5,477
Likes: 5
From: New Braunfels, Texas
Something ain't right. Do not tighten any of the pinch bolts.
When you had the fork tubes out did you roll them on a flat surface the make sure they weren't bent? My 2011 superglide had a bent fork tube in it from the factory.
Have you checked to make sure your steer bearing is tight to specs? I would take the tubes out and see if you can move the steer head back up and down. Something is out of whack and whatever you do, do not clamp anything down or ride it.
Looks like the steer head is at the wrong angle to me. Is it showing exactly the same on both tubes? If it is then it would have to be the angle of the steer head. Did you take out the steer head when you powdercoated?
When you had the fork tubes out did you roll them on a flat surface the make sure they weren't bent? My 2011 superglide had a bent fork tube in it from the factory.
Have you checked to make sure your steer bearing is tight to specs? I would take the tubes out and see if you can move the steer head back up and down. Something is out of whack and whatever you do, do not clamp anything down or ride it.
Looks like the steer head is at the wrong angle to me. Is it showing exactly the same on both tubes? If it is then it would have to be the angle of the steer head. Did you take out the steer head when you powdercoated?
Banned
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 5,403
Likes: 7
From: Southwest Florida
It don't look right to me. Doesn't make sense. Is there pressure, weight on the tubes? Is the weight of the wheel causing the tube to '****' in the triple tree? Is the wheel on the ground?
Can you take the weight off of the tube/triple tree and see what happens?
But I'm no wrench.
Just using logic. Or... What passes for logic
Can you take the weight off of the tube/triple tree and see what happens?
But I'm no wrench.
Just using logic. Or... What passes for logic
Road Warrior
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1,718
Likes: 15
From: Bay area, CA
I'm surprised no wide glide guys have chimed in. Is there a gap on the front or backside, between the tube and tree? I don't see how it could possibly go in anyway but straight, it's a tight fit even with the pinch bolts out. No pics from before they came apart? There's a rake in those trees and unless the triple tree sweeps up the hole for the tube would have to be at a slight angle. I've never taken apart a wide glide front end before so I'm not really sure, it just seems that it would be impossible to have those tubes go in cocked. I hope you get it figured out I'm interested in the answer
This is weird.
If it were mine, I'd want to know if the top of the tube was square (90 degrees) to the tube length. The first thing I would do is to twist the tube within the clamp and see if the deviation turns with the tube, if the deviation rotates with the tube, the top end is not cut 90 degrees to the axis. If the deviation doesn't turn with the tube, the holes in the tree are not square to the upper and lower surfaces.
If it were mine, I'd want to know if the top of the tube was square (90 degrees) to the tube length. The first thing I would do is to twist the tube within the clamp and see if the deviation turns with the tube, if the deviation rotates with the tube, the top end is not cut 90 degrees to the axis. If the deviation doesn't turn with the tube, the holes in the tree are not square to the upper and lower surfaces.
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
From: Detroit, MI
Completely and 100% normal for Wide Glides. Thats how they get the rake on raked trees. The bottom tree is also slightly offset.
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Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
From: Detroit, MI
Yeah, could be the angle at which both pictures where taken. Could also be an optical illusion due to op's forks are closer to the tree.