I'm resurrecting my project after a number of years and have a boatload of work to do on my VL.
For now - anyone know of a machinist in the Concord, California area who can straighten out springer forks?
Looks like the neck stem might need replacing - but some strategic welds could work - and one of the rigid forks is slightly tweaked so that the top clamp does not line up.
Thanks

 

i would contact the AMCA http://www.antiquemotorcycle.org/ and have them send you a mag from the events that go on accross the country, in it you will find the people that know how to repair the VL forks corectly and you wont be disapointed / now $hit happpens but your better off than some guy in a bike shop local to you with a hammer - just my take the VL fork is a $3000 assembly and in the wrong hands it will be destroid - jz

 

Option #1:
Contact VL Heaven, they are the best authority on the planet for VL Specific restoration; and they have world wide contacts; VL Steve may be able to put you in touch with somebody in your neck of the woods or somebody you can ship it to that is a VL specialist not too far away...
http://www.vlheaven.com/

Option #2
Jesse James - Best Living Motorcycle Related Fabricator On The Planet... Bar None... he probably has more custom fabrication tools, equipment in his garage at home than General Motors & or Harley Davidson...
http://www.westcoastchoppers.com/contact

February 2013 - Jesse James Relaunching West Coast Choppers...
http://cyrilhuzeblog.com/2013/02/10/...oast-choppers/

Option #3
Yellow Pages/Google Find A Well-Known Custom Bike/Hot Rod/Restoration Builder near your zip code...
These types of individuals will have the tools, skills/contacts to do this type of work right...

Option #4
Counts Kustoms Las Vegas, Nevada
http://www.countskustoms.com/

Option #5
Ricks Restorations Las Vegas, Nevada
http://www.ricksrestorations.com/

Option #6
Devious Designs Las Vegas, Nevada.
http://deviousdesignslv.com/

I live in Vegas so I am familiar with the guys in Vegas work, and of course they are on TV and very well-known & reputable... and you can crate everything up and do it that way if you don't want to come to vegas...

 

Thanks for all the info - lot of food for thought.
I found a local guy who has metal running in his veins.
Brandon at Mullins Chain Drive in Richmond CA fixed my rigid fork to like-new condition. The before picture was horrendous due to the half-baked work - sloppy welds, cuts, bends and alignment issues. He built a jig and straightened it out, repaired the cuts and sloppy welds. He's got a lot of old-school work ethics and does a great job. Just to be clear - this isn't some fifty dollar frame fix-it shop - they can build a bike from scratch putting it together one piece at a time and it's not cheap.