front fork install?

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Feb 10, 2018 | 07:09 PM

memphisharley

Thread Starter

Stellar HDF Member

Joined: Sep 2017

Posts: 2,145

Likes: 577

From: memphis

front fork install?

ok... what's the tip on getting the forks back in. neither will line up to go into the top hole. it's about 1/8 inch off .
thanks

Feb 10, 2018 | 09:00 PM

memphisharley

Thread Starter

Stellar HDF Member

Joined: Sep 2017

Posts: 2,145

Likes: 577

From: memphis

scratched up my powder coated lowers trying to reinstall the forks. weird..they slid right out now they wont line up with the top hole. anyone have a clue? could it be because of the urethane bushings I installed...I didn't change anything else.
edit: got them in by loosening up the risers.

Last edited by memphisharley; Feb 10, 2018 at 10:05 PM. Reason: figured it out

Feb 10, 2018 | 10:51 PM

BobFLHT2002

Cruiser

Joined: Aug 2016

Posts: 160

Likes: 17

From: Columbus, OH

If i recall correctly, when I had mine off and on last year, I took one off at a time. I don't remember having any trouble getting them slid back in that way.

Feb 11, 2018 | 07:10 AM

Campy Roadie

Seasoned HDF Member

Joined: Aug 2011

Posts: 11,814

Likes: 5,120

From: SW Ohio

Quote:

Originally Posted by memphisharley

ok... what's the tip on getting the forks back in. neither will line up to go into the top hole. it's about 1/8 inch off .
thanks

Off an 1/8" how?

What I'm driving at is when both tubes are out of the triple clamps you can move the clamps in and out of alignment. Hold the bottom one with the fork tube in it and pull the top one into alignment.

If that doesn't do it, try rotating the fork tube and see if it comes into alignment with the top tree. If it does, you may well have a bent fork tube. The best time to check for that is when it's disassembled with a dial caliper set up.

Feb 11, 2018 | 08:45 AM

dawg

Seasoned HDF Member

Joined: Jun 2006

Posts: 28,580

Likes: 3,957

From: Vermont

Like above, sounds like you may have turned the bottom bracket out of alignment. The top bracket merely sits on the stem so you probably turned it a bit, especially if pulling on the tubes to get them out. Were the pinch bolts loosened enough when you pulled them out?

Feb 11, 2018 | 08:47 AM

MURPHCC1

Club Member

Joined: Apr 2013

Posts: 5,923

Likes: 3,903

From: Cape Cod

he fixed it already........said he loosened up the risers.......he edited a reply.

Feb 11, 2018 | 09:23 AM

Jackie Paper

Seasoned HDF Member

Joined: Mar 2010

Posts: 38,699

Likes: 6,476

From: Honah Lee

You might also now want to look at why the riser are twisting that top tree 1/8". Those bushings must sure be hard or your risers are not the same length.