Help with forks not lining up

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23 Sep 2011 10:58 - 23 Sep 2011 11:05 #478964 by kzed1972
Help with forks not lining up was created by kzed1972

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Kz1000 '78 Ltd bought some forks. They just don't seem to line up parallel. Have not bolted the lower tree just the top to hold them in and im freaking out. Am I missing something here

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Last edit: 23 Sep 2011 11:05 by kzed1972.

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23 Sep 2011 11:32 #478968 by Motor Head
Replied by Motor Head on topic Help with forks not lining up
If you are suspecting a bent tube, loosen one side at a time and rotate the upper tube in the clamps. A dial indicator set up would show even a slight bend, but anything large you should see right away.

1982 KZ1000LTD K2 Vance & Hines 4-1 ACCEL COILS Added Vetter fairing & Bags. FOX Racing rear Shocks, Braced Swing-arm, Fork Brace, Progressive Fork Springs RT Gold Emulators, APE Valve Springs, 1166 Big Bore kit, RS34's, GPZ cams.
1980 KZ550LTD C1 Stock SOLD Miss it
1979 MAZDA RX7 in the works, 13B...

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23 Sep 2011 14:21 #479006 by bountyhunter
Replied by bountyhunter on topic Help with forks not lining up
On mine, the tubes were slightly tweaked. I loosened the tube clamps and rotated the tubes by hand. I found a point where the alignment was straight (to my eye). Maybe I had both bent tubes pointing the same way? Anyway, good luck.

1979 KZ-750 Twin

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23 Sep 2011 15:28 #479016 by Kidkawie
Replied by Kidkawie on topic Help with forks not lining up
Your middle pic looks like the right tube is bent back. Switch legs in the trees and see if it looks the same or opposie.

1975 Z1 900
1994 KX250 Supermoto
2004 KX125

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23 Sep 2011 16:04 #479022 by P21
Replied by P21 on topic Help with forks not lining up
what happens when axle is put on?

Kawasaki KZ 1000 Police (2002) P21

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23 Sep 2011 17:56 - 23 Sep 2011 17:56 #479032 by bountyhunter
Replied by bountyhunter on topic Help with forks not lining up
If a tube is bent, rotate it by hand in the clamp and you will see the bottom end moving fore and aft as it turns.

1979 KZ-750 Twin
Last edit: 23 Sep 2011 17:56 by bountyhunter.

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23 Sep 2011 20:06 #479052 by steell
Replied by steell on topic Help with forks not lining up
You have the fork tubes just hanging from the triple clamp, but you don't say if you just installed the triple clamps.

Has anyone ever installed a front end and "not" had to align the forks before tightening the pinch bolts?

KD9JUR

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23 Sep 2011 23:21 #479089 by 650ed
Replied by 650ed on topic Help with forks not lining up

Kidkawie wrote: Your middle pic looks like the right tube is bent back. Switch legs in the trees and see if it looks the same or opposie.


That's how it looks to me too. I would first loosen the right clamp and spin the tube 180 degrees to see if it still looks like it is bent back. If it does, you need to check the triple tree to make sure the bottom and top are true. If instead it looks like it is bent forward after spinning it 180, I would pull it out and check it on a flat surface to see if it is true. Ed

1977 KZ650-C1 Original Owner - Stock (with additional invisible FIAMM horn)

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25 Sep 2011 22:20 #479536 by mthure
Replied by mthure on topic Help with forks not lining up
I have a piece of glass app. 2" by 14" (prolly 1/4" thick) that I lay flat against the forktubes to check for alignment. If there is the slightest amount of rocking available when holding the piece of glass against the tubes, I'll grab the handlebars and tweak them up against the steering stop (or hold the wheel between your knees) then recheck and repeat if necessary. It helps to have the bolts loose in only the top triple.

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