straighten fork tube

[motorhead]

Has anyone had any luck straightening a slightly bent fork tube .79 sf.I've been trying to locate one with no success.Thanks

[Cobia]

Bent tube

I have a bent tube on my XJ and thought I could have it straightened as well. But in all the research I've done everybody agrees that you should not use a tube that has been bent and straightened, it weakens and fatigues the metal and makes it unsafe.
I would like to hear differing opinions, particularly from those with first hand experience.
Thanks

[79XS11F]

Unless your going to take it to a shop that specializes in this sort of work don't bother. Even then you have to look at the cost of having that shop do the work and live with wondering if it is really straight and truly round when the work is done, will that fork start eating seals etc. Given that forks can be found easy enough, I would just buy a new one or a set.
Rob

[motorhead]

Where are they easily found.I've tried ebay ,tried andreas,asked here .I don't want to change the front to a standard style .I'm being patient .I just needed to ask the question.I was seriously considering pulling it apart and taking to a place that straightens driveshafts to see if they could do anything with it .So is the popular opinion "it won't work"?

[bikerphil]

Where are they easily found

It'll be easier to find a complete set of forks, and either swap them out or scavenge the parts you need. Link....



http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/XS110...Q5fAccessories

[motorhead]

thanks for the link to the forks .We'll see where they end up .I think it probably will be easier to get a pair .But you never know.And i will take a pair as long as it isn't too expensive

[79XS11F]

Where are they easily found.I've tried ebay ,tried andreas,asked here .I don't want to change the front to a standard style .I'm being patient .I just needed to ask the question.I was seriously considering pulling it apart and taking to a place that straightens driveshafts to see if they could do anything with it .So is the popular opinion "it won't work"?

I just did a search on ebay and at least 5 sets came up. There is a mix of standard and SF types. Check Yamaha parts list. Perhaps the sliders are the same part number.
Rob

[Pat Kelly]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1980-...Q5fAccessories

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1979-...Q5fAccessories

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/XS110...Q5fAccessories

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/YAMAH...Q5fAccessories

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1980-...Q5fAccessories

There were many more on Ebay. Set #3 was going for $5.00.

[XJOK2PLAY]

Are the XJ forks and the Specials the same?

If they are, there's a member here named Lunatic that's parting out an XJ... might be worth checking out... JAT

[bikerphil]

XJ and Special forks are not the same.
Standard and Special fork tubes are not interchangeable.

[DiverRay]

For NEW fork tubes, try "forking by Frank". Do a google search, and the company will come up. About $235 per pair, any length you want. The down side, they are all chrome, not black as I wanted.
Link: [URL="http://www.frankmain.qpg.com/"] They really are the BEST for replacement fork tubes. And NO, I would NOT ride on "straitened" fork tubes. I ride too hard!

[fredintoon]

Has anyone had any luck straightening a slightly bent fork tube .79 sf.I've been trying to locate one with no success.Thanks

Hi 'head,
if it's only a little bit bent and in a smooth curve (and you either can't afford or can't find a straight one) Yes, it can be fixed.
I straightened my son's Can-Am forks this way and it rode OK afterwards. (If you think Yamaha parts are hard to find, try looking for Can-Am stuff).
What you need:-
Car jack.
Mebbe 30" length of really strong steel girder.
2 welded loops of 1" x 1/8" flatbar, same height as the girder + the closed jack + the fork tube.
What to do:-
Roll the fork tube on a flat surface to find where it's bent.
Put the jack atop the girder and the fork tube atop the jack with the middle of the curve on the jack and the curve arcing up like a smileyface.
Put the flatbar loops around the girder and the fork tube at each end.
Pump the jack to straighten the curve.
You will need a helper &/or duct tape to hold everything just so.
You will also need to be as lucky as you are careful to succeed at this.
If the bend is gentle enough that you can straighten it, the tube will not have been stressed enough for it to fail afterwards.

[motorhead]

I'm going to try to fix it .What's the worst that can happen ."ruin it"

[Pat Kelly]

I'm going to try to fix it .What's the worst that can happen ."ruin it"

Thinking of worst case..... Passing an 18-wheeler (or a Prius for that matter) on the inside of a curve on the freeway. Fixed fork collapses and you slide under the car thinking "$50 replacement from Ebay would have prevented this"
No collapse but suspension binds on a small dip causing front end to ocillate (ok, not the worst. But still not fun. Had it happen on my XS @125 MPH. Thought of wife and kids at that moment).
Straightening it could damage to outter surface and have a constant leak.

Never time or money to do it right the first time but always time to do it over the right way.

Ebay 320454336161 is still going for $5.00. $25 for shipping. Win the bid and tell the seller you only want one leg and can he lower the shipping. Get the set and sell what you don't need. Might even make a profit on the deal.

[motorhead]

Thinking of worst case..... Passing an 18-wheeler (or a Prius for that matter) on the inside of a curve on the freeway. Fixed fork collapses and you slide under the car thinking "$50 replacement from Ebay would have prevented this"
No collapse but suspension binds on a small dip causing front end to ocillate (ok, not the worst. But still not fun. Had it happen on my XS @125 MPH. Thought of wife and kids at that moment).
Straightening it could damage to outter surface and have a constant leak.

Never time or money to do it right the first time but always time to do it over the right way.

Ebay 320454336161 is still going for $5.00. $25 for shipping. Win the bid and tell the seller you only want one leg and can he lower the shipping. Get the set and sell what you don't need. Might even make a profit on the deal.

That's still almost 7 days
I hear what you are saying and I may well buy one ,But that being said I'm pretty good at repairs and will certainly be the first to pull the plug if the straightening doesn't go right .I'm going to attempt it myself.I might be eating crow ,but oh well .I'd rather buy one quick in the atlanta area .A buy it now price .Some people actually price them for far higher than I think they should be worth.I'd pay 100.00 shipped to my door for one that is supposed to be good .1 Fork (the left)
I'm trying to build this on the super cheap.I have the money to pay more ,but that's not the point.Most of ya'll will probably hate me ,but it's going to be a rat bike .I had a 79 standard ,sold it ,this is a special a friend gave me after he wrecked it .