Fork Slip

[denny]

After having a minor off a month or so ago the bars/front wheel were misaligned. A pal told me to loosen the lower fork bridge clamp bolts and straighten it out, which I did and it worked. However after a couple of days it went all wonky again, so repeat process...couple of days later same problem

Upon closer inspection I noticed that the bridge appears to have come out of its housing on the forks...as per picture. Could this be the cause of the regular misalignment and is it an easy fix I can do at home?

I cant seem to get the picture to come up straight...tilt your head to the left to see it the right way up

 

[Captain Black]

Misaligned or bent ? That's the question here I think.

 

[chad]

loosen off again and give the bottom of the fork leg a tap up if it goes back into position easily then you should be ok

 

[JayC]

After having a minor off a month or so ago the bars/front wheel were misaligned. A pal told me to loosen the lower fork bridge clamp bolts and straighten it out, which I did and it worked. However after a couple of days it went all wonky again, so repeat process...couple of days later same problem

Upon closer inspection I noticed that the bridge appears to have come out of its housing on the forks...as per picture. Could this be the cause of the regular misalignment and is it an easy fix I can do at home?

I cant seem to get the picture to come up straight...tilt your head to the left to see it the right way up

Your 'pal' has provided the wrong info I'm afraid and has most likely led to the situation you now find yourself in.
Loosen the TOP clamp to realign the bars, NOT the bottom one.

 

[chad]

Your 'pal' has provided the wrong info I'm afraid and has most likely led to the situation you now find yourself in.
Loosen the TOP clamp to realign the bars, NOT the bottom one.

top yoke on an 1150 is not a clamp so it doesnt really have much of a bearing on his situation

 

[denny]

Capt black...When I had the bars straight and the wheel was lined up accordingly it was fine. No judder or veering. It seems to me that the clamps dont tighten as they should as they're not sitting in that recess. I might be wrong, i probably am

 

[denny]

loosen off again and give the bottom of the fork leg a tap up if it goes back into position easily then you should be ok

Ah good, hopefully will be easy as it sounds! Cheers!

 

[chad]

Capt black...When I had the bars straight and the wheel was lined up accordingly it was fine. No judder or veering. It seems to me that the clamps dont tighten as they should as they're not sitting in that recess. I might be wrong, i probably am

no you are correct with a tap the fork leg should pop back into place

im thinking it would take quite an impact to pop the leg out of the recess could the bottom yoke not have been torqued up properly

 

[denny]

im thinking it would take quite an impact to pop the leg out of the recess could the bottom yoke not have been torqued up properly

I've only used the old girl a couple of times since coming off and only recently noticed they had 'popped out' ay ayy!

My spill was low speed but the bike kinda ended up nose down a thigh deep ditch while fully loaded. I was lucky to have gotten away with this, a brocken winglet & bent light bar!

 

[JayC]

top yoke on an 1150 is not a clamp so it doesnt really have much of a bearing on his situation

Cheers Chad.

The more I learn about the 11's the less I know.

 

[Ian J Hartley]

Misaligned or bent ? That's the question here I think.

More likely a bent slider tube or damaged slider tube fork bridge. After an OFF. Especially your type of accident where the bike has sustained inpact to the front suspension. You need to examine closely for damage and possibly check that the lower ( slider tubes ) are not bent, and that the lower fork bridge ( slider tube bridge ) is not damaged / distorted. The upper tubes are fixed to the top yoke by rubber type mounts, so they flex a little.

If you took the front wheel off. I would be surprised if you could refit it, without loosening the clamp bolts which secure the slider tube to the lower fork bridge.

Try undoing the upper fixed tube from the upper bridge. 14 mm locking nut, making sure you stop the tube from turning 22mm open ended spanner. Push the fixed tube out of the bridge and see if it moves freely in and out of the slider tube without sticking. Rotate the tube and try again. I can easily push mine all the way down with moderate force to leave about 5cm of chrome tube still showing. There is no spring in there, only oil. Compare either side might help to determine if something is bent.

For you to have a misalignment like in your photograph makes me think something is bent. I hope for your sake you find the problem. A front end failure will not be a good day for you.

 

[Captain Black]

I'll wager that leg is bent. Is it just one side that's popped out ? And if so is that the side that went in the ditch first if you get my drift ?

 

[Ian J Hartley]

I'll wager that leg is bent. Is it just one side that's popped out ? And if so is that the side that went in the ditch first if you get my drift ?

I would agree, and the fixed tube on that side is probably causing the slider tube to be forced out of the lower fork bridge due to binding inside when the suspension compresses.

 

[denny]

Both sides had popped out. More info...after the off I picked the bike up and rode 200kms to a meet, and probably about 300kms the way back the following day. The was absolutely no foul play in the steering during the 500kms. Strangely it went wonky after I popped into shop 1 click from home.

I managed to re seat the forks and will see how it goes. I'll also try Ian's suggestion to put my mind at rest....

 

[Slipperyeel]

There are some lower legs, inc one with the stantion also, on eBay right now. A day or so left. item #2512 9830 7239 (sorry, on my phone here, not able paste a link).

Maybe of use if you establish something is actually bent?

 

[chad]

Both sides had popped out. More info...after the off I picked the bike up and rode 200kms to a meet, and probably about 300kms the way back the following day. The was absolutely no foul play in the steering during the 500kms. Strangely it went wonky after I popped into shop 1 click from home.

I managed to re seat the forks and will see how it goes. I'll also try Ian's suggestion to put my mind at rest....

ians suggestion is a good one once that top bolt is undone it should slide down the back up to the top yoke smoothly , and the same with the front axle if something bent you will have a bastard time getting them back in.

hope its all ok though

 

[denny]

ians suggestion is a good one once that top bolt is undone it should slide down the back up to the top yoke smoothly , and the same with the front axle if something bent you will have a bastard time getting them back in.

hope its all ok though

yeah me too...I just had a look at prices at motorworks probably cost twice that over here

 

[Colt]

Good luck sorting this.
sent you a pm that may be useful.Mine will be cheaper than Motorworks

 

[Steptoe]

Are you doing the nuts and bolts up in the correct order, and bouncing the suspension inbetween ?

If not you could be trapping stresses.

 

[denny]

Are you doing the nuts and bolts up in the correct order, and bouncing the suspension inbetween ?

If not you could be trapping stresses.

I didn't realise there was an order to follow, or that the suspension needed to be bounced. Please tell....