Advise on bending a rigid fork

[Diesel10r]

good thing is Im getting faster at getting it apart! I'll pull the rigid fork tonight or tomorrow, be a good chance to upgrade the neck bearings. Its half apart already. Thanks for the advise

[Hubbard]

now we're cookin, good man,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

[Diesel10r]

So fork is off. have image issues but hopefully getting help with that.

Does look like the opposite fork I thought is bent, now to figure the best way to get it back,

[Diesel10r]

THANKS panhead for help with the pics. here are a few of my bend

I do have a press at work if thats the best way to support it while bending, no vise at home. what do you guys think?

front fork.jpg (134.51 KiB) Viewed 801 times

front fork 4.jpg (213.86 KiB) Viewed 801 times

front fork 3.jpg (142.46 KiB) Viewed 801 times

front fork 2.jpg (195.57 KiB) Viewed 801 times

[RooDog]

Well, that view is pretty telling. Next you have to determine where the dependency lies. This is an easy fix if you have the right stuff....

Take a look in your Blue Panhead Book, page 35. There is an illustration that can guide you on gauging that fork....

....RooDog....

[Diesel10r]

good advise. i can probably get some cheap round stock at the depot to help me gauge it

[animal12]

Can't help you with your fork problem , but wondering where you get your derby cover on your other bike ?
thanks
animal

[Diesel10r]

Can't help you with your fork problem , but wondering where you get your derby cover on your other bike ?
thanks
animal

I got that stealie and a timer cover stealie a company called pangalatic. the guy who made them passed in 2011 but his wife had some left over with defects in the power you barely see. so I grabbed em. I did need a 2 hole conversion for the timer hole cause theyre for a shovel
I try and find the site but here is the same on ebay, i did pay 250 but you wont find em anywhere as good. I stoked to have his art on my deadsled!!

https://www.ebay.com/itm/144134290934?h ... Sw95lXEnh1

http://www.pangal.com/bike_parts/stock- ... parts.html

[animal12]

Thanks , nice to see that their supporting SEVA too
animal

[Hubbard]

Forget the vise. you need either a milling machine table or a welding table. Or some sort of a heavy plate so you can nail that bent bitch down and pull or push it straight with clamps or some sort of jack. If the neck is straight do not use it to get a grip. Face down is prolly the best way to set it up.

[RooDog]

I have straightened several frame on an automotive body shop frame table successfully, but never a fork. The trick is being able to tie it down securely without damaging the work piece. It's not something for a novas to attempt, nor one's brother in law, either....
....RooDog....

[Hubbard]

I found a 45 springer in a barn that believe it or not had been run over by a caterpillar. Was in a house that got bulldozed.I nailed it to a mill and with quite a bit of heat got it pretty damn straight. tracks good and works freely. Somehow the bars, headlight and horn were fine.

[RUBONE]

I found a 45 springer in a barn that believe it or not had been run over by a caterpillar. Was in a house that got bulldozed.I nailed it to a mill and with quite a bit of heat got it pretty damn straight. tracks good and works freely. Somehow the bars, headlight and horn were fine.

H-D adamantly advises against any heat source in straightening frames, forks, handlebars, and crashbars. All are heat treated and use of heat for straightening removes the temper and makes them soft and subject to bending or fractures in the future.

[RooDog]

In addition, the factory springer is furnace brazed and any application of heat near those brazed points can lead to problems should the braze begin to melt, or start cracking, and then it's trash.
In any case, the deformation of that fork is so small that it will easily return to its original shape cold. It just needs to be securely tied down and the appropriate amount of force applied in the right direction. No heat need be applied.....

[Diesel10r]

just an update did tweak the fork in the shop press at work. much better . put it together, you guessed it = Tight.
pulled the wheel put the axle in, tight. unlit I pull off the brake shackle bar? then she springs good. Is there a bar difference with 45 and servi forks? it does have a tweak to it? So looking for a shackle now.
And I do think the brake shoe cam is wrong, brake has always sucked