if any one that is following Delboy's helpful advice and doesn't have a piece of sheet metal for front tire, Use a folded trash bag, heavy duty leaf bag is best, and your tire will turn like butter, thanks again Delboy, keep the advice coming, Your a Gentlemen and a shade tree mechanic scholar.
Cheers mate, just remember don't over-tighten anything, they're hard steel bolts into soft alloy threads, just nip them up hand-tight and 'dot' the heads with Tippex or nail varnish to keep an eye on them for a day or two afterwards, good luck with it, Del
This just saved me $$$ ! I had no idea on how easy it is to re allign my forks . Had a fall due to oil spill on the road . Thanks mate ! All the way from Singapore !
Hey Del, since I purchased my 883 Iron, I've been very reserved to do anything but ride it. I emailed you about a video on installing a pigtail to the battery. Then, I thought to myself, "What would Del do?" I know, he would say, "Mate, time to get your hands dirty and go for it!" Today, I did just that, and installed my pigtail by myself! Your videos gave me the confidence to do my own work! For this, I thank you from the bottom of my heart! My offer still stands on a video. Thank you!
Ok mate, clever thinking, but I don't have a 24mm bolt and I will be welding the nut to a piece of bar as soon as I get to it, it's never 'tight' as the axle is held by the pinch bolts, but it will be yet another handy improvised tool for the box. Thanks for taking the time, it's a great suggestion, it always amazes me how much ingenuity we bikers have, take care & keep safe, Del
Hi Del, thanks for this tutorial. I came back to this after I low-sided my bike on black ice just before Xmas. This video tutorial is what has got my bike back in the road. Thanks once again for another lesson that has got my bike back on the road & thanks for keeping me riding. Patreonage worthy every penny 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Thanks buddy, am glad it can help you, this is a simple little trick aye?? And not difficult to do, even a decent pot hole will through your fork alignment out... really glad you enjoy the videos and thanks so much for you constant support, we are what we are cos of you, our Patrons!
After being involved in an accident with my 04 hornet. Found my handlebars weren't inline when riding straight. With some help from my dad holding the rear grab rail, and me jumping up and down on the bike, got everything straight and back to normal. Have watched a lot of your videos and have been very helpful. Thanks delboys garage!
WHENEVER I HAVE A JOB TO DO ON MY MOTORCYCLE,AND AM UNSURE,YOU ARE ALWAYS THE FIRST STOP,WELL EXPLAINED AND ALWAYS DOES THE JOB,MANY THANKS FOR THE TIME AND EFFORT YOU PUT INTO VIDEOS VERY MUCH APPRECIATED,KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK SIR AND RIDE SAFE
Thanks for making this video, been having issues with my fz6 not 'riding straight' since I got the bike, throwing my right hand corners and most importantly my braking completely off. I'd just about had it till someone mentioned the front forks, they looked straight by eye, but I thought I'd give it a go following your video.. feels like a brand new bike.. actually turns and brakes as it should, found joy in riding once again.
Cheers buddy, glad it helped you, this is a good little maintenance tip to do once a year, today's rotten roads, pot holes, and bumping kerbs can throw your forks out dead easy!
Hi Mate....thanks a lot for this tutorial....I was on the verge of selling my ride which had this problem since I tried everything but wasn't able to rectify the issue.....your vedio was god sent .....asked a friendly mechanic to help me out and voila it worked like magic ....thanks again friend you are doing a great job stay blessed
My bike was in a local shop for three weeks and they couldn't figure out (or didn't bother to) how to get my alignment right again. This did the trick. I wish I had consulted trusty old TH-cam before going to a "professional" first. Thanks for the help!
Hi mate, glad you got it sorted out and the bike is now right for you. i have also found that many garages cant seem to get this simple adjustment right....like you say, maybe they just cant be bothered...lol
Thanks for taking the time to make these videos. This was a job that concerned me and I have left the job for about a year and then followed your instructions and fixed it in less than an hour. Thanks and keep up the great work.
I do a lot of services on my bikes and I can tell you got very good hands, how you show all little things that important, very good touch and feel when you hold a tool. You're videos give me a lot of tips how to improve and do stuff easier. Keep it up, and many thanks to you.
Perfect advice, will do in the morning :) Another handy tip - when using a nut as a large hex bit, screw it tightly onto a bolt. The nut never lines up perfectly with the bolt head and prevents you pushing the nut in with the socket. You can always pop a weld on it to make a useful tool for future use - also stops the nut coming undone if the thing you are loosening was done up strongman style - I can't be the only one to loosen and re-tighten everything I've had done by someone else!
Cheers Delboy. Just dropped my v strom in a field camping in Germany. Test rode it and my forks are misaligned. Managed to twist the front wheel and handlebars back so it’s ok to ride home. At least I know how to do a proper job when I get back now. Great vids mate
Cheers Delboy! I was not looking forward to crawling around the bike after the front end was put out. It was parked up and managed to get hit by a fence panel blowing around in a storm!!! (knocked the bike over) Anyway, after watching yet another one of your excellent videos i took my time,followed your advice and now the front end is spot on. THANK YOU.
STUPID EASY. I did this on my 1981 Honda CM400C in 5 min. it was really jacked up so I had to kick the wheel to break it free, but after that, push push push push and boom... straight as an arrow. Thank you so much!
Thanks Robert, it's nice to know you're out there watching. It's videos like this that the Discovery team want the most so just paying the bills, mate (well not actually because they don't pay anything but fulfilling the obligation all the same!), take care and keep it real, Del (hi from Penny P too!)
Laid my ladie'a cbr600rr down, forks were misaligned. I was one moment from taking over to my mechanic to get them fixed but decided to see what Google had to say on this. Uber happy that I found your video, worked out perfectly for me. Thank you and cheers from California!
Thanks Ezzy...thats great news, and you saved the money at the garage...top class buddy... thanks for getting in touch.. ride safe, all the best.. Del.
For people with a wonky sense of level,straight and angles there is a trick you can use called "Boning" (no not that sort) It's a joiners method of checking parallel.You need two straight pieces of wood, metal bar or similar. With two people get one person to hold a straight edge across the lower end of the forks (the lower the better). Now take the second straight edge and place it at the top of the forks, Across the handlebars or some other place you can check it is not angled. Now stand on the pegs and lean forward and look out at both ends of both straight edges if they line up at the tips the forks are true. If the ends are looking a bit like a very flattened x in comparison to each other then the forks are out and the flattened x will show you which way they are out. If the left bottom tip of the straight edge is in front of the top left tip then your bars need to turn to the right while the wheel stays straight ahead. If it's the other way (bottom right tip is in front of top right tip and the other end the bottom tip is behind the top right tip) then the bars need to turn left while the wheel stays straight ahead. It sounds complicated but print this off and practice with your bike to find the best place to put the straight edges (through the front wheel spokes or above but the further apart the better) then you will get it fairly quickly. Ride Safe and keep it shiny side up.
hi mate, well done for getting it sorted out, they need a tweek every year or so, pot hols and bumps can knock them out of alignment with no trouble... ride safe. Del.
Hey Delboy, just want to say a big thank you, this video saved me so much money and hassle, I have a moped and honestly thought my frame was bent following a small crash (not my fault), I googled and this video came up. I tried what you said in the video and hell, the difference, my bike is back to perfect ride again. Thank you so so much. You are a lifesaver. Rich United kingdom.
Hi Rich.. good to hear from you matey, and glad the video could help you out.. the forks are only gripped by the yokes using friction, so they can be easily knocked out of alignment.. even a bad pot hole or bumping up curbs can cause the, to be knocked out a bit... just do this any tome it happens again... and it'll usually be fine.. Hope you weren't hurt in the "small crash".. ride safe mate.. Del.
hit a big pot hole the other day and managed to up right the bike mid corner..but it knocked the forks out a fair bit!!..your vid Just brill... so easy to do.. I had no idea it was that easy to do. Sod the garage from now on.. thanks again & ride safe.
I took a hard spill off road on my Africa Twin yesterday, enough to bend the bars and twist a riser in its mount. Luckily, I was able to limp to a Honda deal 35 miles away where they put on a bar that'll work temporarily and the riser corrected itself on the installation. Driving home, though, I saw the bars still didn't seem square with the wheel (they should've checked that, I think). I came across your well-taught video today and did the process just as you describe. Problem solved. You have a great teaching style and nothing was left unsaid that needed said. Thanks for this.
Just followed this procedure on my ZX6R Del and we're running perfectly straight and true, if i ever bump into you one day i'll make damn sure i buy you a pint mate, thanks a million! Jack
Excellent tutorial on how to straighten up the front end, I used to struggle with this and I am going back to the 60s, I now have a Honda DN01 shaft drive, which makes axle stands a little more difficult, so it is statues for my wife. Thanks.
@@Box545x39 Hey bf, glad u found the bend in ur fork, and l hope u kept it... They/U can rebend them back to straight and hav a spare on the shelf. Ride safe.🛵🖖👍🌈🌏💜
Thanks Mate.. I've been looking for an informative video like this for a wk.. I dropped my bike and the forks moved.. Nothing to crazy but i was trying to figure out how to straighten it out.. this video made the most sense.. im gonna try it out so i dont have to take it to the shop and get charged an arm and a leg.. especially since i have those tools .. thanks again mate. ill keep you posted
Followed your instructions in this vid today on my Zephyr. And i also lowered the fork by pushing the tubes 12mm through the yokes. It worked surprisingly well. I also raised the back using the excenters in the swingarm. The bike steers *much* sharper now!
Sure did Oscar, just forgot to mention it in the video....its important to back it off so the two clamps can move independently of each other and re-align.
This worked an absolute treat. I knew my forks weren't bent, just a bit twisted. I was trying to figure out how to mark and measure the fork legs, but I didn't need to because this cured them completely. Cheers.
Nice one buddy, there are cleverly designed by the factory to self centre in the yokes, just need to loosen it all off and plunge them up and down a bit - they will soon find centre again ! Thanks for taking the time to let us know !
Best motorcycle maintenance channel in you tube👏👏👏thanks for making the maintenance so much easier when working on our bikes, greetings from Florida USA😎
Thanks so much for this "how to". I had a lay down the other day in the rain. Tire pointing straight, bars pointing right. With this information, I will be able to get it all back to normal. Thanks again.
thx a bunch, will re-align my fork on sunday. i wouldn't even have noticed that it's off if it wasn't for your superb channel. keep it up mate, you are helping me (and obviously a whole lot of others, too) a lot. i will keep spreading the word about your channel.
Cheers mate, good luck with it! Set the back alignment first by measuring off the swing arm pivot for absolute accuracy... then do this to the front, if it's still tracing after that you could have deeper troubles - good luck, Del
Wow the most practical presentation ever . 70 year old ex Donnington GT champion in 1980.. You are the man . My Suzuki 650Burgman I have just bought steered like a dog .. weaving along happily. The steering head bearings were almost dry.and there was quite a lot of preload . (not noticeable through the handlebars .) Yet to test ride it .still awaiting the refurbished wheels .
Hi Richard, how kind of you to make such generous comments Sir, and coming from a true veteran of the track too... you know how it is, these things aren't difficult, they just need laying out in basic terms without all the stuffy mechanic jargon... we all own bikes, we all like to keep them safe and working right, and we none of us have the money to pass them to the main dealer with their comedy hourly rates... not least for simple things like this anyway! Thank you most kindly for watching, and again, for your amazing comments, many thanks, ride safe, Del & Penny!
Hi CJ.. check them if they feel out...i have always been a fan of the old mantra "if the cart aint broke, dont fix it"..ride them next time and look down at the bars as you cruise in a flat straight line,, if they are a bit left or right, then do this adjustment....but if they are bang on, leave well along.. you can make work for yourself for no reason.... good going buddy... cheers, gel.
Hi Chris, if the paddock stand is the type with two brackets that cradle the swing arm spars, you can wrap a cloth under the swinger and protect it...then just lift on there....if its the bobbins type then you're out of luck as you need them to lift against.... the only other way is to ask another person to hold the bike on its wheels upright using the drab rail while standing behind....and make sure its on flat ground at the time....hope that helps chap...cheers Del.
Hi Delboy, this was _exactly_ the information I needed to re-align the front forks of my '99 5th Gen VFR800. I've been getting the VFR road-worthy again, just installed new tires, and noted while scuffing in the new tires the "triple tree" alignment was off a skosh (just as on your 'Busa). Also, your tips to gently loosen the front fork axle bolt, pinch bolts, brake caliper bolts and...the front fender fasteners were new info for me, but it makes perfect sense. Here in California, we have a term for this procedure called, _"dangling front end."_ (don't know if you guys use that term in Britain). I've done this on my other bikes years ago, but couldn't remember the exact protocol, so this was super-helpful. Oh, and BTW, you do a really _excellent_ job of presenting the rationale, steps, and, most importantly, the *context* of WHY the protocol is what it is very well, so I've just subbed. Good on 'ya, mate, and *many thanks* 🙏 Cheers from the SF Bay Area! 👍
Thank you so much Stephen for your kind words of support and encouragement, im glad the video was able to help you you, and really appreciate the sub too, Welcome aboard Sir... Take care and have a great week, and stay in touch.. Del.
Cheers for this! I just followed your method. Lowsided my R6 trackbike yesterday and I was told "Yeah you got a bent fork mate". I followed your tips and I'm as sure as anything it was just turned in the yokes!
+GuzziHeroV50 Thats usually what it is mate, the fact that the yokes only hold with friction if designed to let the legs twist in thier holes and prevent damage.... USD forks dont bend unless you hit a wall hard..! Hope you've sorted it chap... all the best. Del.
I've been watching piles of your videos. Thank you so much for your tips and insight! As you have shared so many tips with us, I thought I would share back a bit. You used a 24mm nut for the axle. When doing that, you can either space it off with a few washers or "make a tool" with a 24mm bolt that is tightened on and cut to length. That will make your 2-hand job a 1-hander.
I must say, you really do teach me Things I already should know about! I've been riding bikes since -83 and I've never thought about fork alignment! Well, taking the fork apart for some Black paintjob and progressive springs will be finished off with some fork alignment, fur sure! Splendid! Thanks Del for sharing! ("Del" Means "share" or "part" in Scandinavia! Suitable name for you, indeed!)
HI Jon, Thanks amazing, i had no idea of the 'share' meaning....how spooky is that?..lol Thanks for your kind comments my friend, im glad the videos can help you, its just basic stuff we can all benefit from.. take care, have a great Christmas and ride safe in the new year... Del.
Hi Sam..ok, just looked at Penny's bike, At the back of the caliper there's a small pin that goes through both pads (the pin has a 'flat blade screw head' so fit a good quality screw driver in that pin head, back it right out and remove it, the pads will now slot out of the back of the caliper, if you back off the front bolt a bit it will give you some 'jiggle room' to help free them off, and if you lever the pistons back you'll be able to drop them out, let me know how you get on, Del.
I had doubts coming into this video. Then i saw it.... DUDE, YOU ARE FREAKING AMAZING! THANK YOU SO MUCH! You just solved a problem I had for a year!! I can't even thank you enough!! Amazing!
I went out earlier this evening and tried your procedure on my 2006 Kawasaki Vulcan 900 cruiser bike. The machine had been in a crash with the previous owner. The wheel was cocked to the left making me steer to the right a bit. It worked perfectly. Thanks my friend for posting this.
I want to thank you for making this video, I had changed the top clamp to lower the my hayabusa an inch and I hit a pothole and my alignment went out bad. After watching this video it's riding straight, thanks.
Ah yes, I did delete the other one because I composed it before watching the full video and when I went back and viewed it I realized you went a different direction than I anticipated. Thanks for putting out your videos ... they are great!
Hey Del, Thanks for the step by step, bought a bike that had been dropped. It got a head shake when u let the bars go, tried your/the realign method and it fixed it. Thanks for sharing and taking the time to so. Simple stuff, but, if u don't know, u don't know. Cheers. 🛵🖖👍🌈🌏💜
Hi Christian, sadly you wont get a good alignment if the bike is on the stand...but if you get it all released from the top down as shown, then sit on the bike and push it off the stand...do the lunge up and down thing....and have the spanner in your back pocket....hold the bike at exact balance point...get the spanner and reach down carefully to nip the bolts up tight on the bottom yoke....then back on the stand, and do up the rest.....easy..hope that helps..good luck, Del.
Some people half ass these do-it-yourself videos. But you've honestly got me sold. Great video, can tell your confident in what you're doing. Tried it today on my 08' zx6r (never even realize how out of alignment my forks were) worked like a charm. You've just got yourself a new subscriber! Look forward to watching more of these.
Magic, thanks for that. Very informative. I rebuild a crashed Gen 1 in 2004. It had bent forks so I replaced them and never did the alignment thing. Never had a problem but wish I'd seen this video prior, would have been able to check it easily. My local mechanic berated me for tightening the forks up to much for the same reason's you say. Delboy's Hayabusa is a world of knowledge - love it.
I really appreciate this video. I lowsided my CBR250R after my front tire took on a clump of mud at 10 mph in a slight corner and bent my handlebars out of alignment. This really helped. It took about an hour of me fiddling around before I got it aligned to my liking, but I later realize that I never loosened the top center bolt. I went back and loosened it and tightened it back up in case there was some tension that needed to be released after the adjustment had been done without loosening it. Thanks Del.
Thanks Tad...glad you could use the video, no need to pay garages for this kind of basic stuff...and sounds like you use your KLR like you're meant to... top stuff sir.. ride safe aye... Del.
Hi Jon,do the lunging action with everything lose except the 2 top yoke clamp bolts, once it's straight THEN you can do the centre nut and then bit by bit work your way south to the axle... don't forget the mudguard mount bolts as they play a part too and do up a quarter turn at a time alternating side to side until they are tight..bad luck on the low side and after such a drop don't forget to straighten up the bar clamps too if they are bolted through the yoke, take care Del
Hi mate, the re-alignment will be easily detected because your bars will sit twisted to one side as you ride along... so if they are straight it's not alignment - if you have a wobble over 70 it's more likely to be wheel balancing, maybe get them checked at your local tyre shop. But first have a look to see if a wheel weight has come off by seeing if there is a sticky patch where one is missing... hope that helps, good luck, Del
Thanks for this! I had a bit of an off on my Honda VFR, noticed that the forks were twisted when I was bringing it home from the shop. Never thought the fix would be this easy!
Nice one Jackson, it truly is as easy as that mate! The fork legs are only gripped by the yokes with friction and actually allowing them to move this way in an impact prevents them getting bent... well done buddy, take care and ride safe, Del
Great video. Been riding 20 years and never done this myself. I'll be going into the garage tomorrow to sort the FZ1. Annoyingly, I bought one of those axle tools last week !
I nailed a deer back in November, didn't really notice anything at first because the weather kept me in until now. This video really helped a lot! Took me about an hour or so and she rides as good as new. Thanks!!
glad i found this video. i've only been riding for about 3 months so i was freaking out, thought i had really messed something up lol quick realignment and life is good
Yes you do mate, as this allows the two clamps to move independently of each other as that is essential for re-aligning the forks... good luck with it, Del
Thanks for the reply Del - I've already swapped out the handlebar riser bolts - one was bent. I'm going to work on the re-alignment tomorrow. Cheers. Jon
Hi mate, yes that's fine, this method will work on that just as well - the side of the fork that has a pinch bolt is just to lock the axle in place, just back it off and then loosen the axle too and carry on as normal... just remember to do it up again afterwards and keep everything safe! Good luck with it, Del
You really need the Bee Gees Staying Alive song when plunging the forks. Cheers for the how to's mate, I've a few jobs I want to do that involve the forks and this gives me confidence to sort any miss alignment issues that may crop up. RSM.
Thanks for this. It's going to be handy later as I've rebuilt the front end of my TT600 and naturally it's all out of alignment. I dunno about Del Boy but there's a great Vinnie Jones 'Stayin Alive' moment at 11 minutes in. First time I've ever seen anyone give a bike CPR.
Thanks for the vid, someone didn't clean up an oil spill in the middle of the road, so I ended up low siding my bike. My alignment is a bit off, but this video helped me understand how to set the forks back straight. Thanks.
Moonfleet41 I found out that my right fork was a bit higher after the drop, so I had to loosen up the top tree to set the height back to OEM specs. After that, I did the same process in this video,which is to pump on the bars and tank to help settle the bottom forks.It took a while, I had to hold the wheel and tweak the bar with my hands, and pump the front end down again.However,the job is done and it worked out well....many thanks.
Yes thanks. I am going to use your front caliper rebuild video to rebuild my front calipers. Woul have cost me 200 dollars to do it at the local repair shop. Thanks again.
Great vid. When you use the nut and socket to loosen the front axle, try placing two nuts inside the socket. The second nut will usually stick out enough to fit in the axle.
This worked like a charm on my vstrom 1000 after I had a hard curb hit. It solved about 95% of the twist and I did the last 5% the old fashioned bicycle way. Dead straight now. Use what you got, center stand no paddock stand and patience. Thanks!
My fork tubes are different heights. I have a Honda VTX1800 2003. I removed the wheel to change the tire. Since it was my first time learning it took me many weeks to watch videos and acquire all the minimal hand tools to get the job done. Since the wheel was off the bike I decided to do a complete caliper cleaning thanks to all your wonderful videos. Two months later I'm finally ready to mount the wheel. Before sliding the wheel in place I test fitted the axle, sliding it thru the left fork first and when it bumped the right fork it was about 20mm higher than the hole. So the right fork was too low. Trying to add hand pressure to mate the two only allows about a 5mm gain. I figure I'm going to have to use a jack stand or similar to force the right fork up to align the axle hole. I'm scared to muscle it into place knowing uneven pressure is being exerted on my suspension. So tell me what is going on here?!? Forgot to mention that when I initially removed the axle it was extremely difficult having to try and pull it out and at the same time twist it left/right. Since this is my first time experience to remove a wheel I did not know what normal was, so I assumed tolerances were tight and causing me the extra work. Now I know that it was the fork tube height differential that was causing this to happen. I tried to find videos addressing this issue, but all I can find is rebuilding the forks and lag or rider adjustment.
I found my answer on a VTX forum. Turns out one of the forks is a compression fork, the other a rebound fork. The ultimate answer is you have to compress the longer one to align the axle holes for the insertion. www.vtxoa.com/forums/6-vtx-1800-tech-board/221409-front-forks-axle-holes-not-alignment.html?action=thread
Firstly mate, I am sorry to hear about your accident,it sounds very painful and upsetting... I hope you've made a good recovery & can put it behind you now -what possess these people to drive away at a time like that is beyond me! Provided nothing is bent, then this method will work just fine in straightening up your bars, but if it's been down on it's side hard & as it's a lightweight bike I might respectfully suggest a trip along to your friendly MOT man just to check everything is straight!
Hi Pete, sure will mate, praying for a nice day as it's been persisting down all week (and even is right now!) but if it's a nice day we'll take the camera and film some highlights in a Delboy's Garage field episode ... it'll be just like your'e there! LOL take care, keep safe, Del
WOW . . . just WOW, ive been trying to sort mine out for bloody weeks, even took an angle grinder to my front tyre cause it was wearing unevenly!! I'll be following this video on friday afternoon!
Thanks for the video!! I would like to make a suggestion if I may. Instead of using a nut to loosen the axle nut, take a spark plug socket, find one that fits your bike, turn it around and put a 6" or so extension through the "mouth" and the attach your ratchet. It works great.
This is great knowledge. I have K4 GSXR 600 and I was very close to buying new forks and top and bottom yoke because I could not work out what is wrong. I realigned the wheels and when that was done the top yoke was twisted to the left just like you hayabusa. I will dive to the garage tomorrow to perform the realignment that you did in your video. I will post an update once done Cheers Kam
We always used a spark plug socket head that will fit in the wheel bolt. Just turn it backwards n put a extension in the socket backwards n it works like a charm. But you have to have the big headed ones not the lil 5/8 ones. Hope this helps. Great video!!
Hi Neil, there is indeed a fancy pants tool, it's not expensive, but it is very fancy, it's called a laser wheel aligner and is nothing more than a gadget to play with, alignment geometry is based in mathmetics, so all you need is a ruler and I think Noah used one of those to build the Ark! Take care, as ever, my friend, good luck, Del
Great video, i was panicking when I noticed my wheel out of alignment and this is exactly the fix i was hoping for. I love watching your videos thanks a million
hello! so glad i found this video, my steering is out a slight bit as is yours.. and i was worried id have to put it in the shop for a few days.. this is gonna dave me time and money... got a 2007 kawasaki ninja 500R. 20k+ miles.. runs like a dream.
if any one that is following Delboy's helpful advice and doesn't have a piece of sheet metal for front tire, Use a folded trash bag, heavy duty leaf bag is best, and your tire will turn like butter, thanks again Delboy, keep the advice coming, Your a Gentlemen and a shade tree mechanic scholar.
Top tip, like it!
Cheers mate, just remember don't over-tighten anything, they're hard steel bolts into soft alloy threads, just nip them up hand-tight and 'dot' the heads with Tippex or nail varnish to keep an eye on them for a day or two afterwards, good luck with it, Del
This just saved me $$$ ! I had no idea on how easy it is to re allign my forks . Had a fall due to oil spill on the road . Thanks mate ! All the way from Singapore !
Hi mate, glad to hear the video helped, that's what it's all about... !
Hey Del, since I purchased my 883 Iron, I've been very reserved to do anything but ride it. I emailed you about a video on installing a pigtail to the battery. Then, I thought to myself, "What would Del do?" I know, he would say, "Mate, time to get your hands dirty and go for it!" Today, I did just that, and installed my pigtail by myself! Your videos gave me the confidence to do my own work! For this, I thank you from the bottom of my heart! My offer still stands on a video. Thank you!
Oh man, this nearly decade-old video has saved me from possible replacing a perfectly good fork! Thanks so much Del! :)
Glad It could help mate! thanks for watching.
Ok mate, clever thinking, but I don't have a 24mm bolt and I will be welding the nut to a piece of bar as soon as I get to it, it's never 'tight' as the axle is held by the pinch bolts, but it will be yet another handy improvised tool for the box. Thanks for taking the time, it's a great suggestion, it always amazes me how much ingenuity we bikers have, take care & keep safe, Del
Hi Del, thanks for this tutorial. I came back to this after I low-sided my bike on black ice just before Xmas. This video tutorial is what has got my bike back in the road. Thanks once again for another lesson that has got my bike back on the road & thanks for keeping me riding. Patreonage worthy every penny 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Thanks buddy, am glad it can help you, this is a simple little trick aye?? And not difficult to do, even a decent pot hole will through your fork alignment out... really glad you enjoy the videos and thanks so much for you constant support, we are what we are cos of you, our Patrons!
After being involved in an accident with my 04 hornet. Found my handlebars weren't inline when riding straight. With some help from my dad holding the rear grab rail, and me jumping up and down on the bike, got everything straight and back to normal.
Have watched a lot of your videos and have been very helpful.
Thanks delboys garage!
Nice one mate, thats excellent news, we love to hear that the videos have been of use... good on you... and ride safe aye.. Del.
This method is proven over many decades (probably as long as telescopic forks existed) and used by many motorcycle mechanics.
Good video.
+Ob Fuscated Thanks buddy, learned it when i was 16, so yeah.. decades...lol
its just who did not know this method by the way i bought my first motorcyle last 2016 thanks for the tutorial
WHENEVER I HAVE A JOB TO DO ON MY MOTORCYCLE,AND AM UNSURE,YOU ARE ALWAYS THE FIRST STOP,WELL EXPLAINED AND ALWAYS DOES THE JOB,MANY THANKS FOR THE TIME AND EFFORT YOU PUT INTO VIDEOS VERY MUCH APPRECIATED,KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK SIR AND RIDE SAFE
Thanks for making this video, been having issues with my fz6 not 'riding straight' since I got the bike, throwing my right hand corners and most importantly my braking completely off. I'd just about had it till someone mentioned the front forks, they looked straight by eye, but I thought I'd give it a go following your video.. feels like a brand new bike.. actually turns and brakes as it should, found joy in riding once again.
Cheers buddy, glad it helped you, this is a good little maintenance tip to do once a year, today's rotten roads, pot holes, and bumping kerbs can throw your forks out dead easy!
Hi Mate....thanks a lot for this tutorial....I was on the verge of selling my ride which had this problem since I tried everything but wasn't able to rectify the issue.....your vedio was god sent .....asked a friendly mechanic to help me out and voila it worked like magic ....thanks again friend you are doing a great job stay blessed
+Ajay Dalal Thanks Ajay, glad it worked for you sir, and sometimes its juysr a simple fix that can make all the difference.. ride safe.. Del.
Using the nut for an Allen key to loosen the axle is really clever.
Simple ideas aye mate!
I bought a nut and bolt that was same. ran nut on all the way and the cut off the excess. Then no fidgeting trying to get the nut to be half and half
Throw in a thick spacer with a smaller diameter or 2 in front of the nut it will prevent the nut from sinking all the way into the allen wrench slot
Only thing I had was the end of a tap, stuck in a chainsaw type wrench with a screwdriver in the holes to hold it.
If you jam some T.P. in there before the nut it'll keep the nut from falling in too...
My bike was in a local shop for three weeks and they couldn't figure out (or didn't bother to) how to get my alignment right again. This did the trick. I wish I had consulted trusty old TH-cam before going to a "professional" first. Thanks for the help!
Hi mate, glad you got it sorted out and the bike is now right for you. i have also found that many garages cant seem to get this simple adjustment right....like you say, maybe they just cant be bothered...lol
Thanks for taking the time to make these videos. This was a job that concerned me and I have left the job for about a year and then followed your instructions and fixed it in less than an hour.
Thanks and keep up the great work.
I do a lot of services on my bikes and I can tell you got very good hands, how you show all little things that important, very good touch and feel when you hold a tool.
You're videos give me a lot of tips how to improve and do stuff easier.
Keep it up, and many thanks to you.
I appreciate that Alex, thank you for your feedback mate!
Perfect advice, will do in the morning :)
Another handy tip - when using a nut as a large hex bit, screw it tightly onto a bolt. The nut never lines up perfectly with the bolt head and prevents you pushing the nut in with the socket. You can always pop a weld on it to make a useful tool for future use - also stops the nut coming undone if the thing you are loosening was done up strongman style - I can't be the only one to loosen and re-tighten everything I've had done by someone else!
Good luck with the job mate! Hope it all works out !
Cheers Delboy. Just dropped my v strom in a field camping in Germany. Test rode it and my forks are misaligned. Managed to twist the front wheel and handlebars back so it’s ok to ride home. At least I know how to do a proper job when I get back now. Great vids mate
Thanks Anthony, coming from a paid mechanic that is praise indeed, appreciate you watching! Del
Cheers Delboy! I was not looking forward to crawling around the bike after the front end was put out. It was parked up and managed to get hit by a fence panel blowing around in a storm!!! (knocked the bike over) Anyway, after watching yet another one of your excellent videos i took my time,followed your advice and now the front end is spot on. THANK YOU.
sid snot Nice one Sid.. and what a cool story for the pub..."Got hit by a flying fence panel"..lol
STUPID EASY. I did this on my 1981 Honda CM400C in 5 min. it was really jacked up so I had to kick the wheel to break it free, but after that, push push push push and boom... straight as an arrow. Thank you so much!
I DONT CARE Glad it worked for you buddy, simple little trick, old as the hills aye?!
Thanks Robert, it's nice to know you're out there watching. It's videos like this that the Discovery team want the most so just paying the bills, mate (well not actually because they don't pay anything but fulfilling the obligation all the same!), take care and keep it real, Del (hi from Penny P too!)
Perfect! I was so worried my forks were bent. I followed here instructions and they're totally straight!
Laid my ladie'a cbr600rr down, forks were misaligned. I was one moment from taking over to my mechanic to get them fixed but decided to see what Google had to say on this. Uber happy that I found your video, worked out perfectly for me. Thank you and cheers from California!
Thanks Ezzy...thats great news, and you saved the money at the garage...top class buddy... thanks for getting in touch.. ride safe, all the best.. Del.
For people with a wonky sense of level,straight and angles there is a trick you can use called "Boning" (no not that sort) It's a joiners method of checking parallel.You need two straight pieces of wood, metal bar or similar. With two people get one person to hold a straight edge across the lower end of the forks (the lower the better). Now take the second straight edge and place it at the top of the forks, Across the handlebars or some other place you can check it is not angled. Now stand on the pegs and lean forward and look out at both ends of both straight edges if they line up at the tips the forks are true. If the ends are looking a bit like a very flattened x in comparison to each other then the forks are out and the flattened x will show you which way they are out. If the left bottom tip of the straight edge is in front of the top left tip then your bars need to turn to the right while the wheel stays straight ahead. If it's the other way (bottom right tip is in front of top right tip and the other end the bottom tip is behind the top right tip) then the bars need to turn left while the wheel stays straight ahead. It sounds complicated but print this off and practice with your bike to find the best place to put the straight edges (through the front wheel spokes or above but the further apart the better) then you will get it fairly quickly. Ride Safe and keep it shiny side up.
+Jeremy Markham that's simple and good bro,thanks for sharing
Jeremy Markham awesome thanks for info
This actually helped clear some paranoia doing it alone. Thx ^_^
hi mate, well done for getting it sorted out, they need a tweek every year or so, pot hols and bumps can knock them out of alignment with no trouble... ride safe. Del.
This man know his stuff and again.. Thank you for posting I’ve learned a lot
Hey Delboy, just want to say a big thank you, this video saved me so much money and hassle, I have a moped and honestly thought my frame was bent following a small crash (not my fault), I googled and this video came up. I tried what you said in the video and hell, the difference, my bike is back to perfect ride again. Thank you so so much. You are a lifesaver.
Rich
United kingdom.
Hi Rich.. good to hear from you matey, and glad the video could help you out.. the forks are only gripped by the yokes using friction, so they can be easily knocked out of alignment.. even a bad pot hole or bumping up curbs can cause the, to be knocked out a bit... just do this any tome it happens again... and it'll usually be fine.. Hope you weren't hurt in the "small crash".. ride safe mate.. Del.
That's great news buddy,....and exactly why we load them... well done getting to it yourself.... Del.
hit a big pot hole the other day and managed to up right the bike mid corner..but it knocked the forks out a fair bit!!..your vid Just brill... so easy to do.. I had no idea it was that easy to do. Sod the garage from now on.. thanks again & ride safe.
This is pay per view stuff man !!
Thank you so much for the relentless priceless information !!
keep up the good work !
I took a hard spill off road on my Africa Twin yesterday, enough to bend the bars and twist a riser in its mount. Luckily, I was able to limp to a Honda deal 35 miles away where they put on a bar that'll work temporarily and the riser corrected itself on the installation. Driving home, though, I saw the bars still didn't seem square with the wheel (they should've checked that, I think). I came across your well-taught video today and did the process just as you describe. Problem solved.
You have a great teaching style and nothing was left unsaid that needed said. Thanks for this.
try taking two nuts and lock them together on a bolt now you have a axle tool! thanks good video
Awesome. Just got a new motorcycle that was out of alignment, followed your directions and now they're straight. Thanks again...
Good stuff buddy, glad we could help !
excellent tutorial - thanks! You have real skill at teaching.
+CyberPsyLen Thanks, glad you enjoy !
Just followed this procedure on my ZX6R Del and we're running perfectly straight and true, if i ever bump into you one day i'll make damn sure i buy you a pint mate, thanks a million! Jack
Who is watching this useful video in 2024?
Me 😂
Excellent tutorial on how to straighten up the front end, I used to struggle with this and I am going back to the 60s, I now have a Honda DN01 shaft drive, which makes axle stands a little more difficult, so it is statues for my wife. Thanks.
Ha ha, "Statues", i like that...lol
It's like giving cpr to your bike, lovely method.
+Earth Inc. Thanks buddy, simple but effective aye?!
Moonfleet41 Indeed, sadly I found a bend in my fork, so i'll be replacing it, THEN I can use this trick lol.
@@Box545x39
Hey bf, glad u found the bend in ur fork, and l hope u kept it...
They/U can rebend them back to straight and hav a spare on the shelf. Ride safe.🛵🖖👍🌈🌏💜
They are chest compressions, not CPR.
Thanks Mate.. I've been looking for an informative video like this for a wk.. I dropped my bike and the forks moved.. Nothing to crazy but i was trying to figure out how to straighten it out.. this video made the most sense.. im gonna try it out so i dont have to take it to the shop and get charged an arm and a leg.. especially since i have those tools .. thanks again mate. ill keep you posted
How is possible to differentiate whether the forks have a bend or whether they are just twisted resulting in a mal-alignment?
Bend can be seen
Followed your instructions in this vid today on my Zephyr. And i also lowered the fork by pushing the tubes 12mm through the yokes. It worked surprisingly well. I also raised the back using the excenters in the swingarm. The bike steers *much* sharper now!
did you loosen that big silver bolt in the center of the handlebars?
Sure did Oscar, just forgot to mention it in the video....its important to back it off so the two clamps can move independently of each other and re-align.
@@Moonfleet41 when do you re tighten this?
@@elliotfricker4631 at 11:31 he says to tighten from top down.
This worked an absolute treat. I knew my forks weren't bent, just a bit twisted. I was trying to figure out how to mark and measure the fork legs, but I didn't need to because this cured them completely. Cheers.
Nice one buddy, there are cleverly designed by the factory to self
centre in the yokes, just need to loosen it all off and plunge them up
and down a bit - they will soon find centre again ! Thanks for taking
the time to let us know !
Best motorcycle maintenance channel in you tube👏👏👏thanks for making the maintenance so much easier when working on our bikes, greetings from Florida USA😎
Thank you most kindly sir, we're glad you enjoy the videos, it's an honour to be able to inspire you.. take care.. D&Px
Thanks so much for this "how to". I had a lay down the other day in the rain. Tire pointing straight, bars pointing right. With this information, I will be able to get it all back to normal. Thanks again.
Thats great Michael, glad we could help, hope it goes ok... Del.
P.S. hope you weren't hurt buddy..!
thx a bunch, will re-align my fork on sunday. i wouldn't even have noticed that it's off if it wasn't for your superb channel. keep it up mate, you are helping me (and obviously a whole lot of others, too) a lot. i will keep spreading the word about your channel.
Cheers mate, good luck with it! Set the back alignment first by measuring off the swing arm pivot for absolute accuracy... then do this to the front, if it's still tracing after that you could have deeper troubles - good luck, Del
Wow the most practical presentation ever . 70 year old ex Donnington GT champion in 1980.. You are the man .
My Suzuki 650Burgman I have just bought steered like a dog .. weaving along happily. The steering head bearings were almost dry.and there was quite a lot of preload . (not noticeable through the handlebars .) Yet to test ride it .still awaiting the refurbished wheels .
Hi Richard, how kind of you to make such generous comments Sir, and coming from a true veteran of the track too... you know how it is, these things aren't difficult, they just need laying out in basic terms without all the stuffy mechanic jargon... we all own bikes, we all like to keep them safe and working right, and we none of us have the money to pass them to the main dealer with their comedy hourly rates... not least for simple things like this anyway! Thank you most kindly for watching, and again, for your amazing comments, many thanks, ride safe, Del & Penny!
Hi CJ.. check them if they feel out...i have always been a fan of the old mantra "if the cart aint broke, dont fix it"..ride them next time and look down at the bars as you cruise in a flat straight line,, if they are a bit left or right, then do this adjustment....but if they are bang on, leave well along.. you can make work for yourself for no reason.... good going buddy... cheers, gel.
Hi Chris, if the paddock stand is the type with two brackets that cradle the swing arm spars, you can wrap a cloth under the swinger and protect it...then just lift on there....if its the bobbins type then you're out of luck as you need them to lift against.... the only other way is to ask another person to hold the bike on its wheels upright using the drab rail while standing behind....and make sure its on flat ground at the time....hope that helps chap...cheers Del.
Hi Delboy, this was _exactly_ the information I needed to re-align the front forks of my '99 5th Gen VFR800. I've been getting the VFR road-worthy again, just installed new tires, and noted while scuffing in the new tires the "triple tree" alignment was off a skosh (just as on your 'Busa). Also, your tips to gently loosen the front fork axle bolt, pinch bolts, brake caliper bolts and...the front fender fasteners were new info for me, but it makes perfect sense. Here in California, we have a term for this procedure called, _"dangling front end."_ (don't know if you guys use that term in Britain). I've done this on my other bikes years ago, but couldn't remember the exact protocol, so this was super-helpful. Oh, and BTW, you do a really _excellent_ job of presenting the rationale, steps, and, most importantly, the *context* of WHY the protocol is what it is very well, so I've just subbed. Good on 'ya, mate, and *many thanks* 🙏 Cheers from the SF Bay Area! 👍
Thank you so much Stephen for your kind words of support and encouragement, im glad the video was able to help you you, and really appreciate the sub too, Welcome aboard Sir... Take care and have a great week, and stay in touch.. Del.
@@Moonfleet41 Oh, I will definitely be staying in touch. Cheers, mate!
Cheers for this! I just followed your method. Lowsided my R6 trackbike yesterday and I was told "Yeah you got a bent fork mate". I followed your tips and I'm as sure as anything it was just turned in the yokes!
+GuzziHeroV50 Thats usually what it is mate, the fact that the yokes only hold with friction if designed to let the legs twist in thier holes and prevent damage.... USD forks dont bend unless you hit a wall hard..! Hope you've sorted it chap... all the best. Del.
I've been watching piles of your videos. Thank you so much for your tips and insight! As you have shared so many tips with us, I thought I would share back a bit. You used a 24mm nut for the axle. When doing that, you can either space it off with a few washers or "make a tool" with a 24mm bolt that is tightened on and cut to length. That will make your 2-hand job a 1-hander.
I must say, you really do teach me Things I already should know about! I've been riding bikes since -83 and I've never thought about fork alignment! Well, taking the fork apart for some Black paintjob and progressive springs will be finished off with some fork alignment, fur sure! Splendid! Thanks Del for sharing! ("Del" Means "share" or "part" in Scandinavia! Suitable name for you, indeed!)
HI Jon, Thanks amazing, i had no idea of the 'share' meaning....how spooky is that?..lol Thanks for your kind comments my friend, im glad the videos can help you, its just basic stuff we can all benefit from.. take care, have a great Christmas and ride safe in the new year... Del.
Hi Sam..ok, just looked at Penny's bike, At the back of the caliper there's a small pin that goes through both pads (the pin has a 'flat blade screw head' so fit a good quality screw driver in that pin head, back it right out and remove it, the pads will now slot out of the back of the caliper, if you back off the front bolt a bit it will give you some 'jiggle room' to help free them off, and if you lever the pistons back you'll be able to drop them out, let me know how you get on, Del.
THANK YOU! MY forks were misaligned after a parking lot spill, this had me perfectly back in alignment in less than 15 minutes.
You're welcome, glad it helped you.
I had doubts coming into this video. Then i saw it.... DUDE, YOU ARE FREAKING AMAZING! THANK YOU SO MUCH! You just solved a problem I had for a year!! I can't even thank you enough!! Amazing!
Ha ha, you are most welcome Aditya, we love it when a video can help someone.... good luck with it.. Del.
I went out earlier this evening and tried your procedure on my 2006 Kawasaki Vulcan 900 cruiser bike. The machine had been in a crash with the previous owner. The wheel was cocked to the left making me steer to the right a bit. It worked perfectly. Thanks my friend for posting this.
sporsterini You're most welcome buddy, im glad it worked for you... ride safe chap.. all the best... Del.
I want to thank you for making this video, I had changed the top clamp to lower the my hayabusa an inch and I hit a pothole and my alignment went out bad. After watching this video it's riding straight, thanks.
agnzalez1 Nice one buddy, glsd it helped you out... ride safe aye.. Del.
Ah yes, I did delete the other one because I composed it before watching the full video and when I went back and viewed it I realized you went a different direction than I anticipated. Thanks for putting out your videos ... they are great!
Hey Del,
Thanks for the step by step, bought a bike that had been dropped.
It got a head shake when u let the bars go, tried your/the realign method and it fixed it. Thanks for sharing and taking the time to so.
Simple stuff, but, if u don't know, u don't know. Cheers.
🛵🖖👍🌈🌏💜
Nice one mate, am glad it worked for you!
Thank you kindly sir, its a pleasure to have such nice comments..take care, Del
Hi Christian, sadly you wont get a good alignment if the bike is on the stand...but if you get it all released from the top down as shown, then sit on the bike and push it off the stand...do the lunge up and down thing....and have the spanner in your back pocket....hold the bike at exact balance point...get the spanner and reach down carefully to nip the bolts up tight on the bottom yoke....then back on the stand, and do up the rest.....easy..hope that helps..good luck, Del.
Some people half ass these do-it-yourself videos. But you've honestly got me sold. Great video, can tell your confident in what you're doing. Tried it today on my 08' zx6r (never even realize how out of alignment my forks were) worked like a charm. You've just got yourself a new subscriber! Look forward to watching more of these.
Magic, thanks for that. Very informative. I rebuild a crashed Gen 1 in 2004. It had bent forks so I replaced them and never did the alignment thing. Never had a problem but wish I'd seen this video prior, would have been able to check it easily. My local mechanic berated me for tightening the forks up to much for the same reason's you say. Delboy's Hayabusa is a world of knowledge - love it.
I really appreciate this video. I lowsided my CBR250R after my front tire took on a clump of mud at 10 mph in a slight corner and bent my handlebars out of alignment. This really helped. It took about an hour of me fiddling around before I got it aligned to my liking, but I later realize that I never loosened the top center bolt. I went back and loosened it and tightened it back up in case there was some tension that needed to be released after the adjustment had been done without loosening it. Thanks Del.
Soviet Tiger Nice mate, glad you got it sorted... next time, now watch out for those mud clumps lol! RSMF
Thanks, Moonfleet! Tumped my KLR 650 over on an East Texas log road and misaligned the forks. You've saved me a lot of money!
Thanks Tad...glad you could use the video, no need to pay garages for this kind of basic stuff...and sounds like you use your KLR like you're meant to... top stuff sir.. ride safe aye... Del.
Hi Jon,do the lunging action with everything lose except the 2 top yoke clamp bolts, once it's straight THEN you can do the centre nut and then bit by bit work your way south to the axle... don't forget the mudguard mount bolts as they play a part too and do up a quarter turn at a time alternating side to side until they are tight..bad luck on the low side and after such a drop don't forget to straighten up the bar clamps too if they are bolted through the yoke, take care Del
Hi mate, the re-alignment will be easily detected because your bars will sit twisted to one side as you ride along... so if they are straight it's not alignment - if you have a wobble over 70 it's more likely to be wheel balancing, maybe get them checked at your local tyre shop. But first have a look to see if a wheel weight has come off by seeing if there is a sticky patch where one is missing... hope that helps, good luck, Del
Thanks for this! I had a bit of an off on my Honda VFR, noticed that the forks were twisted when I was bringing it home from the shop.
Never thought the fix would be this easy!
Nice one Jackson, it truly is as easy as that mate! The fork legs are only gripped by the yokes with friction and actually allowing them to move this way in an impact prevents them getting bent... well done buddy, take care and ride safe, Del
Great video. Been riding 20 years and never done this myself. I'll be going into the garage tomorrow to sort the FZ1. Annoyingly, I bought one of those axle tools last week !
Never mind mate, its always better to have the proper tool if you can... good luck wit it... Del.
I nailed a deer back in November, didn't really notice anything at first because the weather kept me in until now. This video really helped a lot! Took me about an hour or so and she rides as good as new. Thanks!!
Good stuff Jerry, glad to hear it mate... and obviously glad you weren't hurt either.... ride safe buddy, all the best, Del
glad i found this video. i've only been riding for about 3 months so i was freaking out, thought i had really messed something up lol quick realignment and life is good
Yes you do mate, as this allows the two clamps to move independently of each other as that is essential for re-aligning the forks... good luck with it, Del
Thanks for the reply Del - I've already swapped out the handlebar riser bolts - one was bent. I'm going to work on the re-alignment tomorrow. Cheers. Jon
You are most welcome mate, im glad it worked for you, that's what its there for... ride safe in the crap weather... cheers. Del.
Hi mate, yes that's fine, this method will work on that just as well - the side of the fork that has a pinch bolt is just to lock the axle in place, just back it off and then loosen the axle too and carry on as normal... just remember to do it up again afterwards and keep everything safe! Good luck with it, Del
You really need the Bee Gees Staying Alive song when plunging the forks. Cheers for the how to's mate, I've a few jobs I want to do that involve the forks and this gives me confidence to sort any miss alignment issues that may crop up. RSM.
Thanks Ben, get stuck in, if you get stuck, just refer back to the video, you'll be surprised how easy it is... good luck, Del
Thanks for this. It's going to be handy later as I've rebuilt the front end of my TT600 and naturally it's all out of alignment.
I dunno about Del Boy but there's a great Vinnie Jones 'Stayin Alive' moment at 11 minutes in. First time I've ever seen anyone give a bike CPR.
Thanks for the vid, someone didn't clean up an oil spill in the middle of the road, so I ended up low siding my bike. My alignment is a bit off, but this video helped me understand how to set the forks back straight. Thanks.
Well done mate, goad it could help you, and hope you weren't hurt in the drop... good luck.. Del.
Moonfleet41
I found out that my right fork was a bit higher after the drop, so I had to loosen up the top tree to set the height back to OEM specs. After that, I did the same process in this video,which is to pump on the bars and tank to help settle the bottom forks.It took a while, I had to hold the wheel and tweak the bar with my hands, and pump the front end down again.However,the job is done and it worked out well....many thanks.
Awesome video. As a motorcycle mechanic myself you sir did everything correct and explained well. I subscribed. Keep the rubber side down!
A decade on and Del is still helping me work on by bike!
Most welcome mate, thanks for the support.
Yes thanks. I am going to use your front caliper rebuild video to rebuild my front calipers. Woul have cost me 200 dollars to do it at the local repair shop. Thanks again.
Great vid. When you use the nut and socket to loosen the front axle, try placing two nuts inside the socket. The second nut will usually stick out enough to fit in the axle.
Yeah, good tip, used that before!
This worked like a charm on my vstrom 1000 after I had a hard curb hit. It solved about 95% of the twist and I did the last 5% the old fashioned bicycle way. Dead straight now. Use what you got, center stand no paddock stand and patience. Thanks!
Glad it worked for you mate, feels good to get it back to normal I bet!
My fork tubes are different heights. I have a Honda VTX1800 2003. I removed the wheel to change the tire. Since it was my first time learning it took me many weeks to watch videos and acquire all the minimal hand tools to get the job done. Since the wheel was off the bike I decided to do a complete caliper cleaning thanks to all your wonderful videos. Two months later I'm finally ready to mount the wheel. Before sliding the wheel in place I test fitted the axle, sliding it thru the left fork first and when it bumped the right fork it was about 20mm higher than the hole. So the right fork was too low. Trying to add hand pressure to mate the two only allows about a 5mm gain. I figure I'm going to have to use a jack stand or similar to force the right fork up to align the axle hole. I'm scared to muscle it into place knowing uneven pressure is being exerted on my suspension. So tell me what is going on here?!?
Forgot to mention that when I initially removed the axle it was extremely difficult having to try and pull it out and at the same time twist it left/right. Since this is my first time experience to remove a wheel I did not know what normal was, so I assumed tolerances were tight and causing me the extra work. Now I know that it was the fork tube height differential that was causing this to happen. I tried to find videos addressing this issue, but all I can find is rebuilding the forks and lag or rider adjustment.
I found my answer on a VTX forum. Turns out one of the forks is a compression fork, the other a rebound fork. The ultimate answer is you have to compress the longer one to align the axle holes for the insertion.
www.vtxoa.com/forums/6-vtx-1800-tech-board/221409-front-forks-axle-holes-not-alignment.html?action=thread
Firstly mate, I am sorry to hear about your accident,it sounds very painful and upsetting... I hope you've made a good recovery & can put it behind you now -what possess these people to drive away at a time like that is beyond me!
Provided nothing is bent, then this method will work just fine in straightening up your bars, but if it's been down on it's side hard & as it's a lightweight bike I might respectfully suggest a trip along to your friendly MOT man just to check everything is straight!
Hi Pete, sure will mate, praying for a nice day as it's been persisting down all week (and even is right now!) but if it's a nice day we'll take the camera and film some highlights in a Delboy's Garage field episode ... it'll be just like your'e there! LOL take care, keep safe, Del
Great help in getting my bike sorted. Cheers
No problem 👍, glad it helped!
WOW . . . just WOW, ive been trying to sort mine out for bloody weeks, even took an angle grinder to my front tyre cause it was wearing unevenly!! I'll be following this video on friday afternoon!
Thanks for the video!! I would like to make a suggestion if I may. Instead of using a nut to loosen the axle nut, take a spark plug socket, find one that fits your bike, turn it around and put a 6" or so extension through the "mouth" and the attach your ratchet. It works great.
Hi Daniel....great trick.. somebody else suggested it a fare few lines down.....i love youtube... cheers buddy.... Del.
This is great knowledge. I have K4 GSXR 600 and I was very close to buying new forks and top and bottom yoke because I could not work out what is wrong. I realigned the wheels and when that was done the top yoke was twisted to the left just like you hayabusa.
I will dive to the garage tomorrow to perform the realignment that you did in your video.
I will post an update once done
Cheers
Kam
Good luck with it Kam, hope it works for you, let us know how you get on!
how did it go for you?
Thanks mate! I bought my 05 Hornet with missaligned forks. It took about half an hour to set it right after I watched your video!
Dóczy Gergely Thanks Doczy, im glad it helped you my friend..
You're most welcome Michael, it's a simple trick and I'm glad it worked for you mate...!
We always used a spark plug socket head that will fit in the wheel bolt. Just turn it backwards n put a extension in the socket backwards n it works like a charm. But you have to have the big headed ones not the lil 5/8 ones. Hope this helps. Great video!!
Great idea Dale.. thanks for the tip.
Hi Neil, there is indeed a fancy pants tool, it's not expensive, but it is very fancy, it's called a laser wheel aligner and is nothing more than a gadget to play with, alignment geometry is based in mathmetics, so all you need is a ruler and I think Noah used one of those to build the Ark! Take care, as ever, my friend, good luck, Del
Great video, i was panicking when I noticed my wheel out of alignment and this is exactly the fix i was hoping for. I love watching your videos thanks a million
Glad it helped
hello! so glad i found this video, my steering is out a slight bit as is yours.. and i was worried id have to put it in the shop for a few days.. this is gonna dave me time and money... got a 2007 kawasaki ninja 500R. 20k+ miles.. runs like a dream.
+Genkaku Sho-shyk You're welcome buddy, hope you get it sorted!
Thank you so much for the video. It got my bike back on the road. Now my wind therapy can continue.
Great news Justin, ride safe!