Straightening bent fork tubes

[Jasle]

Is there anyone out there that straightens slightly bent fork tubes?  We have 3 of them that have been bent.  It would be nice to get them straightened instead of buying new ones at $125 a pop.

They aren't bent severely but enough to stick compressed.

Thanks

Jason

 

[marcusgunby]

How did they get bent? what model are they from?

 

[Jasle]

They are from a 2002 King Cobra. Bent when going through some rollers and came up short trying to double them.

 

[marcusgunby]

Any time you bend something and strighten it, it becomes work hardened-i would think its safest to get them replaced.Iknow on some of the factory honda teams they ran some Mazzo 45mm conventional forks, they used to bend from hard landings, after a few weeks they turned them around to bend them back.Its not ideal and does run a risk.

 

[Jasle]

I just though someone mentioned that there was a service that straightened fork tubes a while back. Right now we have 3 pape weights. It would be nice to have them straightend if it was inexpensive enough. at least to have as a backup in case this ever happens again.
Nothing like trying to finish a race with compressed forks just to snag the points in the last race of the season when you only ahead by 8 points!

 

[Wakisashi]

Any decent machine shop should have the equipment to do it , finding one with a qualified machinist is a different story.

 

[RM_guy]

I've straightened them with a hydraulic press ay work. You need a big enough surface plate to make sure they are straight though. Be careful not to bend them the other way while trying to straighten them (experence talking here :eek:)

Marcus's comment about work hardening is valid but if they are only bent .25" or so you shouldn't have any problem.

 

[viking20]

In the bad old days Ive straightened several fork legs,but only on street bikes!I used a press at work,v-blocks,micro-meter,and extreme care!The fork legs these days on all bikes are a lot thinner,it must be easier to "dent" them.

 

[marcusgunby]

I was naughty today and straightened some handle bar mounts for a friend thats selling his bike-just goes to show i dont practice what i preach-i will seek absolution from DRN members.

 

[Jasle]

OK I guess. One of the guys I race with has a neighbor that is a metalurgist. He said he could straighten them. I let him give it a whirl. They are already screwed so he really can't make them worse.