aligning and securing front wheel.

robj

Member
Oct 31, 2000
71
0
Hi - I just wanted to check the correct tightening sequence when reassembling the forks (inverted) and front wheel. Do you leave the lower yoke loose when you tighten the wheel spindle? Or do you tighten up the fork legs first then fix the wheel? Thanks in advance.
 

John Curea

LIFETIME SPONSOR
Feb 29, 2000
177
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FORK INSTALLATION

The correct installation of the front forks is essential to proper suspension operation.

1. Put bike on a stand that will enable front tire to be off the ground.
2. Install forks in triple clamps, ensure that both forks are the same height in the triple clamps (refer to your owners manual for the correct dimension). Also make sure that the bleed screws are towards the front, this will make bleeding the air from your forks easier.
3. Tighten each bolt (in an alternating fashion) in the top clamps to 220 inlbs.
4. Tighten the lower clamp pinch bolts to 168 inlbs. (Over tightening of the lower pinch bolts may result in a mid-stroke harshness condition).
5. Install front wheel assembly (sometimes it helps to pry the brake pads apart a little with a screw driver before bringing the wheel into position).
6. BEFORE tightening any pinch bolts go ahead and fully tighten the axel nut. (If you cannot hold the axel to tighten the nut go ahead and tighten the right side pinch bolts just to hold the axel while you tighten the nut, MAKE sure you loosen the right side axel nut pinch bolts before you proceed any further).
7. Spin the front wheel and abruptly apply front brake, repeat this a few times.
8. Let off of the front brake and tighten the left side (caliper side) pinch bolts to manufacturer recommended torque rating.
9. Again, spin the front wheel and abruptly apply front brake, repeat a few times.
10. Tighten right side pinch bolt to recommended torque value.

This procedure will ensure that the front forks are parallel and that no binding will occur. Ride and Enjoy!!
:cool:
 

shockdoc

Member
May 3, 2001
327
0
KXVET is right on the money with his set-up procedure. The only thing I personally would do different is after the axle & L/S pinch bolts have been tightened fully I take a small straight blade screwdriver and wedge it in the gap between R/S pinch bolts. Since the hole on the fork leg is slightly smaller than the axle this will let the fork "float" on the axle and you can take and feel that the fork is not bound up. If you push & pull on the bottom of the leg it will find its position.

A lot of people hammer on the end of the axle to drive it in so this will burr the end. I always make sure axle is deburred and will slide through the holder smoothly before installing axle.


doc
 

John Curea

LIFETIME SPONSOR
Feb 29, 2000
177
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Doc
Good advise, to even go one step further I would add a small of grease to the axel to make sure it "floats".
I was thinking the other day to eliminate any other possibility of binding maybe we should loosen the the top stem nut, tighten the pinch bolts on the upper and lower triple clamps then re-tighten the stem nut to make sure the triple clamps are perfectly inline. Might sound like over kill, but I have crashed pretty hard before to cause the forks to get twisted, I bet it threw the clamps out of whack also.....
Vet
 

robj

Member
Oct 31, 2000
71
0
Thanks KXVet and Doc for some great advice. The correct procedure is now installed in my head along with some peace of mind.
 
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