Bars "don't look right"

[ChuckyBoy]

Hi everyone,

I saw on a previuos post where Canyncarvr said, I'm going to paraphrase, "if the bars just don't look right, the busings probaly need to be reset".

Well, my bars don't look right and I was wondering how to reset the bushings.

Along the same lines, I'd like to upgrade to some pro tapers. Would y'all recommend going with new bar and triple clamps or just bolt on the oversize bar clamp adapters onto the existing triple clamp? The adapters would raise my bars about 3/4 of an inch right?

I'm a novice bike mechanic so please forgive if I didn't use the right terminology.

Thanks for your help,
Chuck

 

[Glitch]

First you have to figure out if your bars are bent or if your tripleclamps are out of wack. Just try looking at your bars, not seeing if they are straight with wheel, but see if they are straight with the bar clamps. If they look bent, just replace them. If they dont look bent, then line up the bars with wheel and see if they look out of wack. If they do, loosen the nut that holds the upper and lower triple clamps together. Then loosen the triple clamp bolts that hold the forks in place. Next, retighten the triple clamp bolts, then the nut that holds the upper and lower together. I think that this is a way to reset the tripleclamps.

 

[canyncarvr]

IF the bushings are tweaked, the bars will look bent when compared with the bar clamps.

If you don't have a single piece top clamp, the chances of the bushings being tweaked are excellent. Takes a few minutes to resolve that, then you won't have that (if it WAS an issue) to figure into what don't look right.

There are four bushings, two on each post that the handlebars mount to..that are attached to the top clamp. Remove the nut (there is a cotter pin in the bolt , or there SHOULD be!) on the bottom of each post and pull the handlebars up out of the top clamp. **Note** how the washers come off. You don't need to take off any levers or switches.

Take out the four bushings, put them back into different holes. Reassemble. Put the washers back on the same way they came off.

Seeing as the bars ARE bushed, they WILL move when you put them back on. If you crank the nuts down so tight that they DON'T move, you tightened them down too far. If you have a question regarding an actual torque figure, let me know. I'll look it up.

BTW...I happened on this post pretty much on accident. Wasn't ignoring it. Maybe you hoped I DIDN'T see it.......I tend to kinda run on........

Sorry 'bout that.

 

[ChuckyBoy]

Glitch...thanks for the input. Good information for a newbie like me.

CC...actually I WAS hoping you would see this post. If I recall correctly, you were the one that on a previous post, mentioned something about the bushings needing to be reset if the bars look tweaked.

Once I take the cotter pin out and unscrew the nuts that hold the bar mount posts to the triple clamp, will the bushings fall out or will I have to poke or prod them out?

I will check my repair manual for a torque figure.

Also, you never have to apologize about rambling on. I think it is a common feeling amongst the users of this forum that you have ALOT to contribute. Being the rookie bike mechanic that I am, I personally appreciate your two cents worth...even its actually more like 2 dollars worth!

Ramble on my friend!

Thanks again,
Chuck

 

[canyncarvr]

re: fall out or poke..

Probably poke. It's not a 'really stuck' thing. But they won't likely fall out, either.

My bushings had to be 'reset' (taken out and put back in) quite a number of times before I got a one piece top clamp. Since the clamp install, I haven't had to mess with 'em once.

Something to put on your christmas list!

I believe FRP has the clamp (fredette).


I'll send you a bill! ;)

You're certainly welcome.

Cheers!

 

[n8MX]

I had this same problem on my old CR. Often when I crashed the bars got tweaked... and it was just the rubber bushings moving around. I just had to loosen them, wiggle the bars around, and tighten them up... moving them around would probably be even better. I guess I'm not the only one who had that problem...

Andy