Straightening fork stanchions

Anyone got a recommendation for someone capable of doing this in the
greater London area? Including a realistic assessment of the structural
integity of slightly bent stanchions, and safety of continued road use.

 

Not quite GLA
http://www.pittedforks.co.uk/fork-straightening.php

 

Any idea of what they charge for a straightening job? Their "Price List"
indicates £156 for a pre-stripped pair, but does not mention what kind
of work that includes.

I.e. it might be cheaper to buy a secondhand pair of forks.

 

Depends on the bike.

There;s noting wrong with straightening stanchions, but modern
wide-diameter units tend to be made of thin-wall tubing, to save weight,
and these often crease when bent so cannot be straightened.

What have you hit?

 

Please don't say it was the Duke !

 

These wouldn't be K100 forks would they?

If they are then I've got a full set of forks, RS lowers and RT yokes
plus handlebars with one blown fork seal that you can have for a
sensible offer if you want to collect from Bedford.

By sensible offer I mean about £30. I was discussing these with TOG
and he didn't think they were much in demand so I can't be arsed with
changing the fork seals and Ebaying them but if I can't get enough for
a curry and a couple of beers I'll keep them.

There wasn't any corrosion on them when I stripped them off the bike
because they'd had gaiters on them and they've been in our garage ever
since so they should still be in good condition but I can check at the
weekend if you're interested.

 

No, it is improving every day

 

Yes, the K100's. Yours seems a very sensible alternative to the services
of a Forque Boutique - I'm eager to hear more about yours. Collection
would / should not be a problem.

 

Nothing major - but after going down after having had to brake on
sand/gravel covered tarmac, unfortunately a nearby kerb.

I would assume the '87 K100 stanchions don't fall into the "modern"
bracket, considering the over-all weight of the contraption . . .

 

They're quite large diameter: 41mm, IIRC. Anyway, just inspect them. If
they're creased, they're (s)crap.

 

Cool.

Like I said, one leg has a shot oil seal but otherwise they work
perfectly. I only removed them because I was fitting leading link
forks when I added a chair to the K100 and they've sat in our garage
since then.

The bike's a 1984 8 valve K100RS but the yokes you'd be getting are RT
ones that came with the leading links.

If you want them then email me and collect on Saturday. Remove the
spam from the return address, add my first name and you'll have no
problems.

 

Jean would not be happy if it got bent, she still gives me a hard time
over the empty space in the garage.

 

3 bits of wood and a big hammer is all you need on old-fashioned stanchions.
Just don't try it before your bones are fully healed....

 

Hmmm . . . I certainly think I'd be able to alter the shape with a big
hammer, but whether they would end up straight or not, that's another
question.

 

We used to use some bits of dunnage and an f-off flypress.

Check by rolling on a sheet of plate glass and poking with a Rizla paper.

 

And a plan is in motion...

 

Talking of plans, are you back up north/back working now ?

Could do with escaping for a night on the lash ..

Paul.

 

I'm back in the wilderness but it's not really working, I'm sitting in
an office writing job spec sheets and risk assessments.

I'm back at the hospital next Monday and I'm hoping to get the next
session of knife work done pretty soon so you shouldn't have long to
wait before a beer session.

 

Did you see the announcement of land purchase at Sellafield. A FOAD
3something gigawatt Nuke. Happy days.
You just know they are going to struggle with the reality of it.

 

Is this the same mishap from a few months back or a new mishap?

Steve