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front wheel wont f*$%ing fit!!

Posted: Fri Dec 28, 2012 4:26 pm
by Baz
Please help!

I have done the Rick O fork upgrade and everything has gone fine until putting the front wheel back in.
The forks are too close together for the wheel to slot in between them by about 5-10mm.
I have had the wheel out before for a tyre change and didnt have any problems then. I have done both forks individually so nothing has been crossed over and everything looks right. I have now spent about 20 mins trying to get the wheel in but it just wont go. any ideas before the hammer comes out?????

Re: front wheel wont f*$%ing fit!!

Posted: Fri Dec 28, 2012 4:29 pm
by NGneer
The front wheel spindle spacers are differnt sizes - have you got them the wrong way around, pushing the wheel of center and causing problems?

Re: front wheel wont f*$%ing fit!!

Posted: Fri Dec 28, 2012 4:32 pm
by Baz
nope. when I took the wheel out i put the spindle straight back through it to make sure I didnt have to remember later. (I know what my memory is like!!)

Re: front wheel wont f*$%ing fit!!

Posted: Fri Dec 28, 2012 4:42 pm
by Delboy
Are the forks in the right way round?
I believe they have L and R stamped on them.........also the calliper brackets pointing to the rear....

Re: front wheel wont f*$%ing fit!!

Posted: Fri Dec 28, 2012 4:47 pm
by Baz
Yep. I did the first one and refitted it before I took the second one off. Caliper brackets are to the rear.
The forks are so close together that when I try and slide the wheel in the discs touch the fork legs. I have just been back in the garage to have another look but cant see anything wrong?????

Re: front wheel wont f*$%ing fit!!

Posted: Fri Dec 28, 2012 4:52 pm
by hunter
Sounds like you may have a bent fork leg,Slacken top and bottom pinch bolts and turn leg in yokes,
If no change repeat with other leg.

Re: front wheel wont f*$%ing fit!!

Posted: Fri Dec 28, 2012 5:16 pm
by Baz
10 points to Hunter!
The wheel is now in!!
Bloody bent bike!

Re: front wheel wont f*$%ing fit!!

Posted: Fri Dec 28, 2012 5:48 pm
by Baz
How bad is it riding with bent forks?
When I look at the bike from the front, the fender/mudguard doesnt line up with the tyre so something is definately twisted. The bike feels fine to ride, but then I've only had it 4 months so not had a good summers day thrash on it.
I'm guessing replacing just the stanchions would sort it?
The subframe is also a bit twisted (I have a straight one to swap over) so the bike has definately been dropped at some point. That was not mentioned by the seller!! (Ebay, not on here).

Re: front wheel wont f*$%ing fit!!

Posted: Fri Dec 28, 2012 6:41 pm
by VFRkieran
Sounds like it has been end over end if the subframes bent aswell! Or maybe just been down the road twice, best way to tell how bad the forks are is to ride along at about 30 and slowly take both hands off the bar, the bike will probably pull to one side if they are bent badly.

If it was me id definatly replace the whole bent fork rather than just a part of it, you never know what could be hiding elsewhere!

Re: front wheel wont f*$%ing fit!!

Posted: Fri Dec 28, 2012 6:46 pm
by speedy231278
How bent? You need to take the forks apart again and check them against a flat surface. A small amount of bend can be corrected, although of course the manufacturer will tell you never to do this. If there's a lot of bend in it, then you'll have to replace the stanchion as the chroming will wrinkle. It doesn't sound all that promising if the front and back have been knocked out of line. I'd be seeing if anyone relatively local has a Motoliner anywhere so that the bike can be checked to make sure the frame is straight too.