YT175, can the top clamp for the forks be straightened?

[bobotech]

The YT175 uses a different setup for the forks. Similar to the Big Red ATCs where it doesn't look like a standard front end that you see on a 250R or whatever.

Here is a picture:
http://i660.photobucket.com/albums/uu326/JGCYCLE5/j8042.jpg

Anyway, I'm buying a set of forks that the tubes appear to be perfectly straight however the top clamp thingy that holds the forks appears to be bent a bit.

Can that be straightened out? Do you heat and then bend or bend cold if you try to do it at home?

[harryredtrike]

where is the bend at?

[bobotech]

I forgot, I had a picture of the bent clamp thingy:

http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac245/bobo_snyder/YT175%20fork/IMG_5009.jpg

[harryredtrike]

the headlight clamp?

[harryredtrike]

here is a partslist pic of your forks,are you talking about where 40 is?

[bobotech]

Look how the tubes appear to be slanting to the right where the top of the clamp where the steering neck is is perfectly striaght up and down. Looks like it might be bent in 2 spots.

http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac245/bobo_snyder/YT175%20fork/IMG_5009-1.jpg

Look how the left side fork isn't parrarel to the top clamp thingy. Look at the yellow lines. I think it is bent where the green circles are.

[harryredtrike]

i dont think they look bent,especially there.maybe the fork tube

[bobotech]

Look again at another picture.

I drew 2 blue boxes where the yellow lines are.

http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac245/bobo_snyder/YT175%20fork/IMG_5009-2.jpg

If you look at the left blue box, you can really see how the fork appears slanted compared to the top clamp (what IS that called?). Look at the 2 left yellow lines compared to the left blue box.

[harryredtrike]

you are just going off the picture?is it on ebay or craigslist or something.or do you physically have it?if it is bent there sure heat and a bar put in the tube clamp will put it back.if it is off its only a couple of degrees

[0GravityMX]

too me it looks like the fork leg its self is bent

[MTS]

Pull the old Fork covers off and take a look.

[bobotech]

The guy I bought the stuff off of was honest and said that they looked bent and sent me that picture. He then said after he took the tubes out, the tubes were not bent at all, they were true so he thought that the top part was bent which is why he sent me the picture. He didn't charge me for the top clamp but is sending it to me anyway. I would like to fix it if I can instead of buying a new one.

[harryredtrike]

well if it is bent,do you have oxy acetylene torches? you'll need alot of heat for the clamps.should be fixable though.good luck

[bobotech]

Yeah, I have an oxy/acet set of torches at my disposal.

[Thorpe]

Wow... That much rust, were the parts in a fire? Ask Dirtcrasher... He is a very talented member from what I see here on the forum. He has the can fix it train of thought....

[muthey]

here's a thought for you what if the forks are supposed to bend in, then it would be the right fork in the picture that needs to be bent in, I would place the tire and everything between them to see if it would line up better with them toed in. otherwise heat to about 400- 500 deg. and let them cool off normally after adjusting never cool with water on anything casted like that is a great way to put cracks and super fatigue the the metal

[Vealmonkey]

Firstly, your yellow lines aren't very straight. And your worried about the tubes, where is the rest of the front end? The axle, the hub and brake assembly? What matters is if all the bits and pieces fit together properly. I wouldn't mess with a thing until you have all the parts and see how they fit together. It may or may not be messed up, but unless you have all the other parts to see how it all fits, you may do worse to than what it is now. Don't jump the gun until you have all the parts.