Straightening 81 ATC 200 Forks

[Popeye]

Bent my forks (hit a tree) and was wondering if I can just get somebody to straighten them or are they shot. If they can be straightened how do I find out the measurements to get the back right, or will the shop just have to eyeball it.

Thanks ya'll. I know I been blowing up the forum this today, but I went riding this weekend and had all sorts of problems.

[TecateDan]

There is a guy / company called forking by frank that still mkes forks for this I believe. Called him a couple of months ago for a set of tecate forks and he had them..
Forking by Frank. I think they can bend, cut straighten what ever. Not vouching for him but just realying some info


Category: Motorcycle Dealers [Edit]

945 Pitner Ave
Evanston, IL 60202

(847) 475-1003

[fabiodriven]

Anybody with a shop press can straighten them. It's really not all that difficult.

You might even be able to get creative with a floor jack or a come-along or something.

[pipeline triker]

if they are just bent backwards or forwards they are super easy to staighten in a press. If they are bent off to one side get a new set. I have not been able to get a set perfect that was bent off to the side. It should be able to be done but it is super hard to hold them upright in the press with out getting flat spots, or tipping. You need to make a spacer to go in place of the axle also if they are off to the side, before you can try staightening them.

[yaegerb]

Take them to your local machine shop or bike shop and ask them to straighten with a press and some V-blocks....pretty simple really.

[rdlsz24]

The solid forks are tough to straighten with a press since they are attached together unlike regular tube forks on the sport trikes. I had my dad try to straighten some a few years back and he ended up just squashing them so they are no longer round lol

Rob

[yaegerb]

The solid forks are tough to straighten with a press since they are attached together unlike regular tube forks on the sport trikes. I had my dad try to straighten some a few years back and he ended up just squashing them so they are no longer round lol

Rob

He squashed them using V-Blocks and heat? Didn't know that could happen.....

[TecateDan]

Or an F-350 and a floor jack. Jack up the truck and lower it down onto the fork, This is how fabio and I debeaded my tecate tires...lol


Anybody with a shop press can straighten them. It's really not all that difficult.

You might even be able to get creative with a floor jack or a come-along or something.

[fabiodriven]

^^^True, and also a very good point.^^^

[rdlsz24]

He squashed them using V-Blocks and heat? Didn't know that could happen.....

No he just went at them with the press. No v-blocks or heat involved. I think that may have been part of the problem :lol:

Rob

[dougspcs]

Should be a dozen of those old 200's sitting behind most of the members sheds Popeye..

Ask around..a set of original forks would be better than a straightened set.

[Popeye]

Thank ya'll for all the responses. Been outside working on the thing all day and hadn't checked back. Got the forks off and if you are standing in front of the bike looking at them the left side is bent in. Kinda weird because I hit the tree straight on. They may be pushed back a little bit too, because how I knew something was wrong (other than the eeeek sound when I hit the tree lol) was the fender was pushed up against my header pipe. My buddy has an extra set he's gonna let me run until I get my fixed or buy some new ones. He'll let me borrow his for life, but won't sell them because he is a hoarder lol. I probably will start looking around for some new ones- or keep his on until he forgets about them lol.

Thank ya'll for all the suggestions. I appreciate it.

[jb2wheels]

Fix your brakes, too ;)

[Popeye]

Haha! I messed them up putting new pads in. Got them in and now somethings up with the cable. It won't tighten the pads.

[fabiodriven]

Haha! I messed them up putting new pads in. Got them in and now somethings up with the cable. It won't tighten the pads.

You may need to move the location of the brake actuation arm on the shaft.

[ylwgtr]

turn them 180 degree's then you get the next crash for free!

[Popeye]

So I got my buddy's forks bolted on. Everything fits fine but the boomerang shaped plate on top that the handlebar perches bolt to. My buddy's forks didn't have one so I tried to use mine, but it has too sharp of an angle (more triangle shaped). I need one that has less of an angle (straighter across- not all the way straight, but straighter). We have no idea what these forks came off of, just that they seem to fit my bike fine except for the top plate. Also, the new ones say All Terrain Cycle on the front where mine said Honda. Buddy THINKS it they might be off a 185, but really doesn't know.

[Scootertrash]

Soooooooo How bad are the old ones bent? Can you post a pic of them with a straight edge against them to show how bad they are bent?

[Popeye]

It's hard for me to get pics. My wife is a professional photographer whose always busy and I don't have a camera (or a cell phone). I centered them on a plastic chair that has lines on the seat. Looking at them from the front- it looks like the left fork is pushed in less than 1/8th inch, but it is pushed back about 1/2 inch. I think this is in addition to both of them already being pushed back some. Today, I noticed a few scratches on the back of the fender and my buddy pointed out that the stopper on the frame had been grinded off (maybe that's how they tried to fix them). I've got way more room between my fender and frame with the new forks on than I did with the old ones before the crash. Just wish I knew what these were off of so I could find the top plate.