The New And Improved Unofficial R65 Forum V2

Technical Discussion => BMW Technical Q&A, Primarily R65 => Topic started by: Landlubber on May 07, 2009, 11:18:22 PM

Title: Front Fork Alignment
Post by: Landlubber on May 07, 2009, 11:18:22 PM

Many of you may know these pages, I have just found them, but so important that I felt it would be worth showing again.

http://w6rec.com/duane/bmw/fork/title.html

It is not just "another" Duane article, it is by another author, but very well done so have a gander and enjoy.

Title: Re: Front Fork Alignment
Post by: Rob Valdez 79 R65 on May 09, 2009, 12:21:28 AM

Please note that the information in that article is directed to the larger framed airheads, as they did not have a "proper" upper triple clamp for the forks.  They had a flat steel plate.  As a result, the fork tubes could easily be out of alignment (or so I have read).
It should not be such an issue on the dual shock R65's.

From the looks of the microfiche, the mono-shock R65's did use this flat plate... :(

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/partgrp.do?model=0462&mospid=47892&hg=31&fg=10

Title: Re: Front Fork Alignment
Post by: montmil on May 09, 2009, 06:11:52 AM

Another item to check when you're shopping for a BMW.  Monte

Title: Re: Front Fork Alignment
Post by: Ed Miller on May 09, 2009, 09:39:50 PM

My forks were out of alignment when measured with the plate glass, i.e. it rocked.  Or something like that.  

You can't just try to cold bend the lower clamp with the board/strap set up described in that article, as the upper clamp would just twist it back out.  I ended up getting mine perfect, as far as I could tell, by loosening both upper and lower clamp bolts, using the 2 x 4 with a ratcheting strap to provide tension where I needed it, snugging the clamping bolts back up whilst under tension.  When I released the straps the forks stayed in alignment.  I haven't checked since then to see if they have gradually gone back out.