Fork Alignment Procedures

yamahlr · Jul 13, 2005

Spoke w/ Klaus @ Wilbers to get an appt. for him to do the install and setup (he's about 1 hour away from the house)of the rear shock and also described the binding I seem to get since the dealer put in the fork springs (putting the Superbrace back on makes it more noticible). Klaus indicated it was a sign of the fork tubes not being in alignment in the triple trees. Anyone have the steps to do the alignment procedure at home as I really do not want to take it back to the dealer again.

Thanks

Randy · Jul 14, 2005

does this help? https://www.motorcycle.com/mo/mcnuts/chassis.html

gryphon68 · Jul 14, 2005

The only way the fork tubes can be "out of alignment" in the triple trees is for one of the tube to be installed higher or lower than the other.

(We're assuming nothing is bent here, as in the case of accident damage)

On my race bikes I used a set of calipers with a depth gauge to measure each fork for height vs. the top of the upper triple clamp. One the FJR the handlebars may be in the way to easily accomplish this measurement.

Hope this helps.

yamahlr · Jul 14, 2005

I recalled a post somewhere that dealt w/ loosening the triple clamps bolts and jouncing the front suspension but can locate where I saw it.

gryphon68 · Jul 14, 2005

Yeah, that's another way to do it. Leave one side tight, and lossen the Upper and lower triples on the other side. LIGHTLY bounce the front end up and down.

Not sure how I feel about doing this on a bigger/heavier bike. You are basically letting the entire weight on the front end (plus you bouncing it) through the wheel, into the front axle and cantilevered in the front axle clamp on one side.

Would be excellent to recommend what ever the Yamaha service manual says, but I don't own one yet.