Front Fork Wheel Alignment

[KaptinAmerika]

That's exactly why.
Load up the front end, everything gets aligned, torque from right to left working your way up from the bottom. I have been doing it this way for years and, barring any frame issues e.t.c., it has worked flawlessly every time. Proper alignment reduces stress on all major drivetrain components, increases gas mileage and extends tire life.
Mittens used a wall but I highly recommend a 90 degree corner for safety and better results. I am in the process of building a simple front end alignment stand that will allow me to setup the bike without the use of the motor or a helper.

 

[Sven]

If I'm not mistaken, I do no vision a fork moving in the static once a wheel begins to bend or flex a fork leg.

1. The twist is the one fork walking up the OD of the axle, or depends on which side went down and caused the twist to move up or down on the fork axle once taking the twist out.

2. The sleeves are under tension, correct? So the one sleeve is pressing against the static fork. The other sleeve is moving in the opposite direction is how I vision the twist from static.

3. I see the sleeve dragging on that one side to a polished finish. It no longer is round but oval. So that gaps the other side of the fork seal for leaks down the road, if not new sleeves to take the oval out> the twist caused. Make sense?

Signed,
NOLTT (no one listens to turtle)

 

[Jwooky]

That's exactly why.
Load up the front end, everything gets aligned, torque from right to left working your way up from the bottom. I have been doing it this way for years and, barring any frame issues e.t.c., it has worked flawlessly every time. Proper alignment reduces stress on all major drivetrain components, increases gas mileage and extends tire life.
Mittens used a wall but I highly recommend a 90 degree corner for safety and better results. I am in the process of building a simple front end alignment stand that will allow me to setup the bike without the use of the motor or a helper.

Not quite sure I follow.

How do the manufactures do it?

 

[KaptinAmerika]

Sorry folks, I'm not here for motorcycle university. I can only tell you how I do it and that, for me, it works. And I'm not sure what you're getting at Sven but I have not had fork tubes wear smooth on one side from doing it this way.
As far as the manufacturers I do not know how they do it. I don't think you will find much in the BD service manual about proper front end alignment. The older manuals had some info about train and belt alignment as well as some info about front and rear tire alignment.

 

[Sven]

And I'm not sure what you're getting at Sven but I have not had fork tubes wear smooth on one side from doing it this way.

Ever take a fork spring out and slide the tube up and down in the leg? It floats but is tight at the same time, right? If we install the spring, that is just vertical pressure and not necessarily a thrust on the sliding factor, correct?

So if I take and cause a twist at the wheel, do you agree there is a side thrust as you place the wheel against a wall/90° corner, sidewalk, yes or no?

Ask yourself if you can decipher a static drop and a friction drop under load/twist at 3-points or no twist and do the forks drop or hang? Or say we compress the forks without the springs, use a scale to drag the fork legs back up to full extension.

Would there be more friction at a twist or at a static position; as if no bend at the crowns being out of square. Yes or no? It took the engine to drive up the leverage and you are going to say the sleeves are [still] at a static position? No drag as if no spring, we can slide the forks as if not bent and see/measure/feel the difference?

 

[KaptinAmerika]

I get what your saying but I can't really agree in this case.
If the bike is not lined up right then there is a possibility of introducing twist but that's on the person doing it and not in the procedure.
More than one wheel and I would agree with you definitely.

 

[Sven]

I get what your saying but I can't really agree in this case.

As long as you see what I'm saying, my case is closed. Your bike(s), your parts thrown down the road.

 

[mittens]

Well rode the bike after doing it this way, and tripple checking the rear.

Rode great so far, I had just a little bit of the bars not being strait but that was all in the rubber bushing on the risers. some twisting on them and its all good.

Will ride to work on the highway and see if my wobble is gone this week