Top triple tree alignment

[DeanR]

I have an upper triple tree that is cocked a bit to the right. I'm thinking that loosening the axle nut, all pinch bolts, the top nut and the upper TT (leaving lower tight) will allow for some movement to get it pointing straight? I've had everything off the front, but haven't messed with the TT. This is on my crashed 99 that once again looks like a motorcycle, started right up after almost three years, and, goes down the road straight!!...That's when I noticed that while going straight, my bars were pointed a bit right.

 

[Mark]

I can't get my head around a bent triple tree; but, I can see bent handle bars after an accident.

 

[Byron]

Assuming that the forks are aligned just like the ST1300 you should be able to do this:

Loosen the fork tube pinch bolts on the lower triple tree.
Loosen the lower fork axle pinch bolts on the left side, the side with the large Allen opening.

Now find something or someone you can lock the front wheel into while turning the handlebars in the desired direction to straighten everything out.
Tighten the lower triple tree pinch bolts.
Bounce the front forks with the brake on to center the left fork tube and tighten the pinch bolts.

The top triple tree pinch bolts would allow the upper fork tube to rise in the tree which you don't want to happen. With them locked in place and lower tree loosened the upper and lower tree should align when you turn the bars. You are going to need something substantial to hold the front tire straight otherwise you'll never get the tree to rotate back into position. You don't need to loosen the upper tree nut because the bearings on the tree will allow the upper and lower trees to still move.

I hope this helps.

 

[DeanR]

Not bent Mark, just slightly rotated to the right.

Well Byron, I just went out and loosened the top TT stuff. Guess I'll tighten em back up and loosen the lower instead. And yes, I did notice the likely need of a helper to hold the wheel, or, perhaps find someplace to wedge it in place.

 

[Mark]

After reading Byron's post I figured out you were talking alignment not a 'bent' triple tree..
:

 

[DeanR]

Have not yet gotten that top TT lined up straight. I have the forks off at the moment. Does that create an opportunity to move it (rotate it) slightly?

Think I just answered my own question. Loosening the big top nut and just lining up the loose TT should solve it, I would think.

 

[ST1100Y]

Under the condition that the fork tubes are not bend, it should be sufficient to tighten the lower triple clamp first, then the upper, then insert wheel and axle. By this everything should align itself properly. Note that the front axle has a groove on the LHS end, which shall be flush with the outer edge of the fork bottom clamp; might require a stroke/knock with your palm to get it there. To check alignment of fork tubes we either look across them with one eye, or place a 'steel ruler' diagonally across the tubes and see if it 'wiggles'. If the tubes are parallel the steel bar will sit solid in any angle.

 

[jim'll break it]

I had the same problem with a blackbird(cbr1100xx).
turned out it was the lower one that had twisted, a little bit of heat and a steel bar and they straightened up fine

 

[DeanR]

I had the same problem with a blackbird(cbr1100xx).
turned out it was the lower one that had twisted, a little bit of heat and a steel bar and they straightened up fine

Could you elaborate a bit Jim? I just put the front end back together again, and the top (or maybe bottom?) is still just slightly cockeyed. Not sure exactly what to push on to get the triple trees to line up.

 

[dwalby]

Could you elaborate a bit Jim? I just put the front end back together again, and the top (or maybe bottom?) is still just slightly cockeyed. Not sure exactly what to push on to get the triple trees to line up.

Its been many years since I last had that apart, but IIRC the top triple clamp is 'floating' in terms of its alignment with the lower clamp portion. The lower clamp holds the forks from below, and the top triple plate simply fits over the tops of the forks and is secured by the top nut onto the stem coming from the lower triple clamp through the steering stem in the frame. The stem itself is held into the frame with another nut below the top plate, as you know since you've recently taken it all apart. If the forks are bent slightly, the top plate would simply rotate to accommodate the new orientation, it can't straighten them out.

Can't tell how much yours are tweaked by the 'slightly cockeyed' comment, but if its an obvious amount then it sounds like your forks may be slightly bent out of alignment, which will be difficult to re-align. You could try to loosen the top nut and top triple clamp bolts that hold the forks in place, put the front wheel against a wall, and push on the bars in the direction you need to adjust it. But the forks aren't that easy to bend, otherwise they'd always be getting bumped out of alignment from normal riding forces.

 

[John OoSTerhuis]

Fork tubes can be checked with a runout gage setup, or even a sheet of glass. The other possibility is the steering stem is tweaked.

My 2 cents.

John

 

[DeanR]

Just grabbed a picture of my view of the TT as it appears when I'm going straight down the road.

The forks are straight.

Seems the problem lies in that bottom Triple tree?

 

[Brant]

Hi Dean, not sure from the pic if things are pointed straight ahead in relationship to the instrument cluster, etc. Mine also looked to have the same issue(top tripple slightly cocked to right). Found it to be more of an illusion as my fairiing stay mount got tweaked some 3/8" to the left crashing on it 5yrs. back. Knowing that at the time, not seeing any paint 'stressed' place, and largely impossible to have a referance point to start from, left well enough alone. Plus figured any 'tweaking' done could very well cause tupperware mis-alignment goin' back together, since one usually has to 'argue' with things a bit lining up some of the upper fastener holes as it is. No adnormal tire wear is evident, nor does it veer off 'hands free'. Even tho hard at times, I just ignore looking at that location riding.......JAT.

 

[John OoSTerhuis]

Dean. Can't tell from the picture if the Fork Top Bridge is not lined up square with the Steering Stem (which has the lower fork tube clamps). Did I miss it - does the bike track straight and not pull to one side?

There are specialty shops that do this kind of work ("Computrac"?).

Good luck sorting this.

John