Bicycle Mechanics - Misaligned fork

so i'm building up this donated bike and i now realize that the fork arms are about 3-5mm misaligned. i can see it when i hold it up. the bike doesn't look crashed and the forks themselves are fine. mounting a wheel further demonstrates the problem, as the wheel is off center, but not so bad that it rubs against the right fork arm (it IS close though.)

can i realign them myself (i know it wouldn't be perfect, but at least to even them out a bit), is this something for my lbs, or should i get a whole new fork (i.e. a straight blade chrome fork for $55 or thereabouts)

thanks for any advice.

I would check with the LBS to see if they have any old forks in the basement, most have a ton they are happy to get rid of for a few bucks. I always think aligning a fork is a bit sketchy, especially if you are not sure exactly where the bend is... sometimes it can be from a steerer tube seperating or pulling from the crown. Heck we have a TON of forks in our basement that we usually sell for $20 or less.

Got a sweet (not a ding, nick or scratch) 2 year old chromoly fork (700c) off a Raleigh R500 (cream white color). Make me an offer at capwater@yahoo.com.

If your LBS has the tools they can definately correct the alignment if it isn't too much. I've watched my local guru do it many times... In fact it is part of the ritual of building up fixies from older steel frames. He also checks the frame alignment of the rear stays and adjusts as needed.

I would check with the LBS to see if they have any old forks in the basement, most have a ton they are happy to get rid of for a few bucks.I always think aligning a fork is a bit sketchy, especially if you are not sure exactly where the bend is... sometimes it can be from a steerer tube seperating or pulling from the crown. Heck we have a TON of forks in our basement that we usually sell for $20 or less.

Why should a fork that has been sitting in a basement which is going for cheap would be any better in terms of alignment? Even new replacement forks often come misaligned. Get a reliable shop to align it.

the consensus seems to be that my lbs might be able to fix it. it's worth a shot, so i'm gonna take it in this weekend. thanks guys!

Why should a fork that has been sitting in a basement which is going for cheap would be any better in terms of alignment? Even new replacement forks often come misaligned. Get a reliable shop to align it.

What are you talking about? The only forks that I've ever put on a bike that were misaligned are defective and get warrantied. New forks aren't supposed to be misaligned. :rolleyes:

What are you talking about? The only forks that I've ever put on a bike that were misaligned are defective and get warrantied. New forks aren't supposed to be misaligned. :rolleyes:

Of course new forks are not SUPPOSED to be misaligned... except in bizarro world. maybe if you're getting some fancy CF or aluminum fork they're always dead on, i'm talking about a $20-$60 retail hi-ten or chromoly fork that seems appropriate for the bike logicprob is talking about. next time you get a couple from J&B put them in the jig and prove me wrong. And i still stand by the point that if a shop is selling a used fork for spare change it isn't either straight or you're wasting space storing them.

anyway, logicproblem, to further my other more important point, somebody came into with a fork pushed back and to the side. jacked it, pulled it, put in the jig, straighten the rest of the way by hand. came out very nicely.