Can this fork be fixed?
 

Hello I have a steel Miyata six-ten fork that is bent. I started another thread hoping to get help on purchasing a new one (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...-my-Miyata-610) Several people suggested that I take some pictures and post here to see if the fork is salvageable. The pictures are below:

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=203533http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=203534http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=203535http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=203536

If the fork is repairable, what would the process be? Would it be best to take it to a framebuilder or would a welder have the skill to do the job? How much would something like this cost?

Thanks so much for your help.

Oh...and it's my birthday today too. :) So help a brotha out...:D

Fork blade replacement, either with a pre bent blade, or raked when complete.
work includes fork crown cleanup after the blades are removed..
at the melting temperature of brass metal.

Having a replica made of new material will be quicker.

don't compare costs of forks mass produced in low wage countries .

the overhead costs are gong to be higher in the USA for a one off.

http://www.bikeschool.com/resources/bike-industry-links

has a list of manufacturers of bikes and small shop framebuilders.

Eh, I'd see if it could be realigned first, but only if there aren't any gaps where the blades meet the crown, and no splits in the tubing.

There are no gaps and no splits. There are no local framebuilders where I live. Is this something an experienced metalworker could do? Or is it best to ship the fork somewhere? I am hoping to keet the cost under $130. Is that even realistic?

Just pretend it's a plastic pinarellol fork and call it good.

(The above not intended in any way to resemble actual advice.)



Your budget seems a bit low to me for repair or replacemnt with a custom fork.
Tawinanese offf the shelf stuff might be able hit your pricepooint.
You may also be able to get a workable solution from your LBS's junkpile depending on your relationship with them.

Keep in mind we're talking about a Miyata 610 here. What you're suggesting would quite likely cost more than the bike is worth.

SP
Bend, OR

as far as I'm concerned, it's toast.

having said that, you may be able to find someone to straighten it for you.

no way that was done in shipping, and I would check the top and down tubes for ripples

Upgrade, new fork at Nashbar is 100$-150$, or get the touring fork made of CroMo for 79$.

There's a good chance you can just pull the fork back out yourself. The cheapest way is to put it back into the bike (maybe with a headset you don't care about), install the wheel, sit down in front of the bike with your feet on the bottom bracket shell and the front of the rim in your hands, and pull like hell. I did that once on a race bike I ran into a parked truck during a criterium, and finished out the season on it. This was a chrome fork, BTW, so joint or blade failure would have been instantly obvious. A painted fork really ought to be stripped and closely inspected.

Potential downsides are numerous:

The fork might break while pulling on it.

The fork might break soon after, while you're riding it.

The fork might be misaligned or weakened, resulting in instabilities like speed wobble.

You might really **** up your lower back.

So officially, I'm suggesting you don't do it, because it might result in serious injury or death.

The most cost-effective solution would be to buy a replacement fork as similar to the original as possible.

then like JT above, says, just get a cheap touring fork .

Hit up Ebay for older touring forks,you can usually find them pretty cheap.

Don't straighten out those blades and call it "fixed". That's a busted fork, and as others have suggested it's time to replace it.