ever so slightly bent fork- is it fixable?
10-08-05 | 04:56 PM
#1
Thread Starter
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Joined: Apr 2005
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ever so slightly bent fork- is it fixable?
I was involved in a minor accident awhile ago and while there were no major injuries, my fork is now ever so slightly bent inward, causing a very tight front wheelbase. The clearance is ridiculously tight now with only about 1mm between the tire and the downtube. I know track frames are supposed to have tight clearance, but it seems like if I were to go off a curb it would rub against the bottom of the frame. Is there any way to bend the fork back out slightly? can I take it somewhere to have it be fixed? i'd like to avoid having to buy a new track fork cause i know undrilled stuff can be expensive, plus i want to preserve my paintjob...(picky i know), but is there anything i can do?
10-08-05 | 05:00 PM
#2
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2005
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As much as I thought the idea was ******** I watched how the old wrenches at my shop "adjusted" bent forks. I thought it was damaging for sure but apparantly you can do it once if its minor and get away with it.
Turn the wheel around in the frame and run it into a wall. IT sounds blunt and harsh but it workes. IF its a cheap, old brazed fork you may wanna just buy a new one for $15 though. Save your teeth.
Turn the wheel around in the frame and run it into a wall. IT sounds blunt and harsh but it workes. IF its a cheap, old brazed fork you may wanna just buy a new one for $15 though. Save your teeth.
10-08-05 | 05:23 PM
#3
Iguana Subsystem
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 4,016
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From: san francisco
Originally Posted by onlythebest
I was involved in a minor accident awhile ago and while there were no major injuries, my fork is now ever so slightly bent inward, causing a very tight front wheelbase. The clearance is ridiculously tight now with only about 1mm between the tire and the downtube. I know track frames are supposed to have tight clearance, but it seems like if I were to go off a curb it would rub against the bottom of the frame. Is there any way to bend the fork back out slightly? can I take it somewhere to have it be fixed? i'd like to avoid having to buy a new track fork cause i know undrilled stuff can be expensive, plus i want to preserve my paintjob...(picky i know), but is there anything i can do?
a better option would be a framebuilder if there's one in your area.
10-08-05 | 05:26 PM
#4
likes avocadoes
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,125
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From: oakland, ca
Bikes: heh, like that info would fit here...
If you're going to do the 'run it into a wall' method, put a crap wheel in there first. You don't want to fix your fork by breaking a more expensive part (like a decent front wheel.) There are other methods, too, like putting the steerer in a vise, isolating the bent section with blocks, putting an 8-foot tube over it, and slowly yanking it back into position. Some damage from work-hardening will occur, but the jury's still out on how much. I've ridden many a bent-and-repaired fork at 200+lbs with no ill effects, and a friend races cyclocross on his bent and rebent crmo road fork.
10-08-05 | 05:28 PM
#5
likes avocadoes
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,125
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From: oakland, ca
Bikes: heh, like that info would fit here...
running it into a wall (and wrecking it in the first place, for that matter) is pretty tough on headsets, too. Maybe time for an overhaul or replacement. Having one cup even slightly out of alignment will greatly affect performance and durability.
