Odd steering problem UPDATED 2/9/10 with new pics

[jeremy_nash]

if you just replace the upper tube, then you should replace the seals while you have it apart.  if going with a whole donor leg, then just put it on and roll with it! 


oh and you have a PM

[sledge]

Pull the forks apart and roll the tube on a sheet of glass, any distortion will be obvious. Do the same with the other one and dont assume it will be servicable. Do the same thing with the axlebolt. Check all the clamps for hairline cracking, they usualy go at the thinest point.

[TheTussin]

Hey guys, Jeremy Nash was nice enough to sell me a fork, I spent this evening installing it by myself. Went pretty well. For some reason it didn't get as straight as I wanted it to, but I'm satisfied calling it "fixed."
Now just sprocket, chain, tires, new brake pads, and bleed brakes (the fluid is black I kid you not) to go before riding season! Obviously I'll probably do all of these things at once.

Here are some pics of the finished work, and one of the bent fork.



-V-HERE IS THE "BEFORE" FOR COMPARISON-V-

And here is the old fork. Hopefully you can see the bend


Sorry for the poor quality. I uploaded them wrong.

[the mole]

Did you have any trouble getting the fork into the triple clamps? Mine had an almost identical bend to yours, and the lower triple was very slightly twisted, making it tricky to get the leg in.
I used the old fork leg and put it through just the lower clamp, then pulled on it by hand and straightened it. Everything is now perfectly lined up. I wouldn't recommend doing this unless the twist in the triple is very slight, otherwise buy another triple.

[TheTussin]

It was stiff going through the lower, but it went in just fine I suppose. Lined up with the top perfectly. Odd thing, my fender still seems to sit just a bit unlevel (as noted by using a level to check it, and by eyeball) but it seems fine.