Indybobm,
After doing it, I understand why your method is correct: after the axle bolt is installed & torqued, the right side wheel, brake disc, & fork relationship is fixed - so loosening the left pinch bolts, applying the brakes & jostling things allows the left side to comply with the already fixed right side.
Loosing the right pinch bolts & torquing them after pumping the forks as per the manual serves no purpose as the right side relationships are already fixed after the axle bolt is torqued.
Hope this makes sense.
Dan
Thanks DK, I have brought this up before and am glad that it worked for you.
My big concern is that if the Service Manual procedure is followed it can lead to clicking from the left front brake because the left fork has not been positioned correctly.
The procedure in Shop Talk has the same error and can lead new 97-03 Valk owners to do it 'wrong'.