Front axle does not slide in (left and right different heights)

[Knights2theEnd]

Have the front wheel off. Inserting the front axle, left to right, into the forks on my 2000 Interstate without the wheel on. The center of the axle ends up 1/4-3/8 inch higher, off center, of the right fork hole. Please see picture below. Not sure how to post the picture without it being a link.

https://ibb.co/wZhVBQp7

[f6john]

Picture doesn’t load for me, but shooting from the hip, I would loosen up the upper fork tubes to align them up . Now if the problem is internal to the forks moving parts that’s a different story.


Picture finally loaded for me. I would measure the distance from the bottom of the fork tube to the point that the tube enters the upper fork tube and compare the difference. Possibly the left side hasn’t fully extended? I haven’t had to deal with having the front wheel off in years so others will have more detailed thoughts. Use spitballing to give you some ideas.

[sandy]

Did you rebuild the forks? When assembling the forks, it's important that the top nut on the internal shaft be measured and are the same. Realigning is just a matter of twisting the lower part of the fork. At this point, try to support the lower fork and lower the bike till it lines up. Be VERY careful not to tip the bike over. 

[Knights2theEnd]

Did you rebuild the forks? When assembling the forks, it's important that the top nut on the internal shaft be measured and are the same. Realigning is just a matter of twisting the lower part of the fork. At this point, try to support the lower fork and lower the bike till it lines up. Be VERY careful not to tip the bike over. 

I did not. This bike has been barely touched. Doesn't look like anyone has even touched the fork pinch bolts. Bike has 6k miles. Just bought it from the original owner recently. Owner did little to no maintenance. Been sitting for a very long time.

I can insert the axle by pushing on the fork and hammering it in but shouldn't the axle just slide right in? Or atleast the holes should be perfectly aligned?

Is it possible the internals are stuck from sitting so long? I rode the bike for about 200 miles since I bought it and there was a wobble from 25-45 mph but I assumed it was the 20yr old tires that had very large cracks.

How hard it is to pull the internals out of the fork to measure what you are referring to?

[Knights2theEnd]

Picture doesn’t load for me, but shooting from the hip, I would loosen up the upper fork tubes to align them up . Now if the problem is internal to the forks moving parts that’s a different story.


Picture finally loaded for me. I would measure the distance from the bottom of the fork tube to the point that the tube enters the upper fork tube and compare the difference. Possibly the left side hasn’t fully extended? I haven’t had to deal with having the front wheel off in years so others will have more detailed thoughts. Use spitballing to give you some ideas.

Yea I'll measure that and see if there is a difference. The left fork cap on the left side is 0.5mm higher than the right. But that doesn't explain the 1/4-3/8inch difference at the axle.

[Chrisj CMA]

That’s no big deal. If you didn’t try it without the wheel you wouldn’t have noticed. You would have just aligned things up and pushed the axle through. Just put it together

[Knights2theEnd]

Actually just noticed while reading the manual that the upper and lower pinch bolts are suppose to have caps on them. Mine do not so perhaps someone did do something with the forks. I'll have to take a closer look.

[Knights2theEnd]

Measured how far each fork slider was out. The right fork slider is 1/4 inch further out vs the left. This is difference I am seeing with the axle....

Now why is the right fork slider out further...

[Chrisj CMA]

Measured how far each fork slider was out. The right fork slider is 1/4 inch further out vs the left. This is difference I am seeing with the axle....

Now why is the right fork slider out further...

Each fork has a different job. So being perfectly the same isn’t as critical as you think. Technically you can go in and adjust the dampener rod but it’s not a necessity just align it and assemble it, all will be fine

[sandy]

Actually just noticed while reading the manual that the upper and lower pinch bolts are suppose to have caps on them. Mine do not so perhaps someone did do something with the forks. I'll have to take a closer look.

Any caps are an option. Stock forks have no decorative covers.

[sandy]

Nut #19 right fork and #20 left fork is the two nuts I was referring to. When these are installed and tightened, there should be the same measurement above the nuts. If you get that right, the axle will slide right in.

https://www.partzilla.com/catalog/honda/motorcycle/1998/gl1500c-a-valkyrie/front-fork

[Knights2theEnd]

Nut #19 right fork and #20 left fork is the two nuts I was referring to. When these are installed and tightened, there should be the same measurement above the nuts. If you get that right, the axle will slide right in.

https://www.partzilla.com/catalog/honda/motorcycle/1998/gl1500c-a-valkyrie/front-fork

The length of thread of the diampener rod above the right and left nut should be the same... that's good to know.