Different Length Forks

[mikeirion]

I recently replaced the fork seals due to a leak in the left one. (2000 IS with 35K on it) All seemed to go well, rebuilt them on the bench. Put them back on the bike with the tubes flush with the top of the triple tree and the RH one is 1/4" longer than the LH? Although not easy, I suppose I could compress the RH hand enough to get the axle holes to line up but it seems to me they should line up naturally as I did this to my 97 a few years ago and don't recall an issue like this. Did I maybe screw up the reassembly?

By the way, my name is Mike Irion in Michigan. I have had a rash of inquiries lately and would appear to be a new guy to this forum but I have actually been a member since 2004 (Member #26778 Iron Mike). I could not log in due to a 3 year absence and forgetting my password and I was having difficulty re-establishing my old account and getting desperate so I created a new one. I did not ride much for a couple seasons due to having an ankle replaced and now I am catching up on some maintenance and wishing I would have started  little sooner because it looks like summer is breaking here in Michigan, the bikes were thick this last weekend and mine are  both incapacitated.  

[hubcapsc]

There's some frob you can turn (is is #14?) that will get the forks to
line up for the axle...



-Mike

[Foozle]

Check out the following re: VTX fork reassembly and adjustment.  The video is a little fuzzy, but it illustrates aligning the tubes to smoothly (without binding) accommodate the axle.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfIzizdsHY4

Terry

[sandy]

Part #'s 14 and 15 have a lock nut on them. Before reassembly, make sure the thread measurements are the same. I set them both at 1/2" before installing the fork cap.

[mikeirion]

That was the fix, RH fork nut (19) and rod (15) tighten to a shoulder. The LH fork nut (20) and rod (14) are adjusted until the proper overall length are correct and then jammed together. It took about three trips back and forth between the bench and bike until I got the two fork axle holes to line up just right.......Thanks for the input, Mike

[Paladin528]

Yeah it took me about 10 adjustments to get it perfect so the axle would just slide through.  its a pain but whe its perfect the wheel is super easy to install.