Front wheel alignment - Kat 1000

[katanatom]

Hi guys, the Kat has finally reached the top of my to do list, so taking advantage of this fine weather I've swapped the forks in my 1000 for a spare set I rebuilt a few years ago.

I've had a mare getting the front wheel to sit centrally between the forks. Looking straight on from the front (so that what throttle/brake side of bike is actually the left side as I see it) it is clear that the wheel is sitting closer to the right side fork leg (to my left as I view)

It is clearest when looking at the disk rotors, they are not central in the brake calipers, they are approx 1-2mm to my left (bike r/h side). So much so that the rotor on one side is barely 0.5mm from the caliper mount.

I've done this job loads of times before and not had a problem, perhaps I just never looked as close before? Anyway, I've been through the loosening and tightening sequence several times today to see no change.

Forks move freely, no sticktion. Yoke stem has not been moved at all, I just replaced legs (complete) as the old ones were too pitted after several years of neglect.

Forks I rebuilt, whilst second hand, were checked for straightness before assembly.

All standard running gear.

Any advice gratefully received, thanks

[Pedda]

Assuming you're using a stock rim, do you have a wrong tach drive? Just a thought...

[katanatom]

It seemed to be all fine on the pitted forks that were fitted.
The only bits I changed were the two fork legs, everything else is as it was for... well, for ever!

Odd you mention the speedo drive though, because I was looking at earlier today, it did seem to sit further out from the wheel somehow... will double check that in the morning.

thanks

[bobster]

Have you got the 2 top hat bushes for the front axle fitted the correct way round?

[katanatom]

I hope so, I actually didn't remove the splindle at all, just loosened the nut, and dropped the wheel and spindle out after removing the clamps at the bottom of each fork leg.

So all spacers are exactly as they have been for the last 20 years or so that I have owned the bike.

'tis very odd indeed. Luckily got a couple of weeks off, I'll enjoy the sun today and save fixing the bike til later... it'll be ready to use when it rains in June->September

[sparki]

take a pic and let us see what's what... thousand words and all that

[katanatom]

Good plan. I'll pop down to the bike shed later this afternoon.

[katanatom]

OK, whacked a few pictures up at http://tinyurl.com/clxx5y3" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; - goes to my photobucket account.

All taken from the front of the bike, with me facing down the length of the bike.

Things I note as odd;

axle nut and washer more than 1mm from r/h fork leg, though tightened to correct torque on axle.

bottom clamp of l/h fork leg appears to be slightly out of line such that the spacer only locates against the slider... do I have a bent stud at the bottom of that fork leg?

r/h disk is perilously close to the caliper mount, while the l/h disk is not too far out of alignment with it's caliper.

As I said above, the forks seem to operate fine with no stiction which might have suggested alignment issues.

Again, thanks for help and advice on this.

[Katgeezer]

To me it looks like your speedo drive isn't seated properly mate.

[katanatom]

I must have slackened the axle nut just enough to allow it to pop out.

Cheers, I'll do it all again in the morning.

I'd forgotten how much fun meddling with mechanicals was!