WTB: 929 or 954 lower triple

mdtoney · 12-13-2008, 2:08 AM

I'm working on a project bike and need a 929 or 954 lower triple. I don't even need the stem if it's damaged or not available, but I need the triple to be straight. I'm finally getting around to working on the project and I noticed the one I bought off ebay a while back is slightly bent

bladeracer · 12-13-2008, 5:39 AM

Why don't you straighten it?

mdtoney · 12-13-2008, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bladeracer

Why don't you straighten it?

To be honest, I've never done something like that, but if it's not too difficult (and won't damage or weaken the clamp) I'd much rather try that than buy another one.

Can you give me any pointers? I don't want to use one of the fork legs as a lever to try and bend the bent side back into shape, so how would I go about this?

Setting the clamp on a level surface shows that the right side (as you're sitting on the bike and looking down) is twisted back just a few mm. The left clamping area will sit flush all the way around and the rear of the right clamping area will be raised up a couple mm.

I'm open to any suggestions!
thanks,
Mike

bladeracer · 12-13-2008, 11:34 AM

Definately don't use the fork tubes.
You need some lengths of _strong_ steel tube that fits nice and tight in the clamp. They must be a tight fit and you must obviously tighten the clamps around the tubes.
Ideally you want to put it in a press but you can also do it on a concrete floor with a friend or two if you're careful. It takes a _lot_ of pressure to twist the clamp so be careful that everything is secured very well.
You need plenty of room as you need to twist it quite a long way past straight as it will come back.
Just do it a few mm at a time and keep checking it.
You want to clamp rings to be perpendicular to the axis of the stem both front to rear and side to side but don't put any load against the stem while straightening it.
Just work one side against the other.
I did a 1000RR lower clamp last year and they're remarkably strong.
Do not use heat - it's aluminium and will simply melt into a puddle with no warning at less than 600C.
Alternatively, if you don't need the stem anyway you could just cut a new clamp out of 6061 plate. It's a very simple triangle of the fork holes and the stem hole.