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Is This Safe ?

bccap

bccap

Forum Sage
Past Site Supporter
I recently did a fork seal replacement on my 83gs750e. Reassembling the bike I installed the fork brace, but left the fender off. I did this so I could use it for paint matching, and then to paint. I ended up with the right axle bushing sticking out a bit. [ It took me forever to figure out that the thickness of the fender was the reason why !] I over torqued the bushing nuts to about 26 lb.'s and the axle nut to 36 lb.'s. It seems to ride fine. I would like to take it out for a bit longer ride today, but am wondering if it is safe with no force on the lower forks, pulling them together. It seems to me that it should be alright,as I have read on other threads of riders going without a fork brace installed. So my question is. Is this safe ?
IMG_0751.jpg
 
How could the fender have anything to do with the axle spacing? Did you tighten down the nuts on the bottom of the fork before you tightened the axle nut?
 
The fender goes on the outside of the fork brace, which would expand the forks the thickness of the fender on each side. Trust me I went nuts on another thread trying to figure out why that bushing stuck out ! I read on other thread a discussion on riding without a fork brace, and nobody mentioned safety as a concern. I have the brace in. I just want to know if it is safe to ride with no force pulling the bottom of the forks inward.
 
Sorry but I do not believe the issue at the axle is related to the fender in any way. I think something is wrong with the wheel install.

I suggest you loosen the nuts holding the axle caps on at the bottom of the forks and then see if that helps the alignment.
 
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I would check the fork brace, your spacing or front fork alignment is off somewhere. It is definitely not from removing the fender.
 
I spent several frustrating days on another thread trying to figure this out. That wheel has been off so many times, I am pretty sure I am fast enough for a pit crew. When I finally looked for the one thing I did differently, it was to leave the fender off. The fork brace on my bike is a heavy steel bracket underneath the fender. 2 bolts on each side secure it to the forks. The way I see it, this dictates the distance the forks are apart. Now, add the fender, which bolts on between the fork brace and the fork on both sides. Does this not expand the fork the thickness of the fender on both sides ?
 
What dictates how far the forks are apart is the triple tree

Based on what you are trying, the fork brace would have to be pulling the fork tubes inward, creating a lot of friction

What others are saying is loosen the bottom cap bolts and pump the forks by getting on the bike, holding the front brake and pushing down.

If that's not working, pull the front wheel, fork springs and brace and start over. Check to see how easily the forks slide up and down separately and then install the brace and see if the movement is hampered

Maybe pull the brace and install a washer or two to mimic the fender thickness?
 
Problem solved ! I slackened off the fork brace, axle and fork nuts. I left the fork brace nuts so loose it just rattled in there. I then dealt with the axle and fork nuts. Lo and behold everything lined up perfectly. Torqued everything to spec, and went back up to the brace. Tightened those bolts, and instead of contracting the lower fork, it expanded to compensate for the lack of a fender.
 
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