misaligned "steering head"

Hi....

things are going "OK" with that KZ400/KZ440 combo forks for my KZ400 (had some bent inner tubes, using KZ440 tubes now)...

beyond that fact that the original inner tubes got bent (during a lay down WHO KNOWS WHEN), it appears as though there is some kind of misalignment between
either....

the top "plate" of the steering head
or
the bottom "plate"
or

both....

i'm doing my best to figure out exactly what the prob is (using plum lines and weights, etc...) but with the forsk installed, there is a slight "off-ness" (is that a word??!) when looking at the forks from the side...

one tweaks more towards the front then the other (though i did not measure the exact difference)...

assuming i can ID where the prob is....

can i try and "bend" the plate back into normal alignment???

?


thanks...

- prime

UPDATE..........

---

pics to come, but it is the
"steering base" that is "off"....

not by much, but the left "pipe hole"
is out of plum....

i've tried (with my feable) strength/hammer
to bang it back, but i am NOT making any
dents in this!

so....

what are the long term probs if i move forward
and use the steering base "as is"???

Post edited by: primemover, at: 2007/03/10 15:57

----

so....

what are the long term probs if i move forward
and use the steering base "as is"???

A very unsafe bike, with possible loss of control.
Terrible handling characteristics.
Possible unusual tire wear.
Driver fatigue.

Just replace the triple tree. They are available cheaply enough.

While you have it apart, check the fork tubes with a straight edge. If you took a hit hard enough to bend the tree, the forks may have damage also. It is possible that the previous owner replaced the forks after a 'event', but didn't realize the triple tree was bent.

Post edited by: FloridaBiker, at: 2007/03/11 08:12

hi...

thanks...

all of the things you mentioned (re: using the bent
tree) are things i KNEW.... just had to hear it from
another...

thanks...

please see my other post re: URGENT ADVICE