Fork straightening methods for blade forks

[J-wagon]

I've also heard of folks straightening a fork by spinning it around and applying a ratchet strap between the BB and a dummy axle. Not as elegant, but it apparently gets the job done.

Ratchet strap method with 2" wide strap. My bent steerer tube truss fork before and after. Attached dummy front axle, rotate fork to face opposite direction, center the hook on dummy front axle, center other hook on chainstsy bridge (or fender bridge). My truss fork had headlight bracket and unable to fully rotate opposite orientation due to bracket hitting down tube and same with top tube for upside down mounting. With girl frame, mounted fork upside down, plenty of clearance for full opposite orientation First attempt, over corrected, ratchet torque is power! Second attempt, rotated fork to normal orientation and corrected the overcorrection. Seems straight enough for klunker rider build

Before:

After:

 

[Archie Sturmer]

We see that the ratchet method uses a pulling force, (versus the little brute’s pushing force); so connecting the straps to the opposite side (top vs. bottom) makes sense so that the frame is not also bent backwards, to a degree or extent, just as the forks were somehow bent back.

 

[parkrndl]

Hey, I just noticed that's my original video at the top of the thread! I used the same contraption today to straighten the fork on an X-53 I'm working on.

 

[Hastings]

Hey, I just noticed that's my original video at the top of the thread! I used the same contraption today to straighten the fork on an X-53 I'm working on.
View attachment 2142455

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Is that this bike? Great bike.

Fbm: nice complete ladies X-53 western flyer “make offer” kinda near Harrisburg PA just listed | Stuff on eBay, Craigslist, Facebook etc.

Looks like it will clean up nice. These are great bikes my wife rides her’s all the time! https://www.facebook.com/share/1EW7GHFEum/?mibextid=79PoIi

thecabe.com

 

[parkrndl]

Actually, yes, that's the one. I had no idea the ad made it here to the CABE. I contacted her on a Saturday and crossed my fingers that nobody would snap it up before I could get there Sunday.

 

[Hastings]

Actually, yes, that's the one. I had no idea the ad made it here to the CABE. I contacted her on a Saturday and crossed my fingers that nobody would snap it up before I could get there Sunday.

Congrats looks like that bike will clean right up. Great price too!

 

[SirMike1983]

When I straighten forks, I more or less follow Paul Brodie's advice - start with fixing a left/right shift in the fork, then front/back, and finish by working the ends with dropout/end sticks. Fixing the fork in three dimensions can be tricky. I sometimes will send them out for repair to a shop that does a lot of forks. You get better and faster at it the more you do it, and I don't do it enough to be really efficient at it. I've sent forks to Nate in Bellows Falls, VT and he's done a good job on those that I have sent to him.

I will say once I used the Park HTS-1 with a block and donor axle to straighten a fork that was bent straight back. It works a lot like the jack and wood blocks set up shown in an earlier post here. It works fairly well and you can get it pretty close to straight on. This all assumes the fork is bent straight back, and the blades are otherwise still equal. Once you start playing with it in three dimensions, then you want a fork jig and a more complete set up.