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.