Steel Fork Alignment: Shop or Framebuilder?

[unterhausen]

My guess is that it's not misaligned in the sense that bending tubes would fix anything. But it probably makes sense to have that checked before taking a file to the dropout. Those old park fork alignment gauges are a crummy way to test alignment, they are usually misaligned themselves. I saw Brian Chapman took the measuring arm off of one and is using it as a fork clamp, which is probably the best use for them.

So I'm recommending finding a framebuilder that will check it.

[m_sasso]

Originally Posted by Doug Fattic

The most sensible approach is to take it to a steel frame builder that makes steel forks. They will have all the right tools and knowledge and experience to do the job right. Correct alignment involves 4 factors. The fork's dropouts need to be equaldistant from the steerer at exactly the right distance. For the greatest accuracy this requires the kind of fixture used in making a fork. I doubt 1 in a hundred local bike shops have one of these. Once the side to side is fixed then the next job is to work on the fore aft to get the exact same rake. The 3rd issue is to get the dropouts to be parallel to each other. This should not be done earlier in the checking sequence. The park fork alignment gauges are not accurate enough for me because there is some slop in the threads that determine their width. These are the ones a bike store is most likely to have. And finally after the other 3 factors are corrected, then a true wheel can be used to see if the fork blades are the same length. If they aren't this is where a round file can be used to bring the distant back to spec. I would not under any circumstances want someone not very familiar with using a file do this job. It is way too easy to get the slot too wide or too narrow or crooked.

Framebuilders develop a feel for how much force to use when straightening steel. Someone doing it for the 1st time can pull way too much and then have to bend it back. There is no way in this world I would let someone not experienced do this job. I suppose it depends on how valuable and/or important the frame is to you.

I am going to say it, there is a lot of incorrect, mis informed and some out right dangerious advise in this thread, listen to what Doug has taken the time to document for you and follow it if you value your bike and conceivably your physical health.

[mjf]

Originally Posted by Doug Fattic

The most sensible approach is to take it to a steel frame builder that makes steel forks. They will have all the right tools and knowledge and experience to do the job right. Correct alignment involves 4 factors. The fork's dropouts need to be equaldistant from the steerer at exactly the right distance. For the greatest accuracy this requires the kind of fixture used in making a fork. I doubt 1 in a hundred local bike shops have one of these. Once the side to side is fixed then the next job is to work on the fore aft to get the exact same rake. The 3rd issue is to get the dropouts to be parallel to each other. This should not be done earlier in the checking sequence. The park fork alignment gauges are not accurate enough for me because there is some slop in the threads that determine their width. These are the ones a bike store is most likely to have. And finally after the other 3 factors are corrected, then a true wheel can be used to see if the fork blades are the same length. If they aren't this is where a round file can be used to bring the distant back to spec. I would not under any circumstances want someone not very familiar with using a file do this job. It is way too easy to get the slot too wide or too narrow or crooked.

Framebuilders develop a feel for how much force to use when straightening steel. Someone doing it for the 1st time can pull way too much and then have to bend it back. There is no way in this world I would let someone not experienced do this job. I suppose it depends on how valuable and/or important the frame is to you.

Originally Posted by m_sasso

I am going to say it, there is a lot of incorrect, mis informed and some out right dangerious advise in this thread, listen to what Doug has taken the time to document for you and follow it if you value your bike and conceivably your physical health.

Second this, really solid advice from Doug.

In my experience, I've had a fork that was misaligned after I was hit by a car back in Boston. It ended up being relatively minor, but you could tell that the bike was no longer tracking straight.

Bryan at Royal H cycles in Boston area, straightened the fork very quickly in a jig/table. Cost $100, but it was worth having someone who is capable of building forks from scratch, tell and show me that everything was where it should be. The difference was immediately noticeable riding to/from the workshop.

Don't know much of the Bay area, but there seems to be plenty of recs for builders who can get you sorted.

[ceya]

If your in the SF area as the OP is so go to Mikkelsen in Alameda.