Steering all messed up after flipping forks and changing bearings

[Don 86 250sx]

My 86 250sx came with the forks on backwards, drum on the opposite side, not sure why, maybe to increase the wheelbase. Today, I put new wheel bearings on, and swapped the forks back to the way they should be. I torqued the axle to spec but left the fork tubes loose. The right fork was out to where the nut is on the axle-the top of the nut was flush with the fork. The pic in the manual shows the head of the axle nut sticking out enough so a socket will fit completely on it when everything is assembled, so that's how I did it, but had to really push it in to get it there. Then I torqued the 4 bolt rh side cap to axle, and the fork tubes per the manual. Now the front wheel looks crooked, and at idle speed it is wandering all over, won't steer straight.

What should I do?

It rode fine before messing with it. I recall that the axle nut was partially covered by the 4 bolt clamp when I began disassembling it.

The bearings weren't shot, I figured I would change them while swapping the forks over and checking the brakes. I also put a new wheel tire combo on. The 23 7 10 on a 5 inch wheel. The wheel spins true.

[hoosierlogger]

If it worked fine the other way, I would change it back until you figure it out.

[Bren_downe]

Your tubes may be bent slightly causing your your fork legs to be wider apart. Try losseneing your 4 bolt clamp and the pinch bolts on the upper and lower triples. Then try rotating your tubes.
Hope that makes sense.

[Don 86 250sx]

Yep, it makes sense-rotate them until the wheel end moves in tighter. Can the upper and lower tube of the fork be turned separate of each other without causing problems?

[Bren_downe]

Don't quote me, but yes I believe it won't cause any damage.

[UPNATM]

I had the same issue with my sx after pulling the forks for a full rebuild. The trike went down the road straight prior to me taking both forks completely apart, but upon putting the forks back in the triples after the rebuild the front wheel was way off, and crooked. One fork was to far forward, and after spinning both forks in different directions trying to make them line up, and not getting anywhere, this is what I ended up up doing. While all the bolts were loose, I took a ratchet strap and wrapped one end around the fork, and the other end i ran to the back of the frame by the swing arm. I was able to ratchet it enough to pull the fork back so it would then line up with the other side. Once lined up I tightened down all the bolts, released the strap, the fork stayed put, and I was good to go. I'm not sure if this will work in your case, but I thought I would throw it out there. The whole thing sounds goofy, I know, but it worked great.

[czac]

I had to loosen the bolts on the triple clamps then, with the tire on the floor, I got on the trike and grabbed the handle bars and looked down the front end at the tire, with the bars straight, the tire pointed to the right just a bit so I sort of, pushed down on the bars and turned them to the right, the tire was a bit better so I got off the trike and stood with the front wheel between my feet and tried to hold it while I turned the bars right, this time it worked. then I tightened the triples back up. they can torque left or right just a bit when mounting your front wheel if they aren't lined up perfectly. sometimes they just need a little pressure one way or the other.

[Don 86 250sx]

Thanks I will try that. I bought a used set of forks, they did the same thing. I loosened up the triple clamps and stem nut, lubed the bearings inside, and followed the manual as far as torque the lower triple clamps first, and it still did it, with both sets of forks! I see that the upper fork clamps don't have any reference, and they seem to move when torqueing down the top nut.