Wonky forks.

[JKM]

I'm working on a 85sx. I've replaced the steering stem bearings, fork seals, boots, and front wheel bearings. I'm ready to put the new wheel on, but the forks are about 3/4" to wide and the axel is not parallel with the handelbars. I've had the forks out and back in a couple of times now with the same results. Has anyone ran into this before? I'm trying to figure out where I went wrong. Thanks.

[Shep1970]

If i'm understanding correctly what your describing, your forks are bent are they usable sure why not. You need to find out which fork or both are bent, un do the top clamps and rotate one or both until things line up at the bottom. only a slight bend is needed to throw the bottom off, its multiplied the longer the forks are. Hope this makes sense to you. I'm willing to bet at one time in the bikes life or more the front end got pushed back enough to bend both forks, when u removed them they werent put back the same position so now one or both are bent sideways.
the top of fork will rotate separately from lower fork
Hope this helps

[JKM]

Well, it turns out that the base of the steering stem is bent. I bought it off of eBay, and it was so clean that I didn't even check it. (Never again). Now it's not to say my forks are not bent, but I'll find out soon.

[Shep1970]

Wow, yup that'd do it too. I'm surprised the forks slid all the way through theres pretty tight tolerances when lining up the fork clamps.

[Footy]

I have had a lower triple clamp to be bent before. The best test is to put it on a glass table top.
If it wobbles side to side like a Walmart shopping cart then you know the clamp is bent.