How to strengthen the triple clamp?
  • morrisonaj
    Posts: 1
    Joined: Sun Sep 23, 2018 8:14 am

    How to strengthen the triple clamp?

    by morrisonaj » Thu Sep 27, 2018 11:05 am

    Hi, my son is having an issue with the front wheel on his bike being off-centered. It is fixed by putting one leg on either side of the front wheel and twisting the handlebars to the offending side. I'm pretty dissappointed with the stiffness of the triple clamp (and that the steering can be so easily thrown out). Does anyone have any suggestions on how to strengthen things up to prevent this problem?

    Thanks.

    Andrew
    Barrie, Ontario, Canada
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    JimDirt
    Posts: 4406
    Joined: Sat Nov 25, 2006 6:31 pm

    Re: How to strengthen the triple clamp?

    by JimDirt » Thu Sep 27, 2018 3:20 pm

    Welcome to the site !! \:D/

    It is not that the Triple Clamps need "strengthening" it is that they need to be "reset" , you will notice 2 small screws on each clamp on each side , those hold the fork in place they are the "pinch bolts" , and when the bike has been tipped over hard (by a crash , etc.) the fork and clamp become misaligned , the solution to this is to loosen the "pinch bolts" and it should go back into place and then re-tighten the bolts and your good ....however , sometimes the upper and lower clamp get out of alignment of each other , which makes it difficult to get it to "spring back" into position , if that is the case then you need to go a little further

    Look under the top triple clamp and you will notice a nut/bolt sticking down directly under the bar clamp , it goes thru the top clamp , (one on each clamp) , loosen both nuts for the handlebar clamps ,once they are both loose , then wiggle the bars , and then snug the nuts down again (you will need to torque them later , but your bars should be centered and straight now , as long as the bar itself was not bent in a fall)

    Now on the top center of the top triple clamp you will see a nut in the center top towards the rear of the clamp , you need to loosen that , now loosen the top triple clamp pinch bolts (2 per side) , but leave the bottom ones as is , now check your alignment with the fender and front tire , it should be centered on the tire , if not , twist the tire as you had been doing by holding onto the bars and twisting , till the center of the front fender is now centered on the front tire , now snug down the 2 pinch bolts on each side (gently snug not real tight) and also the center nut on the top rear of the clamp

    Now Torque the bolts to spec (you did not mention if you have a manual on the bike) , and you should be good to go

    Unfortunately , i do not have access to the Torque Specs for that bike , but if you call your local Honda Dealer , they should be able to provide you with the specs over the phone , you want the Top Triple Clamp Center Bolt , the Bar Clamp hold down nut , and the Upper Clamp Fork Pinch Bolt torque specs , and that should solve your issue ..... ;)
    2020 CRF450R
    2006 CRF450X
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    Weiser , Idaho
  • Aussiecrf230
    Posts: 1964
    Joined: Fri Jan 06, 2006 11:11 pm

    Re: How to strengthen the triple clamp?

    by Aussiecrf230 » Thu Sep 27, 2018 7:49 pm

    I would probably even pull the front wheel and pull the axle to make sure everything is aligned. Once your happy with the forks make sure the axle screws in without binding.
    Don't think it is just a little bike thing it can happen on full size bikes and their clamps and forks are much bigger.

    The trouble is once one thing is a bit out you can chase your tail sorting it if you don't pick the offending bit straight off.
    Ray
    Australia

    CRF230F 2004
    C30F Power Up needle
    Mains 132
    Idle 45
    2 turns out
    Baffle out, Screens In

    It starts,it runs,it gets to where all CRFs can get to without the valve or valve plate dramas
  • Back2-2
    Posts: 1148
    Joined: Tue Jan 04, 2011 3:31 pm

    Re: How to strengthen the triple clamp?

    by Back2-2 » Fri Sep 28, 2018 12:36 pm

    Fork braces were an option back in my racing days with the Honda Elsinore bikes. Not sure they are still around or available but they did stop the fork flex.
    Neil
    Black Hills of SD
    Life without Motorcycles would just be boring, really boring
    Honda 450X. Yamaha Tracer GT900. HD Fat Boy. Triumph Bonneville. Yamaha Majesty 400. Yamaha Grizzly. Yamaha Wolverine. Yamaha TW200
  • User avatar
    JimDirt
    Posts: 4406
    Joined: Sat Nov 25, 2006 6:31 pm

    Re: How to strengthen the triple clamp?

    by JimDirt » Fri Sep 28, 2018 3:26 pm

    Don't forget Neil , back in our day , we only had 6" of travel to deal with :-~ ... :(
    2020 CRF450R
    2006 CRF450X
    Image
    Weiser , Idaho
  • Aussiecrf230
    Posts: 1964
    Joined: Fri Jan 06, 2006 11:11 pm

    Re: How to strengthen the triple clamp?

    by Aussiecrf230 » Fri Sep 28, 2018 7:09 pm

    And large 27mm forks!
    Ray
    Australia

    CRF230F 2004
    C30F Power Up needle
    Mains 132
    Idle 45
    2 turns out
    Baffle out, Screens In

    It starts,it runs,it gets to where all CRFs can get to without the valve or valve plate dramas
  • Back2-2
    Posts: 1148
    Joined: Tue Jan 04, 2011 3:31 pm

    Re: How to strengthen the triple clamp?

    by Back2-2 » Fri Sep 28, 2018 7:58 pm

    Yeah I know the good o'l days. But a fork brace is still an option.
    As engineer I can see myself fabing one up if I was have flex issues. =DD
    Neil
    Black Hills of SD
    Life without Motorcycles would just be boring, really boring
    Honda 450X. Yamaha Tracer GT900. HD Fat Boy. Triumph Bonneville. Yamaha Majesty 400. Yamaha Grizzly. Yamaha Wolverine. Yamaha TW200

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