Headlamp bracket chrome sleeves

[Kerrigan]

Can anyone advise on how to move the headlamp bracket sleeves at the top of the fork legs?
The reason I need to know is that the headlamp is off centre and I can see that the brackets are at different angles on the forks - (the left one is turned in and the right one is turned out), so I need to twist them both to the same position.
I assume these brackets are separate sleeves that fit around the forks and when you loosen the fork clamps, they will be able to move?
The trouble is, when I loosen the clamps, won't the forks shoot up through the headstock with the front wheel on the ground? Or is there enough friction without levering the clamps apart, to hold the fork legs in position?
Or maybe the brackets are fixed in one position and I cannot move them - they are just bent....???

[Padders]

Just loosen the top yoke the forks will be held in place by the bottom yoke. You can then tighten the headlight which should centralise the brackets. Knock the tope yoke back down you only need to lift it a couple of mill. Bobs your uncle.

[Kerrigan]

Padders,
Am I being thick, doesn't the bottom yoke hold the brackets as well?

[Padders]

No they slide on if you loosen the top you nut then the pich bolts lift it just a bit you should be able to centralise the headlamp. Then tighten the top nut and the pinch bolts, job done. No need to touch the bottom yoke pinch bolts.

[bedlow1]

make sure the bikes on the centre stand when you do this!I did it once on the side stand and yes the front end collapses.

[Padders]

Just raise the top yoke slightly as if you take it off it can sometimes be a bugger to put back on if you use the side stand only. Otherwise the bottom pinch bolts if correctly tightened will hold the forks in place. Let me know how you get on.

Cheers Ian.

[Kerrigan]

Thanks guys, I'll let you know.......if you hear a distant scream from Sussex, you will guess whats happened...!!!

[Kerrigan]

Well, it didn't work!
One of the brackets could be moved, but the other one was jammed solid....even after a few whacks with a hammer !
I decided that too many whacks was not a good idea.
The bracket is possibly corroded onto the fork tube. The free one had been re-chromed about a year ago, so had obviously been removed at that time.
I might try spraying some WD40 around the stuck one to see if that helps.

[Sorf]

Quote: from Kerrigan on 6:00 am on Aug. 17, 2006
Well, it didn't work!
One of the brackets could be moved, but the other one was jammed solid....even after a few whacks with a hammer !

You're joking right!! :confused: Mate, those fork tubes must be seriously rusted, unless some pill has glued 'em on. Be interesting to see how you get on here.

[Kerrigan]

Good news guys.....
I have finally moved the offending bracket!
I had a think about it and decided to loosen both top and bottom fork clamps on the affected side and leave the other fork as it was, so as to support the front and stop the loosened fork tube from moving up in the clamps.
I thought that I could twist the entire fork leg in the clamps so that the bracket was straight.

This was not required - as soon as the bottom clamp was undone, the bracket moved!
It wasn't corroded on.
JOB DONE! Headlamp now straight.

[Padders]

Pleased you sorted it though still unsure how the bottom clamp held it in place.

Main thing headlight sorted.

[Kerrigan]

The mysteries of a 30 year old bike!!!!