My disappointment is immeasurable..

[FrankG5]

And my day is ruined. I managed to break the lower leg of one of my forks by over-tightening axle pinch bolts. I’m looking into repair, I’m also looking for 38mm front forks that will work without too much fuss on my ‘78 G5 (Frank). Currently using Marzocchi M1Rs with Brembo F08 calipers mounted backside of fork. I was hoping a later model Guzzi might have come original with what I need. Any ideas?

 

[DeadEye]

Dayum !
If you were tightening it to spec and it cracked, I would be thankful you were not out riding when it broke!!!
Better at home in the garage than mid corner on a fast sweeper !

i found replacement forks for the Honda on eBay within a couple of days…

 

[Moto-Uno]

Well if you could get up to Burnaby,B.C with it, I'd weld it up for you Peter

 

[FrankG5]

I might take you up on that Peter, I’m not confident enough in my welding skills and no one I know personally is either. I did find some similar forks on eBay but they’re $2500.

 

[DeadEye]

The trick is to find some that will work with your brakes.

 

[scottmastrocinque]

OMG I am sorry for your troubles. Unfortunately I have seen this many many times in my life.

For those in the future, pinch bolts are barely tight. They are the lowest torque of any bolt on the fork leg.

They do nothing but keep the axle from spinning on you (rotating) while you release the nut at the axle end, and even if that nut is overtightened itself, there is a hole that passes through the other end of the axle that you can hold in place with a drift.

The axle is not held in place on the motorcycle by these bolts. I don't know why people tighten them so...

Those pinch bolts are never tightened like this and especially not with enough force to bust the fork leg.

 

[bigbikerrick]

Thats got to be a sick feeling, when that happens! Sorry to hear
Rick D.

 

[FrankG5]

it certainly was but it’s fixed now thanks to Peter (Moto-Uno). At least 100 miles in and it’s working fine.

 

[Stevex]

Did you torque those bolts? If not, a torque wrench should be on your shopping list.

 

[scottmastrocinque]

Torque wrenches are a requisite tool for any mechanic however “wrench feel” in your hands and fingers is much more important.

Being able to feel tension and recognize it and to have an awareness of precisely what that particular bolt is holding on and why, helps you learn and distinguish the nuances.

 

[john zibell]

Being able to feel tension and recognize it and to have an awareness of precisely what that particular bolt is holding on and why, helps you learn and distinguish the nuances.

I call that wrench art. Developing a feel for how tight something should be. I explain to folks that many fasterns on the bike are not the ones that hold the bike together. Head torque, engine mount bolts, wheel bolts (single sided swing arm), those hold the bike together and a torque wrench is your friend.