Fork link alignment

[AlG]

The front wheel leans on my GP leans so I am rebuilding the forks. I checked the links and it is obvious that the castings are not symmetrical / identical where the lower bump stop bushes abut the links - one side has about 3mm more metal than the other side. Although stamped with the Innocenti logo, I suspect they are remade.
So, has anyone ground / filed fork links to get the bump stop area symmetrical?

ALG

[HxPaul]

Before you start grinding the fork links,remove the bump stops completely and try again for symmetry.If they sit straight then you know that it is the links,if the front wheel is still at an angle then you know to look elseware, ei.-springs,top hats etc.

[drivera]

Whenever I have rebuilt forks I have had to add a washer(s) to the top of one of the springs where they touch the top hats so as to get the wheel straight , easily done and doesn't affect the handling

[Martin FONSC]

You also need to check the springs and how they are seated into the fork leg. When I rebuilt my forks recently I found that the springs projected out of the fork legs by different amounts. If these are not the same the links will never be level when they are moving around between the buffers. I had to shim one of my forks to get this correct and then fitted decent re-made new links. My wheel is now nice and straight.

[AlG]

Many thanks for the advice - I have measured the springs, rods and top bushes on the bench and then properly seated in the forks. They are both the same, so I think I can rule those out as the cause.
Next I will put the links in without any bump stop bushes as suggested by HXPaul. I have some new push in bushes I can also try as the final test before I get the angle grinder to the links. I have just measured them again and am not keen on taking 2mm+ off remade links. Head and heart are saying to find some original links, or buy quality remade

[grandpa]

Hi Alg,
Make sure piston rods are not bent and move freely (fit without springs)
I used a grinding wheel to make sure every thing was square

http://s1112.photobucket.com/user/lammy ... c.jpg.html

Grandpa

[AlG]

I like the jig Grandpa. What sort of grinding wheel worked for you? Bench mounted or small drill mounted wheel? I am just trying to judge if an angle grinder might be a bit heavy handed and whether a drill mounted grinding bits that I have might be better.

[grandpa]

Hi ALG
I used a bench mounted grinding wheel.It depends how much needs fettling.you could bolt both links together and hold in a vice and use a flat draw file to even things up.
Grandpa