My front forks have more rings showing above the top yoke on one side than the other, should these be the same and if not what problems can it cause or perhaps more importantly could it be hiding? When I ride the bike and then free wheel without holding the handle bars the bike tracks straight not do I feel any pulling to one side or the other.
Any settings on the front forks should be identical for both legs. I would set everything back to the standard settings and make any adjustments from there. The difference in rings means that one fork leg is being preloaded more than the other.
I've just read your post again and seen that it's the rings above the top yoke your talkin' about!!!!! That means that the fork legs aren't aligned correctly in the yokes. You really need to get it looked at/sorted mate. Either the front end has been put back together incorrectly or the leg isn't being clamped by the yokes properly and is slipping. If you pulled the axle out, the legs wouldn't line up!!
I was looking at both fork legs from one side and the rings are not parrallel to the yoke so that there are 4 rings on the outside and 3 on the inside. When looking at both from the outside the rings showing are the same. Doh!!!!
to those of you not really familiar with removing/securing fork legs and top yokes beware of the correct torque settings.
You will have to check - but I am 99.99999% certain that even though its a feking big diameter the torque settings for the triple (big bottom) clamps are only - 15nm and the top yoke is only 10nm!!
Mood: Awaiting the arrival of the sun and the disappearance of the rain
That'll explain why my forks travelled 2 inches thru the yolks, popped the top yoke clean off and sent the steering damper sky-rocketing through the windscreen during my last off-road excursion.
Thankfully I had done the ejector seat impression.....All in the best possible taste mind you..!!
Valid point though Khush. Might help avoid this type of occurrence.....