handlebar straightening

wnbasac · Post by **wnbasac** » Tue Sep 20, 2011 6:26 pm

can a handlebar be straightened? my bar has a slight bend on one side and it really isn't noticeable but i have a set of OEM blinkers and when i put them on you can tell they aren't straight.
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so can it be done or has anyone done this with some success?
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tks,lou

DeeJay · Post by **DeeJay** » Wed Sep 21, 2011 8:07 am

Find two trees that are growing close together. Determine where you need to bend and use one tree for a stop and the other as the fulcrom. Go slow and easy.

wnbasac · Post by **wnbasac** » Wed Sep 21, 2011 10:43 pm

Ummm can't hurt, tks Lou

Snakeoil · Post by **Snakeoil** » Mon Sep 26, 2011 6:35 pm

Make some plywood jaws for your vise and clamp them in the vise. Put a big cheater (piece of pipe) on the offending end and bring it back where it belongs. These old bars are pretty tough so no so easy to straighten.

You can use a hydraulic press if you make some jigs and know what you are doing.

Another possible method if they are just over-bent at a normal bend, is to put them on a wooden bench or piece of wood on the floor and give them a whack with either a deadblow mallet or a rawhide mallet. Again, all depends where and how they are bent.

Regarding the tree thing, look for a tree with a crotch in it.

regards,
Rob

Hotshoe · Post by **Hotshoe** » Mon Sep 26, 2011 10:21 pm

Better than a crotch with a tree in it anyway.