straightening bent lever heat/no heat?

[hondageek]

I bent the f/brake lever on my CRF yesterday when I lost the front end on an icy spot. It's bent so it's pointing straight foreward in a nice smooth curve. Even if I can find a dealer with one for my bike, I'd like to use this as a spare for the races. Has anyone had luck fixing one.

[Faded]

Propane torch, a 2x4 cut in half lengthwise and a 19mm box end wrench. Heat the lever with the torch. Insert 2x4 between bars and lever. Place box end of 19mm wrench over ball end of lever and proceed to bend.

[hondageek]

gracias.

[Faded]

Don't worry, I have a front brake lever that doubles as a horse shoe too! Been there, done that.

[Spitfire]

when my friend bent his lever, we heated it up and tried to bend it, it snapped, so i'm guessing this doesn't work on aluminum levers, cause that's what he has......

[Faded]

They were probably cast levers. Don't quote me, but I think the stock Honda levers are forged. I've bent mine back twice and haven't broke it. I don't need any of that "it's not safe" lecture either; don't worry fellas, it's not on the bike but rather in the box as a spare.

[drman]

I know nothing about how to straighten levers...never broke one before.

I know I'm probably the only one on here that does this, but so be it-JC Whitney sells these lever/perch combos for I think $6.49--they aren't split and have mirror holes though, but that's still a good deal IMO compared to $6 for a lever. I have bought 4 and only broke one perch in 8 months...I think us Arkansans have a thing for not wrecking, ain't that right Macho? :

[paul reed]

but it`s not safe!...LOL...jus gotta rib ya Andrew!...here`s what happened to me-i was trying to free up a fr brake cable on a honda i was fixin up...i disconected the cable and soaked the cable with some fancy,very expensive stuff,for a few days,then i tried to break loose the cable from inside the sheath by squeezing the lever towards the bars,i was facing the handlebars...just as i thought this might not be too smart of a thing to be doing-durn thing snapped in half and went right through my hand...now,this had happened before-but this time i wasn`t even riding...i looked down at the nasty jagged lever poking through my palm...shoulda had my camera handy...anyways,the worry over any aluminum in my bloodstream or something i just ate or drank made me go in to shock...i managed to go over to my dirtbikin neighbors house...and told him what happened...man,he got a good laugh...well,this didn`t help ease my shock much...and as i layed on the cold freezing ground,pukin and trembling-he got a bit concerned...enough to at least stop laughing...it`s important to know that shock can kill-faster than any blood loss...keep the shock victim warm with a blanket and keep reminding them they`re gonna be just fine...the mind can hear and reason long after unconsciousness takes effect...if you`re racing,and there`s a person sprawled out on the track...coast slowly by as far away as posible and watch out for people running to help...with throttle chopped or even kill the motor and rebump after you pass...the downed racers hearing will be extra sharp...and their mind will be more at eased...just thought i`d share my little story with you...later gaters

[tirebiter]

Aluminum doesn't react to heat like steel does. No cherry red color upon reaching melting point. Heat it slow & low, test it to see if will bend all through to heating process- don't force it! Remember, your aluminum levers have been tempered, heating them will reduce the temper. Heating and bending back is a Quick fix, order new ones asap.

[RaceyCRF250]

i just went with full on ASV levers. Front brake with hot start in the decompression place(makes it look trick) and clutch with decompression lever. all cost about $115, but i know somebody who works at a dealer that helped with the price. and yes they are worth the money.

[Faded]

Originally posted by tirebiter
Heat it slow & low...

That's why I used propane. Tirebiter brings up some excellent points.

You to Paul. Be careful next time, would you?!

[cowboyona426]

When I bent the stock lever on my YZF, I just used the Faded method, sans heat and it worked well.

[smithers]

I usually try to crash again on the same lever to bend it back...


Forged: you can get away with it
Stamped: its gonna snap

[hondageek]

I heated it and used the wrench technique and it bent back like butter, no problem. Still seems fairly strong.

[Crogg]

Originally posted by Faded
They were probably cast levers. Don't quote me, but I think the stock Honda levers are forged. I've bent mine back twice and haven't broke it. I don't need any of that "it's not safe" lecture either; don't worry fellas, it's not on the bike but rather in the box as a spare.

You are correct except backwards. The Honda's are cast (which you should use heat to bend) the magura's that are on KTM"S are forged (no heat to bend). You probably already new that and just miss typed or did a brain FADE.... Is that why they call you faded? Or is it because you always get the holeshot and fade?!!!!

[Faded]

LOL @ my expense, Didn't I tell you not to quote me? Either of those explanations could be true...