Steering Lock Squirrellyness - Way too Far

On my '81 XJ750 Seca, I've got a pretty big gap between the tabs on the lower clamp and the tab on the steering head. As a result I cannot reach full lock, the valves on my forks hit the tank.

I've checked out the pictures in my Haynes manual, and I can't quite tell where the valves are positioned. I'm thinking that the air valves on the forks should not be positioned parallel to the bar clamps, as they are now. How are they supposed to be positioned?

I'm wondering if they should be positioned with the valves facing about 2 o'clock, out of the way. If anyone has a pic of the proper position, please let me know.

To move them, it should be a matter of jacking up the front end and supporting the wheel, slacking off the clamps, and rotating the uppers to the right spot. I hope...

 

If your air valve rings are not linked, you can spin them around however you want, as long as they don't move up or down on the fork tubes.

 

The air valve collars are cast with a locating tab that should engage the upper fork clamp. If your air collars are hitting, they are missaligned and you will need to remove the top clamp completely or drop the forks down slightly (a better course of action in my book) to rotate them back into position. It is also possible that the person who missaligned them might have put them on the wrong forks or upsidedown. I don't have a good photo handy but I'm sure someone can post one if we ask nicely.

 

Since you asked nicely this the left side of my 1982 XJ750 RJ forks showing the air valve.

 

This is the right side of my 1982 XJ750 RJ forks showing the air valve.

 

What is this for and how many psi should it read??? I know buy the book...soon I promise. also I don't have one on the right side what does this mean??

 

Yep. They're in wrong. Time for some more surgery.

Thanks for the pics, I'll be using them for reference when the time comes.

In the meantime, I've got gear oil to change and Progressive Shocks to install (yea!)

 

Wish the ones on my 650 Max were like that....it's hard to find an air attachment to fill them that fits between my handlebars and the tops of the fork tubes.