Having built my forks with all new parts, Stnancions, bushes, and seals then fitted them into the top and bottom yolks, I pushed upwards on each leg to make sure they were free moving, then I began to fit the front mudguard all freshly painted, I carefully began to tighten the stays and the bridge piece, it all began to tighten up, I couldn't freely push the legs up, I slackened the stays and with a washer here and there it all started to move, today I introduced the front wheel which again is all new with correct parts, my forks have the round locating hole in the leg where the brake plate locates and the hollow wheel spindle sits into the brake side fork leg. I got the wheel in and had a little bit of trouble getting the L/H thread started on the large spindle bolt, but got it in, I didn't tighten this up fully, when I tried the forks they were solid, I have it up on a wooden bench 2 foot off the floor, so I got hold of the handlebars and tried compressing the forks..nothing, so I loosened the L?H bolt more, still nothing, I then removed the wheel and the forks would still not compress. do you think I should loosen the top and bottom yolk pinch bolts and give the forks a good bouncing on the twist it all into place? I remember doing that years ago, but memory fails me now, has anyone got a decent suggestion.
I would loosen off all the fender (mudguard) attachments, then install the wheel and tighten the spindle. Loosen the yolk connections and tighten the wheel spindle again. "Bounce"the front end. If the wheel and spindle are correct, the fork legs should be parallel. The forks should function. If yes, finish the installation of the mudguard (fender). If no, may be someone else has an idea...
Jim S
Sorted, I started all over from scratch with 2 fork legs that move up and down freely, I took to top nuts off and measured the space from the stanchion to top of yolk, there was a slight difference so I put the tool on and leveled them, then I put the wheel in, all well, I then removed the wheel and put the mudguard on, again everything moving free, then I introduced the wheel and as I began to tighten the spindle everything went tight ??? I was taking the spindle out and as it left the thread in the brake side leg it sprang to one side, I took the mudguard off and dismantled all the stays off it including the bridge piece between the legs, I put that bridge piece back on and loosely tightened the nuts to both legs, I suddenly noticed the brake side leg twist...got it, the bridge piece was twisted ever so slightly, so I got it in the vice without taking paint off it and twisted it a little, put the lot back together and it is free as a bird (I did also loosen the clamps on bottom yolk so I re-tightened those....relief at last.
Glad to hear you had success.