I could understand that repeated bottoming out of the rear suspension would bend the centre of the UFM split tube forward, but the interesting thing was that on my bike was that they were bent the other way, with the middle of the split tube too far backwards, as if the bike had been stretched. Brazing distortion from the factory? Or would they have post-machined?
Another interesting discovery in the mystery of my distorted UFM:
Finally took the spring boxes apart and found that the bike had longer 7.5" (Petteford?) springs installed.
But not only that! When I took the caps off the springs...
(Using the correct tool, not a hammer and punch as suggested in one of the little books...)
I found, nestled inside, two other springs!!
So maybe all these long springs were just stretching the poor damper over time? Must have been an odd ride (sadly I never rode the bike before the tear down).
New springs from VOC.
Sorry to moan, but I haven't bought a single part from the VOC spares company yet, which hasn't needed modifying to fit. One of these springs longer, and the end diameter too small, and not ground square.