Recently purchased a 2001 Road Glide. I've got a service manual on the way, but untill then I'm not sure on the rear wheel being perfectly straight in the swingarm. Does anyone know a good way to check and see if it's straight ? I see there is a couple of small holes drilled in the side of the swingarm, are these reference points ? any help would be appreciated.
Jonnierock

 

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sour...C5jeqR93qKM8Xg

 

You can measure the bolt center from swing bolt to axle but I found this only gets you near. I found a Utube vidio that used string. You loop it around just the back part(going threw rim, then run it along each side till u are at front wheel on each side & past held with Jack stands. It's easer to understand if you can see it. Utube was a metric with center stand. I had to do it with it on bike jack.

That year still has Cleve blocks like (junk for bushings) mine. Really need to change to a solid bushing & but new isolaters (rubber mounts as old) then spend alot of time getting it straight. Mine pulled before alignment, now it straight going down the road. The bushings made it more solid in bumps and curves.

 

I think the manual will advise you to use the gas welding rod or some other stiff wire to make a tool that uses the center hole in the swingarm pivot bolt to measure back to the axle bolt on each side. That will get you wheel aligned in the swingarm. Then the question is, is your swingarm aligned with the engine/transmission?

Also check your swing arm for cracks around the axle bolt. Early 2000's were kinda known to do it.

 

Thanks thats what I did. I made a rod and then ran it from the pivot bolt that bolts the swingarm to the frame. Then measured back on both sides, the exact same distance on both sides of the rear axel.

 

I use a piece of coat hanger wire, with a short 90° bend in one end and a small o-ring that will slide on the wire. Put the bent end in that little hole and put the o-ring in the center of the axle. Make sure it's the same on both sides, and you can only twist the drive belt 45°.

 

Now that I've have gotten the rear wheel centered exactly in the middle of the swing arm, ( I rechecked several times) I've created another problem, you can hear the belt rubbing. Any solutions for that ? Belt deflection is at 3/8"

 

Find out what it is rubbing against! Probably the belt guard, but make sure before adjusting more stuff. With your recent questions you would have been better off waiting for that service book!