Frame/Suspension/Front End/Brakes Discussions for your ride comfort and braking power.

Bike alignment

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Nov 23, 2004 | 11:27 PM
  #1  
breaknbad's Avatar
breaknbad
Thread Starter
|
Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,576
Likes: 1
From:
Default Bike alignment

When I took my softail deuce in for the 1000 mile service I know they adjusted the belt. I dont recall the bike pulling to the left before the service. When I asked the service manager about this he said all harleys pull to the left becouse the outer primary sticks out and puts more weight on the left side. I took his word on it. A month later I noticed the axle adjustment screw was loose(I could turn it with my hand). I tightened it back up after taking a few measurements to try to get it inline again. The bike pulls still but hardley noticable now.I have to slightly push the right handlebar when driving with one hand, but dont notice it as bad with two hands. Is it normal for a harley to pull to the left? This is my first harley. The only other harley I have drove is a wide glide. I dont remember that on pulling at all.

 
Reply
Old Nov 23, 2004 | 11:51 PM
  #2  
Ironhead's Avatar
Ironhead
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 3,193
Likes: 2
From:
Default RE: Bike alignment

Something sounds fishy to me.
I don't think it should pull, peroid.
 
Reply
Old Nov 24, 2004 | 10:32 AM
  #3  
4boltsiron's Avatar
4boltsiron
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 254
Likes: 0
From:
Default RE: Bike alignment

On your axle adjusters,count the number of threads(with a razor blade is easier)
between the end and the axle adjuster nut,will get you in the ballpark.Newr bikes may have a diferent set up I dunno,in that case get a long board and run it alongside the back tire should be evenly spaced all the way straight past the front tire.hope this helps.
 
Reply
Old Nov 24, 2004 | 10:41 AM
  #4  
BClem's Avatar
BClem
Banned
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 278
Likes: 0
From:
Default RE: Bike alignment

The best way to align the rear wheel is to adjust the axle until the belt runs in the center of the sheave. The unit construction alignment is another story and should not be out unless the engine assembly was removed from the frame. You can realize a 'dog trot' feel to the bike due to the rear wheel misalignment and the belt tracking will tell the story.

The manual explains how to make a tool and how to use it to align the rear wheel but belt tracking is still more accurate.

BClem

My Dyna doesn't pull either. I think the HD dealer may have put a new mechanic on your bike for the 1K service and he wasn't gone behind and his work checked. For some reason the service checks are not taken all that seriously by HD dealers. The only time you get a good mechanic to work on your bike is if you purchased some high dollar upgrade that some high school kid cannot do. I believe the HD dealer is pulling your choke...
 
Reply
Old Nov 27, 2004 | 07:22 AM
  #5  
BillyV's Avatar
BillyV
Cruiser
20 Year Member
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 210
Likes: 0
From: Northern California
Default RE: Bike alignment

Ask to talk with the owner of the dealership, he will want to know that his service manager is pulling BS like this!

-Billy
 
Reply
Old Nov 27, 2004 | 08:06 AM
  #6  
BClem's Avatar
BClem
Banned
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 278
Likes: 0
From:
Default RE: Bike alignment

He might! You know the service manager? If not he is going to pass you off like a fart in a hurricane.

BClem
 
Reply
Old Nov 27, 2004 | 10:56 AM
  #7  
Ironhead's Avatar
Ironhead
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 3,193
Likes: 2
From:
Default RE: Bike alignment

A guy I grew up with has been riding H-D's for over 30 years. He new the Dealerships son on a personal level. When he had problems with his softtail springer special ed. His buddy told him to bring it in.
Long story short, they did not fix it... when he fixed it himself, he went back to the dealership and no one seemed to know him and when he demanded his parts back that had been taken off, they too mysteriously had disappeared.

He's never been back! [:@]
 
Reply
Old Nov 27, 2004 | 03:13 PM
  #8  
BillyV's Avatar
BillyV
Cruiser
20 Year Member
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 210
Likes: 0
From: Northern California
Default RE: Bike alignment

Man, You guy's have some crappy dealerships around you!

-Billy
 
Reply
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

Harley-Davidson Fat Boy Becomes a Dark, Decepticon-Inspired Custom

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

6 Weirdest Harley-Davidsons Ever Sold to the Public

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-5

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-6

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Nov 27, 2004 | 03:19 PM
  #9  
BClem's Avatar
BClem
Banned
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 278
Likes: 0
From:
Default RE: Bike alignment

That's what we have been saying for some time.... Maybe in your area, Harley is not so damned crappy to the dealers. One thing that I've learned is that if you get the feeling about a dealership that you are dealing with a bunch of dipshits is that usually the boss is a dipshit and the owner is over the limit in complete dipshitism. Where is HD in this equasion?

BClem
 
Reply
Old Nov 28, 2004 | 01:16 AM
  #10  
BillyV's Avatar
BillyV
Cruiser
20 Year Member
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 210
Likes: 0
From: Northern California
Default RE: Bike alignment

The dealership I go to is owned by a guy that now grown to own three shops and has based his whole business on service.
He is known to be on the floor talking to customers at random just to make sure everything is being handled correctly.


-Billy
 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:51 AM.

story-0
Harley-Davidson Fat Boy Becomes a Dark, Decepticon-Inspired Custom

Slideshow: Killer Custom's latest build relies on styling changes rather than performance upgrades, giving the cruiser an entirely different personality.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-03 18:28:05


VIEW MORE
story-1
6 Weirdest Harley-Davidsons Ever Sold to the Public

Slideshow: From military-inspired singles to scooters and three-wheel utility vehicles, these Harleys took the company far outside its comfort zone.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-02 18:34:10


VIEW MORE
story-2
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson built its reputation on nostalgia, but every so often, the company took a hard left turn into the future.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 11:18:19


VIEW MORE
story-3
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-4
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-5
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-6
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-7
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-8
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-9
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE