What controls swingarm alignment?
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 4,440
Likes: 148
From: Northwest
3 point drive-train mount. Bottom two are fixed rubber isolators meant to allow motion in parallel with the frame, but restrict it laterally to a small degree. Top mount sets your 'yaw' if you want it stated like that.
The front isolater gives out quick, which allows the rear isolater to act as a pivot point.. moves side to side and the top mount also provides skew at the same time. Can give you a hell of a surprise in a corner, with a slight bump in it....
The rear islolator rarely goes bad... I replaced my front mount with a Predator mount, which puts the rubber isolator in 'compression' and not 'shear' like the stock one... it also has a built in lateral stabilizer.
The front isolater gives out quick, which allows the rear isolater to act as a pivot point.. moves side to side and the top mount also provides skew at the same time. Can give you a hell of a surprise in a corner, with a slight bump in it....
The rear islolator rarely goes bad... I replaced my front mount with a Predator mount, which puts the rubber isolator in 'compression' and not 'shear' like the stock one... it also has a built in lateral stabilizer.
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Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 11,448
Likes: 2,299
From: NW Ohio
I honestly debated how best to communicate the direction of drivetrain movement. XYZ axis and yaw, pitch, roll seemed easiest. XYZ is a little less common and could have required me to define the orientation of the coordinate system. Yaw pitch roll seemed more universal.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 19,894
Likes: 8,002
From: poway
Questions/concerns:
- How is drivetrain yaw controlled and adjusted?
- How does a by-the-book rear axle alignment contribute to a perfect overall chassis alignment?
- How is lateral movement of the swingarm controlled at the trans pivot (I'm sure there must be a bearing pre-load, does the race simply rest against the trans casting?)
- How is drivetrain yaw controlled and adjusted?
- How does a by-the-book rear axle alignment contribute to a perfect overall chassis alignment?
- How is lateral movement of the swingarm controlled at the trans pivot (I'm sure there must be a bearing pre-load, does the race simply rest against the trans casting?)
Rear wheel alignment ideally keeps the rear tire point at the front but do to manufacturing issues, it may be off a little..
Lateral movement on the swing arm is controlled by a timken bearing pair on the left side swing arm mount for 5 speed Dynas.. When they went to the 6 speeds in 2006, I believe they changed over to a pair of spherical ball bearings just like the swingarm on the 02-up baggers..
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 19,894
Likes: 8,002
From: poway
3 point drive-train mount. Bottom two are fixed rubber isolators meant to allow motion in parallel with the frame, but restrict it laterally to a small degree. Top mount sets your 'yaw' if you want it stated like that.
The front isolater gives out quick, which allows the rear isolater to act as a pivot point.. moves side to side and the top mount also provides skew at the same time. Can give you a hell of a surprise in a corner, with a slight bump in it....
The rear islolator rarely goes bad... I replaced my front mount with a Predator mount, which puts the rubber isolator in 'compression' and not 'shear' like the stock one... it also has a built in lateral stabilizer.
The front isolater gives out quick, which allows the rear isolater to act as a pivot point.. moves side to side and the top mount also provides skew at the same time. Can give you a hell of a surprise in a corner, with a slight bump in it....
The rear islolator rarely goes bad... I replaced my front mount with a Predator mount, which puts the rubber isolator in 'compression' and not 'shear' like the stock one... it also has a built in lateral stabilizer.
What causes the front mount to give out quick?
How do you tell it failed?
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Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 11,448
Likes: 2,299
From: NW Ohio
In the case of yaw.. I assume you mean rear wheel alignment to the front.. On a stock dyna, there isn't an adjustment to change the alignment. There is only the top mount which allows setting the rear wheel in the same vertical plan as the front..
Rear wheel alignment ideally keeps the rear tire point at the front but do to manufacturing issues, it may be off a little..
Lateral movement on the swing arm is controlled by a timken bearing pair on the left side swing arm mount for 5 speed Dynas.. When they went to the 6 speeds in 2006, I believe they changed over to a pair of spherical ball bearings just like the swingarm on the 02-up baggers..
Rear wheel alignment ideally keeps the rear tire point at the front but do to manufacturing issues, it may be off a little..
Lateral movement on the swing arm is controlled by a timken bearing pair on the left side swing arm mount for 5 speed Dynas.. When they went to the 6 speeds in 2006, I believe they changed over to a pair of spherical ball bearings just like the swingarm on the 02-up baggers..
I think the idea behind the CCE mounts is it allows you to adjust alignment. If I understand correctly, you can just buy this "engine equator" part and have a way to adjust the drivetrain alignment.
https://www.customcycleengineering.c...atorTopLink-97
https://www.customcycleengineering.c...atorTopLink-97
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Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 11,448
Likes: 2,299
From: NW Ohio
Yes, I believe that's correct. It looks like it would still utilize the factory mounts which would still allow some lateral movement of the drivetrain. I think a little would be fine, but I don't know how much before the Dyna platform starts to exhibit the various high speed handling issues with which we've become familiar.
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Road Master
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 837
Likes: 35
From: Northern California
I would sure like to know. Just eyeballing it I can't tell. Any thoughts for some sort of jig to measure it?
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 3,217
Likes: 90
From: Detroit
Yes, I believe that's correct. It looks like it would still utilize the factory mounts which would still allow some lateral movement of the drivetrain. I think a little would be fine, but I don't know how much before the Dyna platform starts to exhibit the various high speed handling issues with which we've become familiar.
That's not to say that the closer one can come to complete rigidity wouldn't be better for handling, but most Harleys run into cornering clearance limitations, way before they experience flex limitations, unless something is wrong with the bike.
Last edited by Warp Factor; Jun 7, 2016 at 04:36 PM.