I just went through a similar situation.

https://www.hdforums.com/forum/dyna-...ine-brace.html

edit: I never had to touch, adjust or do anything to the top link.

 

I’ve seen that video, but apparently the method of alignment t is different on the evo bikes. Someone mentioned a bracket to straighten up the swing arm to frame that is exclusive to evo dynas.

 

Because the front mount is on an angle, when it fails that allows the engine to push back against the rear mount. I'd definitely change the rear mount, too.

It sounds like you're saying the engine and swing arm are not in line with the frame and forks, since you say you have to set the rear axle on an angle to get it to track right. If after replacing both mounts and adjusting the top link, you still have that problem, you need to figure out what is pushing the engine and swing arm out of line with the rest of the frame.

The top link is only to get both wheels vertical at the same time and should not push the whole engine left or right.

 

This is what I was getting at, when you adjust the link or the rear wheel it puts a stress on the mount, wanting to move it (pivot) hence the book saying to loosen the frame to mount bolts and let the mounts “settle” or release that tension from them.


Now for the real confusion. Looking at the book here, and also this video:
this guy explains clearly the vertical alignment of the drivetrain. Level on top seat of bike, brought to 0*. Inclinometer on the rear rotor to *90. If they do not align, then adjust to link to bring them to 90* and 0* respectively. I get that part and sounds logical. Now where the confusion comes in, on both book, and his method is using that same link to align front and rear wheels. Why would you mess with that link again after you already insured it was aligned with the rear wheel and frame? In the video, at about 27:00 he shows the frame at 0*, then attaches two line lasers, on on the front rotor, one on the rear. These shine a laser light to the ground. At 29:00 he shows his inclinometer on the front rotor and how to turn the steering wheel to make it 90*. So, rear wheel at 90*, front at 90*, and frame at 0*. He then uses his lasers to see that the beams will cross about a foot in front of the bike, indicating misalignment. At 31:00 He then starts adjusting the link again until the front and rear wheels are parallel. Now isn’t that just jacking up the 0*/90* rear alignment he just did earlier? Should he not be adjusting the rear wheel axle adjusters like the book shows in figure 2-49 instead? Since the link moves, or pivots the engine the engine vertically left (counterclockwise direction) from rear) or right (clockwise direction from rear) how does this align the front and rear rotors? Now, looking at the book, page 2-38, item #10 through 15, it basically shows doing it the same way, by adjusting the link. To me, this doesn’t make sense. All it seems to do to me is match the tilts of the wheels, in other words, if my from wheel leans a bit to the right, I’m just matching the rear to it, and both wheels now lean to the right. I would think if you want the front and rear wheels to track straight, figure 2-49 plainly shows how to do this, basically adjusting the “toe” of the rear wheel to match the front. Adjusting the link again would simply allow the rear wheel/drivetrain assy to tilt right or left. What am I not understanding here?

What I’m seeing here is this: adjusting the driveline to 90*, with frame at 0* using the link ensures the wheel/drivetrain is not tilted right or left, but is now straight up, and also allowing equal height on each shock mount (measurement from top bolt to bottom bolt. I’ve seen tools made for this, and using a large caliper to do the same) Adjusting the axle adjusters straightens the rear wheel to the frame and front wheel. If the rear and frame are set at 90* and 0*, and the inclinometer on the front wheel indicates other than 90, then something in the fork is off, and either it’s bent or the tubes are not level with each other. In that case you would fix that portion to make the front and rear 90* and the frame 0*. Now everything should be in alignment. Follow where I’m going with this? After doing this, then loosen the front and rear frame to mount bolts, start engine, at idle for a few, and let settle (releasing any mount tension), then shut down and torque the mount to frame bolts to book specs. Sorry this is so long, but best way I could explain what I’m seeing here. Any advice appreciated!

 

I am changing both mounts, front and rear. One came in today, the other not far behind.

this is pretty much what I’m getting at, and why I thought the mounts might be causing my issue, and how to align it once the new mounts are up installed. The book shows how to replace them but does not say to align the bike after install. I know it’s probably something simple and I’m overthinking this, but want to get it right.

 

https://www.hdforums.com/forum/dyna-...top-mount.html

 

I hope I'm not stating the obvious and already known here.

I think I understand what your saying about the rear wheel. If you stand the bike upright, and look at the rear wheel from the back of the bike. your saying that the top of the rear wheel is pointing to the left or right. As in the whole wheel is at an angle top to bottom in the frame. Also if the shocks were removed, one side of the frame to swing arm shock mount bolts would be a shorter distance than the other.

Since the swing arm on my '07 is attached to the back of the trans. If the engine top stabilizer tilted the top of the engine to one side or the other of center, it would also tilt the swing arm and wheel.

If your motor mounts are failing, it "MAY" allow the bottom of the engine to be out of center while the top is still center. This could make the rear wheel be at an angle. Just installing new mounts could solve your issue??

I'm new at this alignment thing. I'll be needing to change engine mounts in the near future, So I'm trying to learn something here. Please correct me if I'm wrong

Hope this helps,
Tom

 

Yes! This!

with this noted, now I wonder why or how moving that top link aligns the front and rear wheels parallel. Seems to me it would only align them in the way your quote is bolded.

 

Maybe just semantics, but they are not parallel. They are in the same plane: pointed in the same direction, and the rear wheel directly behind the front one. When this happens, you want the frame level (forks in the vertical plane) and the steering centered. The two ends of the rear axle should be equidistant from the swing arm pivots (or the index marks). The wheel should be centered in the swing arm.

On a conventional frame the steering stem or headstock and the swing arm pivot are always orthogonal. The top link adjustment is for that purpose.

Don't make it more complex than it really is.

This is what is supposed to be accomplished by the LASER test:

 

So your issue IS that the top of the tire is pointing to one side or the other.

NOT...that the front to back of the wheel is pointing left or right.

I do not understand as well as to how the top link would correct front to back alignment (Think Toe In)??? I do understand how "with perfect engine mounts and installed perfectly" the top link would change the top to bottom of the tire angle (Think Camber). I also could see that badly worn engine mounts could allow the bottom of the engine to be to one side or other of center allowing a top to bottom angle of the wheel.

Johns example to me says to move the axle on one side forward or back to get the front to back of the wheel as well as belt or chain alignment.

But.....Please correct me if I'm wrong.....If the front "OR" rear engine mount was severely worn/damaged and is allowing the engine/trans unit (front or rear of the engine/trans unit) to sit left or right of center (as in at an angle in the frame pointing left or right), that I think would also cause the rear wheel , front to back, to be pointed left or right (same direction as engine is pointing). Normally would be fixed with adjusting the axle provided the engine is sitting straight forward and back in the frame.

As a thought on what I just wrote. If the front of the engine and the front of the rear wheel were both pointing to the left of center of the frame (provided the axle is properly measured and even from the swing arm pivot or alignment marks on the swing arm), I think that the belt/chain alignment could be perfect. If I understand right, the engine and trans and the swing arm are essentially one unit. As in you could pull the assembly out and mount it on the back of a go cart and have a 3 wheel go cart.

Again, just some thoughts,
Tom