Rear Fork Alignment problem
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Rear Fork Alignment problem
I have a '03' Dyna Super Glide and when I look at the rear tire it is 1/4" off center to the left. I have checked measurements, etc. with a friend of mine's '04' Super Glide and both measure the same. At this point I am wondering if the rear fork (swing arm) can be off center. the drive belt appears straight but it is running in the front pulley all the way to the left. Is there a way to adjust the fork assembly to the right 1/8" to center the tire and bring the belt more to the right away from where it is riding which is almost up against the inner primary cover? The bike was purchased used with 1054 miles on it and it has a 150 tire on the back which is also quite close to the left side of the fender.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
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From: Palm Harbor fl.
your fender is not an exact width between the two struts... good chance that it is misaligned..
also refer to your service manual on how to align the bike...
if your bike is misaligned then the rear tire will be angled right or left (a degree or two) causing the appearance of the tire being further from the fender on one side over the other.
easy check use an angle finder and a helper... have helper hold bike up so the front disc is 90ş and then measure the rear... if it is 89ş or 91ş you are ok on alignment but any more and you gotta align the engine in the frame.
also refer to your service manual on how to align the bike...
if your bike is misaligned then the rear tire will be angled right or left (a degree or two) causing the appearance of the tire being further from the fender on one side over the other.
easy check use an angle finder and a helper... have helper hold bike up so the front disc is 90ş and then measure the rear... if it is 89ş or 91ş you are ok on alignment but any more and you gotta align the engine in the frame.
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 780
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From: Massachusetts
rounder touched on this a bit. Are you saying it appears your whole tire is 1/4" to the left, or it looks like it is angled to the left? If it appears your whole tire is 1/4" to the left take off your fender and measure from the swing arm on both sides. Consult your manual for exact distances.
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Joined: Jan 2007
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From: Chesterfield, VA
The rear swingarm is mounted using cone bearings and races. Everything being as it should be, there shouldn't be any offset in the position of the swingarm. I have seen a post mentioning a swingarm being bent.
I have also seen folks on here who said their rear wheel was off-center, but still correctly aligned.
The rear drive belt should ride on the outside edge of the drive pulley. If it does not, you probably have a wheel alignment issue.
I have also seen folks on here who said their rear wheel was off-center, but still correctly aligned.
The rear drive belt should ride on the outside edge of the drive pulley. If it does not, you probably have a wheel alignment issue.
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The whole wheel and tire is 1/4" to the left. I measured from the tire to the fender on both sides and the measurements front and back of the tire to the fender is 1/4" to 3/16" different with the right side being the larger measurment. The belt appears straight and not angled from the rear pulley to the motor, and yes the belt is riding all the way to the left on the front pulley.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2007
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From: Chesterfield, VA
The measurement you need to be concerned with is the measurement from the pinhole drilled in the swingarn to the dimple in the center of the rear axle. Measure this on each side. The should be less than 1/16 inch difference.
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I will measure the distance to verify but I have not done anythiing to the rear end since I bought it. The ride has been great. I ride 30 miles one way to work and have had no problems. I am getting ready to change to custom wheels and new tires and noticed the variance. Since the bike has a 150 tire on the back it is quite close to the fender on the left side and I would feel better if it was centered. The H-D dealer told me that '03' Dynas had 130 rear tires. I read somewhere that late in the year H-D started putting 150's on them. My bike is a July, 03 which is almost to the end of the '03' line and the '04's began.
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Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
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From: Palm Harbor fl.
unless you check to be sure the bike is aligned you are grasping at straws.
can you verify for sure the wheel is not at an angle top to bottom?
have you loosened the fender bolts up then retightened them 1/4 to 1/2 turn in a back fort tightening sequence to get the fender lined up correctly?
do these thing and you will know whats up.
can you verify for sure the wheel is not at an angle top to bottom?
have you loosened the fender bolts up then retightened them 1/4 to 1/2 turn in a back fort tightening sequence to get the fender lined up correctly?
do these thing and you will know whats up.
Last edited by rounder; Oct 16, 2008 at 08:19 AM.
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