Sealant is often there from stock but could also be a sign that somebody did some work inside and caused the problem....ya gotta think positive man!!

 

. I'm close to ct, not far from ny. Spanners. What am missing? How can I check the frame for straightness?

 

You can check the wheel alignment with a straight edge but an angle gauge through the headstock (steering stem) is more accurate. You may have to look around for a guy as my dude is a bit far from you.

You can also do a comparison with a known straight bike of the same model.

 

I've seen them check in a way that I would describe as unorthodox. Wtf do I know...
Like spanners said, use the neck.
Strip everything of the bike, stop whining
Grab a chalk line and snap a line about eight feet long
Center as well as you possibly can
Drop a plumb bob down the neck onto the chalked line
Start checking all your lines and angles
Compare with something known good like a manual or a known good frame
I can't say if this works out doesn't work as I've never tried it.

 

Nah, we straighten frames with the tank still on if it hasn't already been removed....only need the trees out to check through the neck.

The guy I use makes his living straightening motocross and race frames...charges 300NZD a time....dead cheap!!!

 

How much free play could possibly be in the mounts, I don't even see how it could measure straight and be so far off unless I can shift the bottom of the engine somehow. I went against my better judgement and took it out for an hour ride last night. I kept checking the petcock with my finger to make sure it wasn't leaking. Handles great, but it does want to go left slightly with no hands but I can force it straight with a little lean and no hands. With hands on the bars there's no pull at all

 

I just went through the same thing on my bike.
I can't list all the things I tried.

When I got rid of my spokes and put on mags (along with respacing the front wheel) that finally fixed it.

 

Spokes look good, but really have no business on a normal road bike like a Harley... they are of no use to a Harley rider. If you ride an ADV bike and need spokes, it's a different story.

 

That's A BULLSHIT statement! Always had spokes on my harleys. If you install them correctly indicate them in, within a 1/64th, all is good. People that have problems with spokes are lazy, don't check tension periodically , & bad things happen.

Ride Safe,
Harold

 

No, sorry. I raced motocross for over a decade, and have the trophies to prove it. They look good but they have no business on a street bike in the modern day and age. There are very few of us who actually know how to keep them in check... let's not forget the hassle it is if you get a flat with one. Spoke wheels are just a way for the moco or XYZ motorcycle company to not have to spend a whole lot of money but still charge a lot for it. Unless you're riding your motorcycle off road, spokes will not benefit you in the least, and only serve to be another damn maintenance item.

If you think spokes are so good then go tell road racers to stop putting those shitty aluminum wheels on their bikes.