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"Wiggle" under acceleration

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Old Apr 9, 2017 | 07:05 PM
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Default "Wiggle" under acceleration

I've already emailed the shop I'm going to have look at my bike, but I thought I'd post here and ask anyway...

About a month ago, I put new wheels on my bike. The front went easy, and the rear was a little more tricky, and I had to drop it a second time to rearrange the spacers. The belt tension is fine, and I used this "coat hanger" trick, I'll call it, to align the rear wheel.

I've taken it out for rides a few times since. Something hasn't felt quite right, it seemed like there was this random shimmy, but I couldn't quite place it. Today, I finally figured it out.

When I get on the throttle, the rear, under my butt, feels like it jerks just a tiny bit to the right. And when I let off, lt jerks just a tiny bit back to the left. It is like a "wiggle", directly tied to whether or not the rear wheel is under load - as if the "pull" from the engine is shifting the rear wheel a bit.

I've visually inspected it, and don't see any evidence that the rear axle is shifting - no wear marks, or anything like that.

I suppose I could put it up on the lift, and give the wheel a good twist from the side, see if it is noticably shifting or loose in some way.

Like I said, I've contacted the mechanic. Just haven't heard back, or gotten a pickup scheduled yet.

I did all of my Winter projects myself, but at this point, I'd rather just have a pro look at it. Worth it for the peace of mind.

Just wondering if it sounds familiar to anyone?
 
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Old Apr 9, 2017 | 07:10 PM
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...I'll add: Before I realized what was going on, what I was noticing was that I'd feel a little "wiggle" through the handlebars any time I started slowing down - as if I was compensating for something (I was), but couldn't tell what.
 
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Old Apr 9, 2017 | 07:19 PM
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If this just started directly after this maintenance, I would double check your wheel alignment and air pressure first.
 
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Old Apr 9, 2017 | 07:19 PM
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what type of bike?
 
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Old Apr 9, 2017 | 07:20 PM
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2012 Heritage,
 
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Old Apr 9, 2017 | 07:23 PM
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Yup, check those two things first. Did you do any front end work besides wheel/tire?
 
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Old Apr 9, 2017 | 07:24 PM
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How many miles on the tire right now? When you say accelerate, are you talking normal acceleration, or "Full speed ahead"?
 
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Old Apr 9, 2017 | 07:25 PM
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Check fall away on the front end too.
 
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Old Apr 9, 2017 | 07:29 PM
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No, no other work. Probably 200 miles on the front, it was new. The rear had more. It was new last Spring, and I just had it removed from the stock spoke wheel, tube removed, and put onto the new wheel, and balanced.

But about 200 miles tops since the work was done.

Not full speed ahead, more like enough to feel "power on" from a coast.
 
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Old Apr 9, 2017 | 07:30 PM
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Originally Posted by cdonis
Check fall away on the front end too.
Don't know what "fall away" is. I'll do a search.
 
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