rear wheel centering
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3rd Gear
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 7
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rear wheel centering
I had the tire valve shear off at the base of the cap threads while I was riding at the beginning of the summer up in North ID (having your back end go all squirrely at 65 MPH is kind of scary), and nobody had the two piece valve (including two harley dealerships
) I needed to get going again EXCEPT for the Honda dealer. So I sucked up and had them put a new valve in. When I got it back, everything seemed in order except when I downshifted while decelerating, the back end jukes to the side just like the tyre went flat again. It didn't do that before and it's too late now to go back to the Honda dealer and complain (I had to take the summer off from riding 
) I noticed that my tyre is also now rubbing my chain much worse on that side (it rubbed before, but only enough to allow for the depth of the rivets to pass). It's a mag wheel so no spokes. 1983 XLS roadster BTW. After some investigation I found that the wheel is off center about 1/4 to 1/2 inch measuring from the inside top of my rear fender. I looked and there is a about 3/4" spacer on the left side and none on the right. Is there a spacer missing? It wouldn't be 3/4", it wouldn't fit. The chain seems like it's in line with the sprocket, but I can't really tell. But something is definitely missing or wrong. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
lataz,
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) I needed to get going again EXCEPT for the Honda dealer. So I sucked up and had them put a new valve in. When I got it back, everything seemed in order except when I downshifted while decelerating, the back end jukes to the side just like the tyre went flat again. It didn't do that before and it's too late now to go back to the Honda dealer and complain (I had to take the summer off from riding ) I noticed that my tyre is also now rubbing my chain much worse on that side (it rubbed before, but only enough to allow for the depth of the rivets to pass). It's a mag wheel so no spokes. 1983 XLS roadster BTW. After some investigation I found that the wheel is off center about 1/4 to 1/2 inch measuring from the inside top of my rear fender. I looked and there is a about 3/4" spacer on the left side and none on the right. Is there a spacer missing? It wouldn't be 3/4", it wouldn't fit. The chain seems like it's in line with the sprocket, but I can't really tell. But something is definitely missing or wrong. Any suggestions would be appreciated.lataz,
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 4,525
Likes: 8
From: Wheeling, WV
You can't use the two different tire/fender clearances to say if it's aligned because the two sides ARE going to be different. But I agree, it's mis-aligned if it's able to rub the chain. Do you have a manual to align it yourself? I'm not sure if you have the holes on the swingarm or not for the hanger bar alignment method or not due to it being an earlier model. It's a simple job.....Maybe a 2, or 3 for a newbie wrencher, on a 10 scale.
Tourer
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 336
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From: Jacksonville, Fl
I know on mine, there are axle adjusters on each side. Loosen your axle bolts a bit, tighten/loosen whichever side adjuster needs it until you're centered (compare distance from the axle end, on center, to the swing arm bolt, on center, for the left and right side), torque your axle bolts back down.
Banned
Joined: Jan 2009
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Man, you are flirting with death!
Because of bike's age, you doubtedly will find the correct answer on web forums. You can figure it out tho if you first eyeball it and do a little/lot of digging for vintage specs.
Start with the drive side and determine if the chain sprockets are on same plane. Use metal straight edge across bare sprockets to establish alignment there and cut spacer thickness at swingarm on right side to lock it in. Use tranny drive sprocket as your guide and make rear wheel sprocket parallel and on same same plane with tranny drive sprocket. Once aligned on drive side, pull wheel backwards equally to establish proper chain tension.
The fact you sheared off valve stem indicates you are way off center and have one foot in the grave.
Take care my friend
Because of bike's age, you doubtedly will find the correct answer on web forums. You can figure it out tho if you first eyeball it and do a little/lot of digging for vintage specs.
Start with the drive side and determine if the chain sprockets are on same plane. Use metal straight edge across bare sprockets to establish alignment there and cut spacer thickness at swingarm on right side to lock it in. Use tranny drive sprocket as your guide and make rear wheel sprocket parallel and on same same plane with tranny drive sprocket. Once aligned on drive side, pull wheel backwards equally to establish proper chain tension.
The fact you sheared off valve stem indicates you are way off center and have one foot in the grave.
Take care my friend
Thread Starter
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3rd Gear
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 7
Likes: 1
ain't we all flirting with death...
I think the valve shearing off was just a defective part. It happened while everything else was working perfectly. It looked like the stem just broke clean off at the base of the threads where the cap screws on. Unfortunately this also took the valve core with it. Metzler tyres saved my rear. I will never buy another kind. Even with my fat end on there, it didn't touch the rim down on the pavement. I may put tubes inside them next time, but it didn't touch down. It didn't start screwing up until I got it back from the Honda dealers shop.
I'm not sure what someone was talking about with the holes in the swingarm, but it sounded like the chain tensioner bolts that make sure your axle ends are equidistant from the swingarm bolts. I like the straightedge thing on the sprockets though. How do I make a spacer the right depth? I should look through my manual to see if there is supposed to be a spacer on that side.
(I'm betting I can guess what RTFM means) I'll do some poking around tomorrow and let you know how it turns out.
[V]ort
I think the valve shearing off was just a defective part. It happened while everything else was working perfectly. It looked like the stem just broke clean off at the base of the threads where the cap screws on. Unfortunately this also took the valve core with it. Metzler tyres saved my rear. I will never buy another kind. Even with my fat end on there, it didn't touch the rim down on the pavement. I may put tubes inside them next time, but it didn't touch down. It didn't start screwing up until I got it back from the Honda dealers shop.
I'm not sure what someone was talking about with the holes in the swingarm, but it sounded like the chain tensioner bolts that make sure your axle ends are equidistant from the swingarm bolts. I like the straightedge thing on the sprockets though. How do I make a spacer the right depth? I should look through my manual to see if there is supposed to be a spacer on that side.
(I'm betting I can guess what RTFM means) I'll do some poking around tomorrow and let you know how it turns out.[V]ort
Man, you are flirting with death!
Because of bike's age, you doubtedly will find the correct answer on web forums. You can figure it out tho if you first eyeball it and do a little/lot of digging for vintage specs.
Start with the drive side and determine if the chain sprockets are on same plane. Use metal straight edge across bare sprockets to establish alignment there and cut spacer thickness at swingarm on right side to lock it in. Use tranny drive sprocket as your guide and make rear wheel sprocket parallel and on same same plane with tranny drive sprocket. Once aligned on drive side, pull wheel backwards equally to establish proper chain tension.
The fact you sheared off valve stem indicates you are way off center and have one foot in the grave.
Take care my friend
Because of bike's age, you doubtedly will find the correct answer on web forums. You can figure it out tho if you first eyeball it and do a little/lot of digging for vintage specs.
Start with the drive side and determine if the chain sprockets are on same plane. Use metal straight edge across bare sprockets to establish alignment there and cut spacer thickness at swingarm on right side to lock it in. Use tranny drive sprocket as your guide and make rear wheel sprocket parallel and on same same plane with tranny drive sprocket. Once aligned on drive side, pull wheel backwards equally to establish proper chain tension.
The fact you sheared off valve stem indicates you are way off center and have one foot in the grave.
Take care my friend
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 4,525
Likes: 8
From: Wheeling, WV
I was talking about two tiny holes, one on each side of the swing arm that is used to align the rear tire. You insert a tool, or cut/bent hanger with a slip marker, into that hole & measure each side of the axle bolt, (drive side versus brake side), & use the adjusters at the rear to get the tire aligned. However, as I stated, I'm not sure if your year model has those holes though. You'll have to read your manual on how to do your alignment.
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