Rear wheel alignment
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Road Master
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 861
Likes: 136
From: Wisconsin
Rear wheel alignment
Recently purchased a 2001 Road Glide. I've got a service manual on the way, but untill then I'm not sure on the rear wheel being perfectly straight in the swingarm. Does anyone know a good way to check and see if it's straight ? I see there is a couple of small holes drilled in the side of the swingarm, are these reference points ? any help would be appreciated.
Jonnierock
Jonnierock
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 461
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From: North Dakota
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 2,100
Likes: 307
From: mid Michigan
You can measure the bolt center from swing bolt to axle but I found this only gets you near. I found a Utube vidio that used string. You loop it around just the back part(going threw rim, then run it along each side till u are at front wheel on each side & past held with Jack stands. It's easer to understand if you can see it. Utube was a metric with center stand. I had to do it with it on bike jack.
That year still has Cleve blocks like (junk for bushings) mine. Really need to change to a solid bushing & but new isolaters (rubber mounts as old) then spend alot of time getting it straight. Mine pulled before alignment, now it straight going down the road. The bushings made it more solid in bumps and curves.
That year still has Cleve blocks like (junk for bushings) mine. Really need to change to a solid bushing & but new isolaters (rubber mounts as old) then spend alot of time getting it straight. Mine pulled before alignment, now it straight going down the road. The bushings made it more solid in bumps and curves.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 3,599
Likes: 5,175
From: SWMO
I think the manual will advise you to use the gas welding rod or some other stiff wire to make a tool that uses the center hole in the swingarm pivot bolt to measure back to the axle bolt on each side. That will get you wheel aligned in the swingarm. Then the question is, is your swingarm aligned with the engine/transmission?
Also check your swing arm for cracks around the axle bolt. Early 2000's were kinda known to do it.
Also check your swing arm for cracks around the axle bolt. Early 2000's were kinda known to do it.
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Road Master
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 861
Likes: 136
From: Wisconsin
Thanks thats what I did. I made a rod and then ran it from the pivot bolt that bolts the swingarm to the frame. Then measured back on both sides, the exact same distance on both sides of the rear axel.
Club Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 4,192
Likes: 168
From: Knoxville, Tn
Axle Alignment
I use a piece of coat hanger wire, with a short 90° bend in one end and a small o-ring that will slide on the wire. Put the bent end in that little hole and put the o-ring in the center of the axle. Make sure it's the same on both sides, and you can only twist the drive belt 45°.
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Road Master
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 861
Likes: 136
From: Wisconsin
Now that I've have gotten the rear wheel centered exactly in the middle of the swing arm, ( I rechecked several times) I've created another problem, you can hear the belt rubbing. Any solutions for that ? Belt deflection is at 3/8"
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Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,898
From: Bedford UK
Find out what it is rubbing against! Probably the belt guard, but make sure before adjusting more stuff. With your recent questions you would have been better off waiting for that service book!
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