Rear wheel alignment
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2012
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From: Orange County
Rear wheel alignment
Is it safe to say, the dimension from the left side to right side should be the same, referring to the distance from the rear of the chrome swingarm cap to the center of the axle, on each side?
Road Captain
Joined: Dec 2012
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From: Reno
That is a slippery question to answer without raising the culpability eyebrow with respects to aligning the rear wheel... even though these things are mass produced... I'd have to rely on the fact that each bike might differ in tolerance.
Having said that... I personally haven't measure mine though it would be an easy task to do.
Can't get her to track true?
Having said that... I personally haven't measure mine though it would be an easy task to do.
Can't get her to track true?
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2010
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From: Phoenix '53, '88, '09 Big Twins
yes.
while I haven't bothered on my 09, I have practiced alignment on a number of evo rubbermounts.
you make a gauge with a welding rod or even a piece of coathanger wire- this is detailed in the evo manual.
bend one end to 90ş and put the tip at the center of the swingarm pivot....a sliding picec of rubber tubing is used to mark distance to CL on the axle- check the other side.
the later swingarm with the "cammed" axle is easier, the older use an adjuster on each side.
alignment could be off due to any of the motor mounts- OR worn swingarm bushes
setting up a drivetrain can be fiddly, but it is straight forward.
a really quick way to check alignment is with 2 x 8' straight edges. when placed against the sides of teh rear tire and projecting forward, the distance from each straight edge to the front wheel will be the same.
easy cheap 8' straight edges are flourescent lighting tubes...
mike
while I haven't bothered on my 09, I have practiced alignment on a number of evo rubbermounts.
you make a gauge with a welding rod or even a piece of coathanger wire- this is detailed in the evo manual.
bend one end to 90ş and put the tip at the center of the swingarm pivot....a sliding picec of rubber tubing is used to mark distance to CL on the axle- check the other side.
the later swingarm with the "cammed" axle is easier, the older use an adjuster on each side.
alignment could be off due to any of the motor mounts- OR worn swingarm bushes
setting up a drivetrain can be fiddly, but it is straight forward.
a really quick way to check alignment is with 2 x 8' straight edges. when placed against the sides of teh rear tire and projecting forward, the distance from each straight edge to the front wheel will be the same.
easy cheap 8' straight edges are flourescent lighting tubes...
mike
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From: Sacramento, CA.
Extreme HDF Member
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From: Phoenix '53, '88, '09 Big Twins
well, they suggest a rod as with the end bent at 90ş it can recess into the dimple on the end of the swingarm pivot...then you slide the piece of rubber or tubing or O ring to the axle...
easier to avoid a parralax error that way
nice pic in that link -above once it loads
mike
easier to avoid a parralax error that way
nice pic in that link -above once it loads
mike
Last edited by mkguitar; Nov 6, 2016 at 11:30 PM.
Thread Starter
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 6,663
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From: Orange County
well, they suggest a rod as with the end bent at 90ş it can recess into the dimple on the end of the swingarm pivot...then you slide the piece of rubber or tubing or O ring to the axle...
easier to avoid a parralax error that way
nice pic in that link -above once it loads
mike
easier to avoid a parralax error that way
nice pic in that link -above once it loads
mike
To each, their own, I guess.
Last edited by Road Star; Nov 7, 2016 at 07:21 AM.
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From: Bedford UK
I've never used the rod technique, but then I'd been checking wheel alignment on a wide variety of bikes for a long time before buying a rubber-mount Harley. There are various alternatives such as an 8 foot long flourescent tube, although I've never used one, while it is dead straight it's a little fragile! A similar length of wood, as long as it's straight, or my way is with a length of string pulled tight. A sturdy tape measure will do just fine.
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From: Phoenix '53, '88, '09 Big Twins
You CAN use a tape measure BUT you may not be as precise.
We shared what HD recommends - and what I've done.
Mike