Rear Wheel alignment and belt adjustment
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 3,846
Likes: 173
From: Simi Valley, CA
I also lubed the nut and the cam... The cam still rotated when tightening the nut.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 2,916
Likes: 31
From: earth
Somebody makes a groovy adjustment assist tool for the left side that braces against the swingarm, and maintains the left side position while torquing the right side, I just can't remember who.
Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 575
Likes: 4
From: SouthWestern Ontario
Using the "third hand tool" will make it impossible for the right side camplate to move out of adjustment while torquing the nut other than the small amount of freeplay it has on the axle.
http://www.jpcycles.com/product/910-854
I made one for $7. Works well and the custom lower shock washer I made allows me to leave it in place if I want. It came in handy while fine tuning the alignment after modifying my swingarm when the belt was coming loose.
Last edited by Recycled; May 7, 2012 at 05:21 PM.
Tourer
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 303
Likes: 0
From: ontario, Canada
Ensure the inner surface of the cam that mates up against the swing arm is clean and free of any lube or grease and it should stay put.
Account Retired
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 3,245
Likes: 12
From: Here
The method I use and never had a problem is,
1 make sure you have slack in the belt and both cams are against tabs with slack taken out of right side cam.
2 Holding the left welded nut, Tighten the right side nut to 25 ft lbs.
3 Very slowly turn the left side welded nut clockwise until belt has proper tension.
4 Hold left side welded nut and torque right side nut to specs.
If you want to check rear wheel alignment, Pop the dust caps off the
swingarm shaft on both sides and measure from the center of the swingarm shaft to center of rear axle.
1 make sure you have slack in the belt and both cams are against tabs with slack taken out of right side cam.
2 Holding the left welded nut, Tighten the right side nut to 25 ft lbs.
3 Very slowly turn the left side welded nut clockwise until belt has proper tension.
4 Hold left side welded nut and torque right side nut to specs.
If you want to check rear wheel alignment, Pop the dust caps off the
swingarm shaft on both sides and measure from the center of the swingarm shaft to center of rear axle.
Thread Starter
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Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 7,101
Likes: 1,013
Thanks a lot for the help guys, very appreciated.
I'll report back if I have any problems. These cams seems like a small pita.
thanks for the tip on where to measure from, that will come in handy.
peace
I'll report back if I have any problems. These cams seems like a small pita.
thanks for the tip on where to measure from, that will come in handy.
peace
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 3,846
Likes: 173
From: Simi Valley, CA
The method I use and never had a problem is,
1 make sure you have slack in the belt and both cams are against tabs with slack taken out of right side cam.
2 Holding the left welded nut, Tighten the right side nut to 25 ft lbs.
3 Very slowly turn the left side welded nut clockwise until belt has proper tension.
4 Hold left side welded nut and torque right side nut to specs.
If you want to check rear wheel alignment, Pop the dust caps off the
swingarm shaft on both sides and measure from the center of the swingarm shaft to center of rear axle.
1 make sure you have slack in the belt and both cams are against tabs with slack taken out of right side cam.
2 Holding the left welded nut, Tighten the right side nut to 25 ft lbs.
3 Very slowly turn the left side welded nut clockwise until belt has proper tension.
4 Hold left side welded nut and torque right side nut to specs.
If you want to check rear wheel alignment, Pop the dust caps off the
swingarm shaft on both sides and measure from the center of the swingarm shaft to center of rear axle.
Last edited by 2black1s; May 7, 2012 at 11:46 PM.
Road Warrior
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,802
Likes: 2
From: Salt Lake City, UT. Dushore, Pa.
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Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 575
Likes: 4
From: SouthWestern Ontario
And that freeplay is exactly the movement I was referring to. That freeplay, while fairly insignificant, compromises the precision of the alignment to a point. It's probably well within an acceptable range of tolerance for most all applications, but it does compromise the precision that is otherwise achievable with other designs. This is the reason for the comment in my first post where I said I do not like this design. But then again, I'm a little **** when it comes to precision
I actually welded a new nub on the left (welded camplate) side and ground it to exacting dimensions squaring the axle with the swing arm shaft.
The problem I had was the conversion from a 1" axle to a 25mm axle. That left too much clearance and even with the correct torque the axle would move up & down in the opening on the left side, allowing the cam plate to slip enough and loosen the belt.
These are problems not normally found but it was a custom, widened swingarm that was mistakenly welded about 1/8" on the shortside, on the left leg. Once the nub was redone and an axle shim was installed, all is well.
Last edited by Recycled; May 8, 2012 at 01:17 PM.
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