Took me a little while to find the thread - links got all jacked up:
http://www.bigdogbiker.com/threads/laser-rear-tire-alignment.60815/#post-615546
Rear wheel alignment.
- Thread starter garyb69
- Start date
http://www.bigdogbiker.com/threads/laser-rear-tire-alignment.60815/#post-615546
Fwiw, on my Pit, I just found the axle center on each side an put a light punch mark on each center. Then its just a set of calipers to check for straight. I just use the edge of the oval cutout on the frame and put the tip of the caliper in the punch mark.....if any of this makes sense? After talking w Doug at C.A.Jones, I learned that the factory had plus or minus of .125 on rear wheel!
garyb69
Active Member
Right Guys, this is where i am at. Went and bought myself a caliper gauge and centre punch today and marked myself smack dead centre on both sides. i then again used the gauge to measure from the inside cut out of the frame to each centre point and i am now 100% certain that my rear wheel must be running dead straight. The problem i still have though is whilst it runs forward fine, i only need to turn it 3/4 of a turn backwards and the belt moves from left to right across the pulley (looking from the rear) and rubs on the tyre. I have now noticed that the rear wheel was off centre by about 3mm from when i removed it and marked it first and i have done about 2500 miles like that so could the belt now be distorted due to this? I also noticed when i loosen the axle bolt i have a gap of about 2 - 3mm between spacer and frame where i can slide the wheel from side to side so is this normal? And finally have i got my spacers right? looking form the rear (04 Ridgeback) Left side: frame - large spacer (lip to bearing) Right side: small spacer (lip to bearing) - caliper bracket - medium spacer (no lip) - frame. Any help would be much appreciated as i really don't know where i am going with this at the minute. Cheers
Agreed.
Now you mention you are off 3mm from original markings. Now you have the caliper if you measure your original markings are those not square? Its not impossible to assume that the transmission/engine wasn't perfectly square from the factory. May need to loosen engine and transmission to realign
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Dragonslave
Active Member
This is normal
garyb69
Active Member
I've just had a thought now you mentioned that, although it has been 2500 miles plus since my rear wheel was removed and refitted, it was only 750 miles ago my engine was removed and refitted after a rebuild. Maybe that could have something to do with it?
Well let me just say if it's fine going forward and no rub and you know the tire is square I'd say you are golden. Mine doesn't track the same either I assume the engine and transmission are slightly off square as well but I don't think it will kill anything. I mean it doesn't have to be off much to track slightly funny, I doubt I'd even be able to get it to run perfectly straight if I tried
Unless you plan on putting in a reverse gear.
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BWG56
Guru
Did you loosen up the tranny when you had the motor out also?
Here's the deal. The motor and trans are tied together with the inner primary. If you were to loosen the motor and trans, and then loosen the adjusting set screws on the rear tire, you will be able to align the entire drive as a single assembly if you will. This will allow you to straighten ur belt dang near perfectly. A string line from front wheel to the back should help a bit also. Just my thoughts......
TapioK
Well-Known Member
My belt has always moved closer to tire when backing, has done so over 20.000 miles. It is quiet, works good, doesn't rub the tire..... I figured who the fuck cares if it's not absolutely perfect. There is plenty of shit on my bike, house, me, wife, GF, car that is not perfect. All seem to work... Looking for perfection just drives you nuts.
Tapio
Tapio
FrankBDPS
Well-Known Member
Could not have said it any better.
garyb69
Active Member
Yeah I kinda got to that way of thinking in the end after wasting hours of my life that I will never get back. Who the fuck wants to go backwards anyway? Forward is definitely the way forward.