Wheel alignment?

**slofox** · 1st February 2011, 12:27

In the olden days, when one adjusted the chain tension f'rinstance, front and rear wheel were usually aligned "by eye". Which required getting someone to hold the front wheel straight ahead while you lay on your stomach and eyeballed the edges of the tyres from behind. At best this method was somewhat "approximate". Oh there were other ways too, involving long straight edges or string etc but the eyeball method was most common.

So what is modern practice? How do you check your wheels are aligned?

**george formby** · 1st February 2011, 12:32

Originally Posted by slofox

In the olden days, when one adjusted the chain tension f'rinstance, front and rear wheel were usually aligned "by eye". Which required getting someone to hold the front wheel straight ahead while you lay on your stomach and eyeballed the edges of the tyres from behind. At best this method was somewhat "approximate". Oh there were other ways too, involving long straight edges or string etc but the eyeball method was most common.

So what is modern practice? How do you check your wheels are aligned?

I check the gap either side of the swingin arm wi me peepers & have a lie down.

**bogan** · 1st February 2011, 12:34

Originally Posted by slofox

So what is modern practice? How do you check your wheels are aligned?

Truly modern tech needs no checking

just turn the eccentric to the desired amount of tension, perfect alignment every time, thanks Mr Honda

**F5 Dave** · 5th February 2011, 20:02

or if the sw has been bent a bit, no way to adjust it right.

Many bikes are off from their std settings on the SW. From the factory. Usually not enough to notice. Accident damage can make for an issue as well. My old CBX used to gently weave at slow speed on equal marks. We worked out what was straight, Once I'd scribed the new lines it was fine.

I use a long piece of box ally ($30 M10), can be checked against another by turning it on each side. push it against the rear wheel & line it up to the front disc. often good to have another foot long section taped so it is close to the disc.

Far easier that some laser arrangement & I've never found the eyeball method or string very convincing.

**slofox** · 7th February 2011, 08:01

Originally Posted by F5 Dave

I've never found the eyeball method or string very convincing.

Nah - me neither...

So we still use the box section huh? Damn, I thought it would be all mod cons by now...oh well.

**Blackbird** · 7th February 2011, 15:18

Hope this laser rig is of interest: http://geoffjames.blogspot.com/2010/...-handling.html

Still in use after knocking it up in 2003.

**slofox** · 7th February 2011, 17:13

Originally Posted by Blackbird

Hope this laser rig is of interest: http://geoffjames.blogspot.com/2010/...-handling.html

Still in use after knocking it up in 2003.

Looks good to me - thanks for that. (And for that link).

**Spearfish** · 7th February 2011, 20:46

Originally Posted by Blackbird

Hope this laser rig is of interest: http://geoffjames.blogspot.com/2010/...-handling.html

Still in use after knocking it up in 2003.

A damn fine blog you have there, hours of interesting stuff.
Not ashamed to say its helping me no end.

**Blackbird** · 7th February 2011, 20:51

Originally Posted by Spearfish

A damn fine blog you have there, hours of interesting stuff.
Not ashamed to say its helping me no end.

Thanks for the kind words. Only started it to fill in a bit of time when I was looking after my wife following a hip operation. That time is long past so no plans to continue the blog for much longer.

**Spearfish** · 8th February 2011, 09:03

Originally Posted by Blackbird

Thanks for the kind words. Only started it to fill in a bit of time when I was looking after my wife following a hip operation. That time is long past so no plans to continue the blog for much longer.

Thats a shame, I can imagine the hours burned keeping it going though.
I hope the pages stay up, I'm not finished reading yet? Its a pity its not a blog here as a "sticky".

**davebullet** · 8th February 2011, 13:32

Google string method wheel alignment. I think there is a version that doesn't require a jig (but probably isn't as accurate).

Just don't search on rhythm method - might get a completely different set of techniques!

(PS: or get a bike with a single sided swingarm ... even though it might be bent (even though it's not a honda) :-)

**bsasuper** · 13th February 2011, 13:44

It cant matter much, at least not to ducati, when the st4 came out a made brought one and complained to the dealer the bike was flopping in corners, there was 10mm sideways slop in the swingarm pivot.