Wheel alignment assistance?

**nathanwhite** · 22nd November 2011, 10:29

Heading home on sunday after an epic weekend of riding, I found that when I let go the handlebars at sub 70kph the front wheel starts wobbling. It starts off with small oscillations, but progressively gets bigger so that after 3 seconds it is at tank slapper level.

It has been suggested (sensibly so) that I do a wheel alignment.
So I set out to do that, but once I got the string in place, I realized that I have no idea how to actually make sure they are in line, and if not, how to correct it.

So is there anyone in west auckland (or greater auckland) who wouldn't mind me coming over, or coming to mine to give a few pointers and to make sure I don't screw things up worse?

And yes, I have tried googling it, the answers were either vague or unrelated

**bogan** · 22nd November 2011, 10:40

I'd be checking the wheel and headstock bearings first (if you haven't done that already). Wheel alignment is generally only done to the rear wheel (the chain tensioners can skew the wheel a bit). Another potential cause is wheel balance, for that try jacking the front end up and spinning the wheel, if the bars wiggle that might be the issue.

**Katman** · 22nd November 2011, 10:43

Most likely just tyre wear.

**nodrog:Me** · 22nd November 2011, 10:56

Originally Posted by Katman

Most likely just tyre wear.

what she said

**willytheekid** · 22nd November 2011, 11:30

Got the same bloody problem.

Wheel bearings...replaced 3-4 months ago due to silt in Chch chewing through them.(and the rear bearings...and the swing arm bearings...with z fully sealed german ones!)

Headset bearings- checked by mechanic when new fork seals fitted a few months back (which have blowin again!...bloody silt!...need forks roughed up again as their to "shiny" now...damnit!)

Tyre-started doing it just after the new one was fitted.

So in my case its either fork alignment-Not that common tho as they generally self align.

Or (and I think its this one) The front tyre and rear tyre tread pattern or general shape/contour don't compliment each other.

Bloody annoying tho, I have checked everything over and over, reset the fork seating and even checked the fork brace for any warping etc....so Im thinking its just the tyre.

**unstuck** · 22nd November 2011, 11:44

To check your wheel balance, raise the wheel and give it a spin and mark where it stops. Spin the wheel a couple more times and if it stops in the same place every time then the wheel is unbalanced.

**nathanwhite** · 22nd November 2011, 12:53

Alright, I'll have another crack at it tonight

**Blackbird** · 22nd November 2011, 13:32

When I had my last tyres fitted, the fitters cocked up the alignment. Fortunately, I could tell as I built a simple laser alignment rig in 2003 which is still going strong. Took 5 minutes to check and another 10 minutes to fix it. If you want to consider one in the future, here's the design and how to use it:

http://geoffjames.blogspot.com/2010/...-handling.html

http://geoffjames.blogspot.com/2011/...and-wheel.html

Cheers,

Geoff

**nzspokes** · 22nd November 2011, 14:44

Or 2 bits of 2 x 4 on the ground.

**Blackbird** · 22nd November 2011, 15:22

Originally Posted by nzspokes

Or 2 bits of 2 x 4 on the ground.

If you can guarantee they're absolutely straight

**Haggis2** · 22nd November 2011, 16:30

[QUOTE=nathanwhite;1130199806] I found that when I let go the handlebars at sub 70kph the front wheel starts wobbling.

Don't let go of the handlebars then

**nathanwhite** · 22nd November 2011, 19:13

Originally Posted by Haggis2

Originally Posted by nathanwhite

I found that when I let go the handlebars at sub 70kph the front wheel starts wobbling.

Don't let go of the handlebars then

I was waiting for someone to say that

Pulled the front wheel off and wiggled the things inside it around a bit, then stuck it back on and made sure it didn't move and wotnot (up/down and sideways that is) then a quick blat up and down our street. No wobble.

No idea why.