Welcome to NESR! Most features of this site require registration, including replying to threads, sending private messages, starting new threads, and uploading files. Click here to register.

Results 1 to 18 of 18

Alignment after chain adjustment

  1. #1
    Daily Commuter Drewski's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2010
    Location
    Haverhill, MA
    Posts
    485

    Alignment after chain adjustment

    I just did my first chain adjustment and now I'm not sure I have the rear tire straight. When I had it on the rear stand and ran it in 1st gear, the chain seemed to move back and forth a small bit. I ran a string from the front to rear tire and it looks to be out about 1/8 - 1/4 of an inch from side to side but the adjustment marks are dead on. The bike is a '98 Honda VTR1000. Should I go by the marks like the manual says and leave it at that? Thanks in advance for any help.

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!

  2. #2
    Lifer
    Join Date
    Jun 2011
    Posts
    16,509

    Re: Alignment after chain adjustment



    Demonstrates the "string method" for aligning. Google 'round for more.

    Personally I use the hash marks 9/10 times. The 10th when I'm feeling anal I bust out the tape measure and measure from the swingarm pivot bolt to the axle on both sides. So far I've yet to find a motorcycle where the hash marks on the swingarm are not accurate enough for my needs.

    2 Not allowed! Not allowed!

  3. #3
    Lifer Tekime's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2016
    Location
    Falmouth, ME
    Age
    44
    Posts
    1,323

    Re: Alignment after chain adjustment

    Quote Originally Posted by nhbubba View Post
    Personally I use the hash marks 9/10 times. The 10th when I'm feeling anal I bust out the tape measure and measure from the swingarm pivot bolt to the axle on both sides. So far I've yet to find a motorcycle where the hash marks on the swingarm are not accurate enough for my needs.
    ^ Same here. Digital caliper works too.

    I've read if your bike has a fixed point on the frame that's identical on both sides you can measure distance to the axle on both sides there as well. Been meaning to look into this as it might be more reliable and just as simple. The string method drives me nuts. And for some reason I never seem to have any string handy.

    1 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    05GSXR75005SV65090DR350

  4. #4
    Daily Commuter Drewski's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2010
    Location
    Haverhill, MA
    Posts
    485
    Wirelessly posted

    Thank you guys.

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!

  5. #5
    Unsafe At Any Speeds Jim's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Location
    :lurk:
    Posts
    12,504

    Re: Alignment after chain adjustment

    i bought the alignment tool from Jimmy Chance on the WERA boards. it's done me very well over the years.

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    EX 105
    Sponsors: Motul, Michelin, K&N, Woodcraft

  6. #6
    Lifer Kurlon's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Location
    Waterboro ME
    Age
    46
    Posts
    13,520

    Re: Alignment after chain adjustment

    I've got a homemade tool. (Heyooo!)

    I started with a bar of aluminum from the hardware section of Home Depot. To it I've attached two zipties with the leads cut to about 3". I take said handy tool and space the zipties apart so I can hold it up to the swingarm and have a ziptie end touching the center of the axle and swingarm pivot bolts. Once setup, I then move to the other side to check to see if it still lines up without adjustment. That'll align the wheel to the swingarm pivot.

    The other check is to spin the wheel a few times and then look at the chain at the furthest back point on the rear sprocket, midway between the top and bottom. If the sprocket to chain alignment is good the chain will have matching gaps on each side of the teeth. If the chain is pressed up on one side and not the other, the chain alignment is off.

    Depending on the state of your bike, chain alignment and wheel to swingarm pivot may not occur at the same time. Neither may be true straight either.

    1 Not allowed! Not allowed!

  7. #7
    Lifer isaac_'s Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2014
    Location
    Central CT
    Posts
    1,134

    Re: Alignment after chain adjustment

    Quote Originally Posted by Kurlon View Post
    I've got a homemade tool. (Heyooo!)

    I started with a bar of aluminum from the hardware section of Home Depot. To it I've attached two zipties with the leads cut to about 3". I take said handy tool and space the zipties apart so I can hold it up to the swingarm and have a ziptie end touching the center of the axle and swingarm pivot bolts. Once setup, I then move to the other side to check to see if it still lines up without adjustment. That'll align the wheel to the swingarm pivot.

    The other check is to spin the wheel a few times and then look at the chain at the furthest back point on the rear sprocket, midway between the top and bottom. If the sprocket to chain alignment is good the chain will have matching gaps on each side of the teeth. If the chain is pressed up on one side and not the other, the chain alignment is off.

    Depending on the state of your bike, chain alignment and wheel to swingarm pivot may not occur at the same time. Neither may be true straight either.
    Too many words. Needs more pictures.

    2 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    Isaac LRRS/CCS #871 ECK Racing | Spears Enterprises | GMD Computrack Boston | Pine Motorparts/PBE Specialists | Woodcraft | Street & Competition | MTag-Pirelli | OnTrack Media
    Bike: SV650, Bride of Frankenstein

  8. #8
    Lifer Tekime's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2016
    Location
    Falmouth, ME
    Age
    44
    Posts
    1,323

    Re: Alignment after chain adjustment

    Quote Originally Posted by Kurlon View Post
    I've got a homemade tool. (Heyooo!)

    I started with a bar of aluminum from the hardware section of Home Depot. To it I've attached two zipties with the leads cut to about 3". I take said handy tool and space the zipties apart so I can hold it up to the swingarm and have a ziptie end touching the center of the axle and swingarm pivot bolts. Once setup, I then move to the other side to check to see if it still lines up without adjustment. That'll align the wheel to the swingarm pivot.
    I'm very curious about this. Maybe I'm not getting it... sounds like you just made a ruler lol. I second the pics request ^

    Love my homemade valve spring compressor.. kicks the "real" tools butt, sometimes expensive is not better! Would love to have another trick up my sleeve for alignment.

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    05GSXR75005SV65090DR350

  9. #9
    Lifer Kurlon's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Location
    Waterboro ME
    Age
    46
    Posts
    13,520

    Re: Alignment after chain adjustment

    Quote Originally Posted by Tekime View Post
    I'm very curious about this. Maybe I'm not getting it... sounds like you just made a ruler lol. I second the pics request ^
    That's exactly what it is, a ruler with adjustable probes. I'll get pics this weekend.

    1 Not allowed! Not allowed!

  10. #10
    Day late, dollar short carsick's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2011
    Posts
    2,861

    Re: Alignment after chain adjustment

    I don' care what Isaac says, I want no pictures of Kurlon's probe tool.

    1 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    99 + 02 SV650 ex-race - 91 FJ1200 street - 03 KDX220R woods - 12 WR450F motard/ice

  11. #11
    Lifer Tekime's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2016
    Location
    Falmouth, ME
    Age
    44
    Posts
    1,323

    Re: Alignment after chain adjustment

    lmao

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    05GSXR75005SV65090DR350

  12. #12
    Day late, dollar short carsick's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2011
    Posts
    2,861

    Re: Alignment after chain adjustment

    He was my den mother at the track. I don't want to ruin that with things that can't be unseen.

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    99 + 02 SV650 ex-race - 91 FJ1200 street - 03 KDX220R woods - 12 WR450F motard/ice

  13. #13
    Lifer
    Join Date
    Jun 2011
    Posts
    16,509

    Re: Alignment after chain adjustment

    "Was." Ha!

    1 Not allowed! Not allowed!

  14. #14
    Lifer Tekime's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2016
    Location
    Falmouth, ME
    Age
    44
    Posts
    1,323

    Re: Alignment after chain adjustment

    I don't know, if it's adjustable you have to be a little curious

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    05GSXR75005SV65090DR350

  15. #15
    Day late, dollar short carsick's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2011
    Posts
    2,861

    Re: Alignment after chain adjustment

    It's all in how you use it. To hell with these new "adjustable" ones.

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    99 + 02 SV650 ex-race - 91 FJ1200 street - 03 KDX220R woods - 12 WR450F motard/ice

  16. #16
    Daily Commuter Drewski's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2010
    Location
    Haverhill, MA
    Posts
    485

    Re: Alignment after chain adjustment

    Thanks again guys. Figured out what I did wrong and went ahead and re-did it this morning. I appreciate the help.

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!

  17. #17
    Member
    Join Date
    Jun 2015
    Location
    Republic of VT
    Posts
    82

    Re: Alignment after chain adjustment

    And for the high tech path -I give you the ... Profi Laser

    I have one and it works as advertised.

    x

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!

  18. #18
    Lifer Tekime's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2016
    Location
    Falmouth, ME
    Age
    44
    Posts
    1,323

    Re: Alignment after chain adjustment

    Quote Originally Posted by Studio X View Post
    And for the high tech path -I give you the ... Profi Laser

    I have one and it works as advertised.

    x
    Neato. I've puzzled over using a laser for a DIY tool but didn't think to use the chain as a reference. I've got a line laser kicking around somewhere too...

    Would love one of these Sealey setups: Sealey MS070 Motorcycle Wheel Laser Aligner - YouTube

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    05GSXR75005SV65090DR350

Similar Threads

  1. Rear wheel alignment
    By SRTie4k in forum Bike Maintenance
    Replies: 26
    Last Post: 05-22-15, 08:53 AM
  2. Manual Cam Chain Tensioner Adjustment
    By LXnastynotch93 in forum Bike Maintenance
    Replies: 6
    Last Post: 06-28-14, 11:08 AM
  3. Chain adjustment.
    By ae in forum Bike Maintenance
    Replies: 26
    Last Post: 07-14-11, 08:18 AM
  4. Chain adjustment question
    By Dannyboy in forum General Bike Related
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: 01-01-03, 09:42 AM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •