I have read many ways to align the rear wheel....I understand this may be an old subject but I am new to the forum and found it to be quite knowledgable. Therefore I will put my 2 bobs worth in and pass any ideas I come up with if they have not been used before.
I using a lazer level to double check...25-30 bucks will get you one from bunnings.
But I am a little confused as to which side of the rear pulley should the belt run outer side or inner side.
When I first picked my bike up the belt run to the outer side of the pulley...but when I push the bike backwards the belt run to the inside.
I am in the process of doing the first service and re-aligned the rear wheel/belt tension is on my list...I have used center of rear axle to center of swing arm pivot bolt to align the rear wheel...this is pretty well spot on...rechecked using a laser level front to rear is within 0.5mm
How do I check with a laser level...well I have the level against the rear rim with spacers of equal length so that the level is not incontact with the tire but in contact with the rim it self....then I align the front wheel so that it is in line with the rear wheel....measure the laser beam at the front of the rim on say the left side and the back of the the rim on the same side....this will be the same measurement...the wheels are now in line to one other...do the same to the right side and measure the front and back of the right side...I get 0.5mm variation...over 2.5 meters from front to rear rim measures 0.5mm this is well within the limit according to the manual.
But here is were I am confused...the belt runs to the inside of the pully at all times...when I pull up from a ride and when I push the bike backwards. Different from when I first picked the bike up.
So which side should the belt run..inner or outer side of pully? Or inner when going forward and outer when pushing bike backwards?
WC
New bike only 850klms so belt and pulley shouldn't have any wear.
As for the laser level....got no pictures at the moment.
I have the level against the rear rim..level with the floor so the level is pointing front to back of bike...using spacers of equal length so the level is actually on the rim and not the tire as the tire is not a good datum point I then take a measurement front of the front rim...rim to the laser beam and the same again to the rear of the front rim...record that and do the same for the ther side.
Hope I haven't confused you.
Scotty,
Just for the record Bike is an 08 Fatboy.
OK, you say the alignment is out...but when I checked it the distance from the centre of rear axle to the swingarm pivot bolt is spot on per the manual..Thats by eye. Belt now runs to the inside weather you go forward or backwards.
Did a check before I made the adjustment and it was out by 1mm. Belt ran to the outside going forward and the inner going backwards.
Glider has a jig he uses...similar to the laser level method only a rod instead of a beam...I would think the laser is more acurate than the rod where as the rod could have a slight curve in it and the laser would be dead straight.
Glider your input would be appreciated here...how does you belt run.
Thanks for the feed back guys, Re-checked alignment with my trusty alignment tool (axle too swing arm bolt) and it was OK.
Took the bike for a ride today...perfect conditions didn't get slammed by any bugs. Pulled over 4 times and checked the belt...each time it was in a differnet spot, dead centre, to the left, dead centre again and to the right. I suppose the belt must be lined up OK. Seems like it is wondering from left to right. Backwards in runs on the inner side.
Has anyone observed how the belt runs on the pulley while riding behind at low speed.
Retsurht,
Didn't mean I was riding when I checked the belt......Pulled over and did the checks.
