Checking a swingarm

Serves me right. I was whining that I missed the build project now that the bike was "done". HA!

In hind sight, this explains alignment issues during construction, like the chain rubbing against the chain guard and a crooked tail light and the silencers not looking symmetrical. The bike had obviously been through a bad crash. I had the frame and yokes straightened, but neglected the swing arm.

Can anyone see how the rear tire is out of alignment with the frame in this pic?
If so, can I get a second (third or forth) opinion? This is the old style swing arm without the gussets and I'm thinking it's not worth having straightened.
Is it possible the engine cradle is causing this? That seems less likely.

Its well known at least in 750's the rear wheel as Norton issued is laced for some reason to land about 3/16" or more to the LH of stem/loop center. Yours is so close its not obvious unless pointed out in your photo up close. Will take deeper investigation on which muffler is lower or higher or both off opposite ways and why. The aim of the headers bend into mufflers also determines how hi or low the muffler ends end up. I've had to put a bit of a kink in 1st header bend by head in the top of the line most expensive Victory headers to keep it off the points covers and not tip muffler end obvious out of symmetry. Swing arm could be twisted too so plumb line frame and wheel to see if parallel vertically or remove to index table to see if axle and spindle parallel.
Commandos come as basic parts kits it takes custom work to finish properly and luck of the draw on parts condition. When i follow my buddy Wes on his '71 with even angled mufflers it looks like he's riding a Star Wars levitating sled with his feet on the ski runners.

Setting the bike level by putting a bubble level across the tubes under the seat and/or the tube under to motor, then measure the center of the rear axel to the floor and check the difference. Swapping out a swing arm is fairly straight forward and would easily take less than a six pack.

In relation to the spine it looks way out. The rear wheel should sit central to the frame loop - but most of them don't. Just in case you've not seen this http://www.vintagenet.us/phantom/wsc.html

yours looks like mine before I rebuilt it.. the Rear guard never sat right nor did the tail light sit right, just like yours. My bake had been in a bit of a crash and the seat loop was off to one side. Now it is right, the rear guard fits and the tail light looks like it is where it should be [ not perfect but ok ].
looking along your main frame tube, yours seems way off.

Roadrash said:

Serves me right. I was whining that I missed the build project now that the bike was "done". HA!

In hind sight, this explains alignment issues during construction, like the chain rubbing against the chain guard and a crooked tail light and the silencers not looking symmetrical. The bike had obviously been through a bad crash. I had the frame and yokes straightened, but neglected the swing arm.

Can anyone see how the rear tire is out of alignment with the frame in this pic?
If so, can I get a second (third or forth) opinion? This is the old style swing arm without the gussets and I'm thinking it's not worth having straightened.
Is it possible the engine cradle is causing this? That seems less likely.

Click to expand...

I think you may be making an "assumption" that the swing arm is twisted from a bad crash (maybe)... IMO before you "rework" swingarm area check the alignment if the two wheels to each other.. Be absolutely sure the the front (trued) wheel is central to forks (which also means frame) and align the back wheel to it.. Common knowledge is that the rear wheel is set "a bit " to the RHS to line up with front wheel. If they are lined up or can be adjusted to be aligned then it will travel straight down the road.. As for pipes and tail lights not being symetrical.. Try harder!!

Might be wrong here but is that rear tyre "rotation" the wrong way around..

Much as it rubs us wrong to view factory skewed rear wheel alignments what matters most is the drive sprocket lines up with the driven one. Yours is so close to right its not apparent to me unless pointed out but the hanging lower muffler end does distract from Commandos perfected symmetry from the rear. About only thing besides chain and teeth wear if out of line somewhat is tire wear will be faster asymmetrically but not the handling you can tell except maybe slowly going hands off.