Square rear axle

It's been raining all morning so I tried to find a different way to square up rear axle to bike:

Find center of bike


Square off of laser line:


Measure to center of axle:




Obviously I'm bored out of my mind with all this rain

Pete

Then just mark the flats on adjuster to keep track of turns.

Silly waste of time to me anymore but certainly appreciate the thought and care of set up satisfaction similar to what I went through in various ways till it sunk in was useless if not referencing everything to the isolastic bolts/frame tabs. Once you are happy with the rear wheel alignment, feel with fingers the space between both sides of front of rear tire to swing arms to set dang near perfect on side of road in cold rain with numb fingers and pissed impatient wife waiting to go after a flat fix or like I do now at home w/o any devices. Now go back and check the stem bore is square to the iso tube holes and recheck the wheel axles in relation to that then recalibrate finger spacing and gloat on your nice ease of assembly.

Steve,
It was either that or clean the garage. Now I can go have a beer and say I did something today.
Actually, rain stopped and ground is drying, another hour and it should be good outside.
Pete

Pete I am fully in your happy camp of getting some delicious delicate tedium success on other wise wasted soggy day. All motorcycling is silly stupid to me so nothing personal implied to you or me but everyone with an illogical addiction to itch. I know only so much time left for me to get going so tend to be lazy with shortcuts as long as just good enough. I mean how many times of using florescent bulbs, long straight edges, levels and stretched strings, plumb lines or chalk lines or mounting aligning laser pointers till cutting into life more than adding to it? Its rained way more than clear weather this year so even if I had cycles ready to go only a few windows of dry roads in now hot humid conditions. Safe Journeys riding hands off down to a stop before putting a foot down.

Very interesting, but is it in line with the front wheel? :?

Dave

Dave,
I used the center of the steering yoke as the front point of the laser and my seat post (which I know sits on the center line of the bike) as my secondary point. This was just a recheck of previous work, using a different method. I also set the laser up from the front of the bike and checked yoke tube for plumb. I did that when the wheel and fender were off, sorry no pictures of that. Wheel offsets are correct, so this is as good as it gets w/o major dis assembly. The iso's locations are left as they are, I don't need the Worlds Straightest Commando. Just wanted to get wheels under the bike straight and square. This is also a good way to line up the rear fender and tail light.
Pete

Edit: Sorry. That was the long answer, short answer is: Yes the wheels line up and the chain line is good also.

The most precise way to align the wheels is to measure to the wheel lips (not the tires) on both sides at axle height. Two long straightedges or laser lines and all 8 measurements the same (or add half the difference to front four if the rear wheel is wider) and your wheels are in line. The tricks are getting the front wheel centered and then adjusting the rear with the chain adjusters. Parallel is not necessarily in line unless the measurements are the same on both sides. If you have the same size wheels front and back, as stock Nortons do, all 8 measurements to the wheels lips must be the same. Regardless of perceived chassis, fram or fender centers, this is how to align. I use the two long straightedge method close to the wheels under the engine, which is less precise than measuring at axle center level, but works pretty good as long as both axles are level. A twisted frame or swingarm can throw the axle levels different, as can a cocked front wheel, although the latter is much simpler to deal with than either of the former.

Danno,

What you suggested is pretty much what I did when I re-laced my rims last year. Took as many measurements as I could with tires off of the rims in order to take tire irregularities out of the equation. That's why I was happy to see that using this last method that every thing still came out spot on and no adjustments were required. Thanks for the info, sun is out finally going for a ride.

Pete

If you end up with everything measuring correctly and the front wheel looks cocked, you know there is another issue, such as a wheel offset spoked wrong, bent frames or whaever.

Danno,
Thanks, I should be good to go. Just stooped for lunch and directions. Took some back roads I have never been on before, no clue where I am.
Pete

If yoose guys ever get enough various condition skewed Commando experiences down - you might become as lack lazy as me on alignment as only having to do with chain sprocket and tire wear or failure to assemble w/o swearing brute force. Nice high at home and to share here approaching WSC with its ease to assemble just do not expect to detect any handling issues or improvement except better mileage of wear items.

Steve,
I didn't make any changes so I wasn't expecting to feel anything different. Although when I got lost on some back roads this afternoon I swear I was hearing banjo music in the distance. Any idea what that was about?

Deets55 said:

Steve,
I didn't make any changes so I wasn't expecting to feel anything different. Although when I got lost on some back roads this afternoon I swear I was hearing banjo music in the distance. Any idea what that was about?

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I don't know.....but you sher got a perdy mouth. squeeeeeeeeel! squeeeeeeeel!

I too once was dam anal on alignments most thinking for safe handling but after 100 miles on two broke axles not strapping back in align very stable only notice was initial 3-5 mph bucko and last few mph to stop but good at road speeds even hands off but sure eased all turns loads expecting a surprise dismount. I think every owner should find out just how close or not various aligments are as part of full initiation into Nortoneering, like dancing with one on centerstand trying to keep time light aimed ...