Does this make sense for squaring forks to axle?

[Danny caddyshack Noonan]

I just killed both a front and rear set of tires, I think due to fork offset. Ran the left shoulders off of each in about 2k miles. Rear lost close to 1/8 inche of tread down to bald in 500 miles of sierras and the front is squared on the left. Each had lots of right side tread left. I did the loose clamp jounce on the brakes technique last time due to front left shoulder wear.

 

I'm thinking of this approach to installing the front:

With the axle installed and torqued into its bolt and the clamps loose, measure the gap. It's only about a mm or two out of 165mm. I'll measure the amount of axle (side with screwdriver hole) sticking out on the side. Then reinstall with the wheel and new tire with the same amount of axle sticking outside the clamp.

This assumes:

1. The hanging position of the forks is proper

2. The fork brace isn't bent

3. I'm assuming the right things

 

Is there anything in the swing arm pivots that should be checked for going out of tolerance? No movement at 9/3 and 6/12.

 

Thoughts?

[dan cata]

Could the swing arm be moving from it's gearbox mountings?

 

Never heard of that but I guess it could be possible... There are bearings in there as well.

[dirtrider]

Hi Peter

 

I don’t buy for a minute that fork alignment is wearing the sides of your tires especially the rear tire. I have a pretty good idea on what wears the sides of mine but won’t go into that here but suffice to say it isn’t fork alignment.

With the axle tight on the wheel bearings that is a solid object. With the fork clamps tight on the axle that is a solid object with both pieces being forced into alignment with everything tight. If you think the forks being skewed a little is causing your tire wear then you would then have to agree that the forks being out of alignment is bending the front axle. Is it bent?

Now that is not to say the forks being slightly far apart or close together is not causing some sticking of the forks and adding more friction dampening to the front end. But that isn’t leaning the front tire or causing side wear. Odd area cupping I could believe as the tire will want to bounce a little more but not side wear.

 

[Ian]

I just killed both a front and rear set of tires, I think due to fork offset. Ran the left shoulders off of each in about 2k miles. Rear lost close to 1/8 inche of tread down to bald in 500 miles of sierras and the front is squared on the left. Each had lots of right side tread left. I did the loose clamp jounce on the brakes technique last time due to front left shoulder wear.

 

I'm thinking of this approach to installing the front:

With the axle installed and torqued into its bolt and the clamps loose, measure the gap. It's only about a mm or two out of 165mm. I'll measure the amount of axle (side with screwdriver hole) sticking out on the side. Then reinstall with the wheel and new tire with the same amount of axle sticking outside the clamp.

This assumes:

1. The hanging position of the forks is proper

2. The fork brace isn't bent

3. I'm assuming the right things

 

Is there anything in the swing arm pivots that should be checked for going out of tolerance? No movement at 9/3 and 6/12.

 

Thoughts?

 

I recently read a post that a guy who had a leaking left front fork that he was advised to tap the wheel shaft to the left before tightening.

 

I do not have the knowledge to confirm if this is correct.

 

regards,

 

Ian

[philbytx]

Ian,

Was that to the left looking from the front or the left looking from the riding position !

 

 

[Danny caddyshack Noonan]

Ummm. Never mind. Bad assumptions.

 

Once I started putting it back together I see the flaw in that thinking.

 

[Tony_K]

Ummm. Never mind. Bad assumptions.

 

Once I started putting it back together I see the flaw in that thinking.

 

Now THAT is funny!

[Ian]

Ian,

Was that to the left looking from the front or the left looking from the riding position !

 

 

From memory it was towards the left from the riding position. I have just been Googling for the link but cannot find it again.

 

Sorry,

 

Ian