Topic: alignment and handling

[merc2dogs]

what's the trick to aligning a 750?

 been playing with mine for a while, started last summer, put it off for the winter,  and still  have not fully satisfied myself with the alignment.

 problem is that it rides fine in straight line, right turns are perfectly normal, but when turning left it wants to 'fall' into the curve, not a literal fall, just acts like that's the way it's supposed to go.
 
 best way to put it is that right turns take effort, left turns just take a thought. If I could get it to handle right turns with equal alacrity I'd be one happy puppy, Just bring on the twisties!

 any write ups on cycle alignment, any ideas of what to check?

 any 'lists' of the proper spacers on each side front and rear?
 
 Realy frustrated because with a tape measure, a square and some string I can align any car so well you'll swear it was done on the best machine, but I just can't wrap my mind around this bike.

 Bike's never been laid down or wrecked, and the frame is straight, just can't seem to get it to handle equaly left and right.
 right feels heavy, left is actualy fantastic.

Realy hoping someone can throw a few ideas my way!

Thanks
Ken.

[Gordon]

How are the steering head bearings?

[750goes]

thinking along the same lines as per suggestion above, does it have any steering shudder through the bars ??, this can indicate the head bearings need replacing/repacking with grease etc.. if they are original ball bearings, then they can easily wear into a pattern that will be notchy or not run easily into either left or right turns.....the races are not smooth and the ball bearings tend to stick a bit ...

having said that...check for bad bearings on the front wheel as well, one or both sides may need replacing... simple to check both ........put bike on stand and turn bars left to right slowly and feel for "notchiness" if thats a word...(for head bearings)
........while on the stand check the tightness of the steering head as well............
........check the front wheel movement from side to side and top to bottom just like a car,,, get a friend to hold the steering while doing this one.........(wheel bearings)

 

[eurban]

Here's a good link describing a string line method of aligning front to back.  http://www.motorcycle.com/mo/mcnuts/chassis.html Keep in mind that you should first address any faults such as your steering bearings, front fork twist, swingarm bearings, wheel bearings, wheel truing, worn tires etc before you should focus on fine tuning wheel alignment.  On my 750K8 the alignment marks on my swingarm are a good bit off.  Using a stringline method I was able to get the front and rear wheels in just about perfect alignment.  There was a noticeable improvement in handling compared to the wheels being being aligned using the swingarm marks.  Search this forum under alignment and or google for motorcycle alignment and you should find some more good info.  I found the string (dental floss works well believe or not) methods to be more precise than using straight edges.

[bwaller]

If after all these good suggestions (especially notched s. head brgs.) it still "falls left" and you're sure you've checked all the simple things, consider checking that the fork tubes are not slightly bent. It requires a complete front end disassembly of course.

[merc2dogs]

  Thanks all, will double check everything.

 Head bearings are fine, changed to tapered last year because I had some serious notchiness and self centering
may drop front end and check for scrub marks on the bearings etc.

  Have plenty of string, always been a string and square guy when it comes to alignment, been trying to work aroiund and through the belly stand, think I'll make a stand to support it and keep it upright on both tires.

  Raining out now, so can't tell if anythings helping, but working on it now!

thanks all
Ken.
 


   
 

[333]

Along with all the bearings that have been mentioned, you might also look at the wheel bearings(front and rear).  A loose one or bad one on one side might be the problem. And when checking the forks, check the upper and lower triple tree clamps, and the allen bolts that hold the forks to the lowers.  Those allens are accessed by removing the front wheel and are recessed inside where the axle sits.  A loose bolt at any of these locations might be the trouble.

[TwoTired]

I skimmed this thread, so if this has been covered...oh well.

Find a road with no crown or where you are able to ride on the center of the crown.
Hands off bars will the bike go straight?  Can you lean to steer it?

If you have to lean to make it go straight, change your rear wheel alignment a little.  And try again.  If it's worse you went the wrong way.  If it's better at going straight then adjust some more until it does.

Note how far off the marks on the swing arm are for future chain adjustments.

This assumes everything else on the bike is in good working order, of course.

Now check to see if your turning issues are solved.

Cheers,

[merc2dogs]

 Wow! this thread dropped back quick!

 Nope, haven't solved it yet, been raining or way cold fairly constant here,and don't want to start messing with alignment when I can't check it out.

 Tomorrow's free and supposed to be nice though, so I'll play with alignment as soon as I get it back together, parts bike I picked up had a dyna3 ignition on it, so I temped that up well enough to see that it worked, now I have it mounted, but not hardwired or tuned yet.

  All that I've done to the suspension this week is swap shocks, and change fork oil.

Thanks, will post results
Ken.

[Jonesy]

In the "Thoughts of HondaMan" FAQ there was a piece on alignment of the wheels.