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chain tension vs. wheel alignment


mike_pl
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Hi all


just a quick one...

couple of months back I purchased 2009 YBR125.

Bike is in OK condition but my happiness came to an end when I wen't with it for MOT last Monday and been told that for seal need replacing and I have wheel alignment of chart and chain to tight...

with the seal I decided to change the whole forks as there were marks on the old ones like somebody was trying to hammer them or something...(how much should I expect to be charged to get them replaced??)


and second question is wheel alignment something I can fix on my own and could it partially sort the chain issue?

if so if any one of you got any videos or txt tutorial I would be ever so grateful

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Its a lot simpler on a bike. Only one wheel to align and normally there are markers each side to help you line it up.

Easy DIY job that all bikers should learn to do themselves as setting chain tension and wheel alignment is a common maintenance task.

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as its labour only you should expect about 2 hours labour costs most garages charge anything from £35 up to £65 an hour roughly for the forks,and your rear wheel alignment is something you have to learn to do yourself as other op said if you look down where the rear wheel spindle goes through the frame you should see lines on the frame and a mark on the plate the spindle goes through counting from the front both sides should be on the same mark,and if your chain is to tight then you need to loosen the main spindle slightly and the adjuster bolts in the rear of the plates then move wheel forward slightly untill you get the correct amount of free play then tighen everything up again,of course if you are not sure ask the garage to do it and also ask if you can watch so you know how to adjust it in future when doing your routine maintaince

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I wen't with it for MOT last Monday and been told that for seal need replacing and I have wheel alignment of chart and chain to tight...

with the seal I decided to change the whole forks as there were marks on the old ones like somebody was trying to hammer them or something

By meaning wheel alignment does he mean front to rear? Because if he does that could open up a completely different can of worms.

You said that the front forks look like they have been hammered this suggest to me that they might of been bent at some [point and someone tried to straighten them out. Quick test here will give you some idea

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If your rear wheel notches are equal both side of the rear wheel and the front is way out l would get it professionally check over.

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Easy way to check the above is to hold a straight edge (edge of a wooden board, piece of straight angle-iron, etc.) tight against the side of the rear wheel and check it lines up with the front - If not, it could be the front forks, bent yolk, bent frame (but for the latter, I would have thought the tester would have told you that).


:cheers:

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  • 2 weeks later...

ok so front seal is sorted.. I got myself a brand new set of forks fitted...

but for the alignment I'm still struggling.

I've checked it lossen the wheel tried to get it aligned but to do so my chain would have to be really tight and when looking on the frame marks for the other side of the wheel is about 2-3 marks difference.

If the frame is bent is it even possible to fix it in any way. if so what could be the cost of it?

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if you cant check it from the markers on the swinging arm then measure from the swinging arm pivot bolt to centre of rear wheel bolt and make sure both sides measure the same with the chain at the correct tension,you might have to loosen off the adjusters slightly and move wheel forwards or backwards a bit to get measurement the same with corect chain adjustment

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well I know for a fact I won't be able to align them wheels using markers on the frame.

I'll give it a go tomorrow with tape measure... :)

any tips How can I balance the bike in the air? as at the moment I'm leaving it on stand fitted to the bike I have none of them fancy bike stands :P

and another one.. how close it has to be to pass MOT...

I've got a deadline for retest for Monday after work so would just like to pass it till it's free (2 weeks free retest)

and then take it to the garage and get somebody who knows what he's doing to have a go...

It probably is like you said loosen one bolt.. push this way and tight it back up for somebody who knows what he's doing ;)

it took me good 15 min to figure out which way I need to move the wheel once it was loose to get it in line.. but then like I said...

the chain beginning to be an issue as I need to pull the wheel too far and chain getting to tight.

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the bike should have a centre stand on it thats all you need to check chain tension like start by checking measurement from pivot bolt to wheel spindle both sides then if its out loosen rear wheel spindle slightly and loosen the chain adjusters a little you will then be able to gently tap or puah wheel about untill A.the measurement is correct and the same both sides and B. chain tension is correct then tighten everything back up

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