VF500 F2 Rear Wheel Impossible!

GMD Computrack. I have been thinking that thing is tweaked for quite some time. Closure needs to happen.

 

I agree, I would like to see some closure on this.

Slow has inspected the front to rear sprocket alignment and this checks out. As a next step the front and rear wheels should be checked to see that they are aligned - that they share the same centerline.

 

NCB has a very good point and I think a GMD location is in New England (Boston?)

BZ

 

I figure if the visual inspection / quick measurement / comaparsin of the two bikes does not show up any obvious differences we can setup a "string box" and start really measuring.
I can also bring my set of Fowler digi Mics and Mitutoyo Calipers to accurately measure the spacers and machined hub to see if these match Jamies spec (May have been changed/modified by previous owner)

As soon as the weather gets regularily above 10F and stops raining we can hopefully put this to rest

Moose

 

E-Mail sent.

....and thanks again. I'm in your debt sir.

Again...thank you for your offer but I cannot let this go without seeing it through to the end. I have spent too much time and money on this to just let it go now. ESPECIALLY if it leaves me with an F2 Wheel with brand new rubber both I can't get rid of.

I have been asking/wondering/suggesting since the first page of this thread if something could be wrong or different about my swingarm.

Page 1 Post #24 and Page 2 Post #38. IIRC someone said it's next to impossible to bend the swingarm in a way to effect the kit. I don't recall who.

I thought you said the rear is offset from the front....so the front and rear wheels don't share the same centerline? As I mentioned earlier the center of the Rear Tire is offset from the center of the rear of the bike. (not the swingarm but the seat. Measured from grab-rail to grab-rail)

You are a saint and a scholar.

The kit has been inspected by Jamie and he has said it matches his specs fine and I checked with my crappy Vernier but by all means, checking again can't hurt anything.

I know, right?!

May has been FREEZING so far.

You are 100% correct. I sent the kit to Jamie and he said it fit his bike fine. IIRC he said he modified it slightly and as a kicker had his kids install it on one of his 84 VF500's

 

The rear wheel center-line is not in the centered in the swingarm - it is offset slightly to one side.

I think it would be a good check to inspect the front and rear wheels to confirm that they share the same center-line and are parallel - i.e. the rear wheel is not askew.

 

invisible cities wrote - Slow has inspected the front to rear sprocket alignment and this checks out. As a next step the front and rear wheels should be checked to see that they are aligned - that they share the same centerline.

Slow replied - I thought you said the rear is offset from the front....so the front and rear wheels don't share the same centerline? As I mentioned earlier the center of the Rear Tire is offset from the center of the rear of the bike. (not the swingarm but the seat. Measured from grab-rail to grab-rail)

The swingarm is not symmetrical, but the rear wheel should line up perfectly with the front wheel. See Learn Simple Motorcycle Wheel Alignment - Motorcyclist Online for a quick and cheap method to align the wheels with string.

 

Slowbird....I am kind of jumping in here, but I have been following this epic adventure... I am wondering if your bike has had an accident? I am not gonna defend Jamie product, but if he says it is correct and it fits on another bike, maybe yours has been wrecked then restored? are you sure that it is all original parts that are on your bike? And did the canadian model come with different specs? you may have answered these questions earlier, but I didn't see them.... also you said you replaced the rear shock. is is possible that it is not as good as it should be?

and to answer your question about the laser....they are pretty dam accurate have used them in an automotive capacity but not bike , but in auto usage they are really good.

hope you figure it all out..

 

Ahhhhh....ok guys. I see what you mean now. I misunderstood before.

So the front and rear wheel are/should line up together even though the rear wheel doesn't sit in the exact centerline of the bike.

Thank you Alaskan. This was posted earlier in this thread and I have used it as well as my sprocket alignment tool to try and get everything as lined up as possible.

The string method is very difficult since:

a) I have no one to give me a hand ever
b) the 100 up front and the 155 in the rear make it kinda difficult

Possibly. Again....I have been asking this question since the beginning and it was said that the force required to bend the swingarm would be extreme.....and the swingarm itself shows no damage.

I have asked these question but was never really given an answer.

Yes. I have a modified F2 shock that I got from Jamie. It sure did increase the rear ride height. (not enough to clear the rear tire when I have a passenger)
Unsure how good it is in relation to how it should be.

I have this video I shot when I first installed it this past winter. I'm just trying to bounce the rear around using my butt. I weight about 140lbs.

YouTube - VF500 with Modified F2 rear Shock

 

Slow, you can check wheel alignment with the string method all by yourself - SportRyder's Wheel Alignment Method

It might not hurt to buy a couple of beers and check it tonight. If your driven sprocket is aligned with your countershaft sprocket BUT your wheels are way out of line, not so good . . . .

 

Slow.. I watched the video.....what is it set at? can it go stiffer?

 

Have to agree with above statement. Have you enough preload on that shock. It appears to be VERY soft.
Is the spring correct for your weigh & shock damping ok (not leaking etc)

Note the following it may help:-
Rear (check this especially in your case)
Rider Sag - 20-30mm (race), 30-35mm (street) (25-30% of Full Travel)
Free Sag - 5-10mm (extremely light bikes use less) (15-25% of Rider Sag)

Front
Rider Sag - 30-35mm (25-30% of Full Travel)
Free Sag - 15-20mm (60-70% of Rider Sag)

 

The rear wheel is not centered in the swingarm - it is slightly offset.

You have confirmed that the front and rear sprockets are aligned - which is good.

As a next step check to see that the front and rear wheels are aligned.

 

Sweet! Thanks for the link. I'll try that.

As I have mentioned before. I got the sprockets AND the front and rear tire lined up as close as possible.

When I did the string method I had my GF helping me and though she tried her best she didn't really wanna touch anything and couldn't really see or understand what she was doing. So I aligned the wheel as close as possible.

That's what I said, yea?

The Shock is NOT leaking as far as I can see.
As far as I know it isn't adjustable.

It is an F2 shock I shipped out to Jamie. He asked for my weight and I told him 150lbs.
He then sent back the shock modified to fit my bike plus a new spring set for the weight I mentioned.

 

I'm not buying all that string, jethro, backyard methodology...take the thing to GMD computrack and have it measured....it is the only truly accurate way to do it. I may be mistaken, but I am going to go out on a limb and say that there isn't one race team, or reputable wheel and frame guy that would recommend anything but this method. I had to have my brand new VFR frame straightened, as the headstock was not correctly welded at the factory, the only way this would have ever been discovered is by the use of the GMD method. The machine doesn't necessarily have to have been crashed, to be tweaked.

 

I am guessing that the misalignent is so gross that the strings (straightedges) will show it. If not, Slow isn't out anything except the beers he drinks while futzing around - which he probably would have drunk anyhow. ;-)

And yes, Slow, you can adjust the preload on your F2 shock. I am beginning to wonder if the problems here are related to soft preload . . . ?

 

Oki doki, just looks a bit soft. You will need to adjust your preload to a higher (stiffer setting) when carrying a pillion tho, this may stop tire rubbing. Try it mate, and let us know.
Cheers

 

I would if it wasn't very expensive. As it is. I don't want to spend too much money on this bike.

How? I had no idea!

 

the new shock looks much shorter in lenth and this will affect ride height causing the tire to rub, preload should be adjusted to rider for the correct sag.
the problem seems more due to shorter shock lenth..
the string alignment works but it is much easier to get 2 pcs of some thing about 7'-8' long and straight.
put the straight edges one on each side of rear tire, make sure the run square ( you can use 2 framing squares ) and measure to each side of front rim to make sure they are inline.
PM me and I can make up a drawing to help explain this method.