04 Rear Wheel Alignment

[rags1000]

I was adjusting my chain today and I am having a problem getting the hash marks to line up. When the axle nut is loose I adjust the chain with the chain tensioners. I get both sides even and I push on the rear tire as I snug it up. As I torque down on it the left side silver wedge kinda twists making the hash marks uneven. The left side is futher back. Is anyone else having this problem?

Thanks

[Vigor_Mortis]

It is best not to pay much attention to those marks. Assuming they are stamped accurately in the first place, they will still be a bit off after the axle nut is tightened down. As you discovered.

You can use a string wrapped around the rear tire and pulled forward on both sides to the front tire. If you line up the string with the edges of the tires just right, it is possible to make great fine tuning ajustments to the rear axle.

Or you can sight down the top of the chain from behind the bike. Have to lean down quite a ways, but it is possible to see if the chain links are straight or not. And you can spin the tire and to if it remains straight all the way around.

[RoadRider]

I found this happened too but only when I slackened the axle nut off fully, like you would do if you were removing the wheel for instance, so the swingarm was no longer clamping on both wheel spacers.Now I slacken the axle nut off just enough so the adjusters can move the axle when they're backed out and I get no 'twisting' when the axle nut is torqued up.

[skinnyR!]

Originally posted by Vigor_Mortis
You can use a string wrapped around the rear tire and pulled forward on both sides to the front tire. If you line up the string with the edges of the tires just right, it is possible to make great fine tuning ajustments to the rear axle.

what? Maybe an illustration would help.

[JSide]

12 mm wrench stuck between the chain and the sprocket and nothing will move.