11-22-2009, 04:55 PM | #1 |
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Ottawa
Posts: 119
|
Front wheel offset
I swear the wheels on my beast don't line up front to back. On the right side the front wheel is about an inch further outboard than the rear. No problem. On the left.... the front wheel is about 3 inches further outboard than the rear. This can't be good. I am on the verge of cutting a spacer to shim the rear wheel so the bike is in balance....but before I do that I just want to know if anyone else has a similar situation.
I butted a straight edge tight up against the rear tires and on the left side the line runs right through the middle of the front tread. On the right it just clips the tire by about 3/4 inch. Waynev suspected a similar problem, but dismissed it as optical illusion. I find it odd that there never seems to be any full front pics of the beast on the Gio site and wonder if this is an inherent problem they prefer not to display. Any advice welcomed. right side left side |
|
11-22-2009, 05:23 PM | #2 |
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Alberta, Canada
Posts: 3,274
|
Yup, I noticed that mine looks a little off kilter as well. But, the chain seems to run straight so I am guessing everything is in line. I suspect it might be just the way they are made?
P.S. Though the handling is kind of unique... I can see how they got the quads name. My sons steers much better (Mini Beast). I still have to set the caster and camber though if I ever get time. |
|
11-22-2009, 06:01 PM | #3 |
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Newmarket On Canada
Posts: 382
|
After seeing this I had to go check of course. I have approx. 1" difference from drivers side to pass. side.
Drivers side front is wider by 2" than rear, and pass. side front is wider than rear by 1". My front/rear sprocket alingnment is perfect. So..it may be frame, or it may be cumulative error from front to rear, but I dont like it. What to do about it is another matter. Have to think about this.
__________________
Good, Fast, or Cheap....Pick Two. |
|
11-22-2009, 06:15 PM | #4 | |
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Alberta, Canada
Posts: 3,274
|
Quote:
Edit: Is it possible that the rear axle being out of whack could cause this? Couldn't really though, because the chain would be skewed I think. |
|
|
11-22-2009, 08:25 PM | #5 |
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Sardis, BC, Canada
Posts: 25,977
|
I just checked mine, and it's nearly bang on. Could this be the problem for you guys? http://www.chinariders.net/modules.p...ewtopic&t=7702
__________________
Weldangrind "I figure I'm well-prepared for coping with a bike that comes from the factory with unresolved issues and that rewards the self-reliant owner." - Buccaneer |
|
11-22-2009, 08:40 PM | #6 |
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Surrey, B.C., Canada
Posts: 2,185
|
We were just playing with the front end on mine, and eyeballing the back wheels and it didn't seem out to me. The original assembler did put a spacer/washer in the back end which W&G noticed as we were loading on the truck.
|
|
11-22-2009, 09:00 PM | #7 | |
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Alberta, Canada
Posts: 3,274
|
Quote:
Regards, Stew Do you think it will go in a straight line now? (JK) |
|
|
11-22-2009, 09:03 PM | #8 | |
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Surrey, B.C., Canada
Posts: 2,185
|
Quote:
|
|
|
11-22-2009, 09:17 PM | #9 | ||
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Alberta, Canada
Posts: 3,274
|
Quote:
|
||
|
11-23-2009, 01:39 AM | #10 | |||
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Surrey, B.C., Canada
Posts: 2,185
|
Quote:
|
|||
|
11-23-2009, 02:32 AM | #11 | |
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Newmarket On Canada
Posts: 382
|
Quote:
The engine. Engine is the key here, it just hit me as I was typing. If we could unbolt the engine and slide it toward the side with the most offset (to reduce it) then we can move/shim the rear axle to "follow the engine" so to speak. Maybe there is room for adjustment on the engine mounting holes but if not then I'm sure they could be opened up, or elongated.
__________________
Good, Fast, or Cheap....Pick Two. |
|
|
11-23-2009, 12:19 PM | #12 |
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Sardis, BC, Canada
Posts: 25,977
|
I agree Pete, although I think there's another angle.
When I received my Beast, there was considerable shipping damage, likely caused by a forklift (John at Gio was excellent through all of this). I ended up replacing the swingarm and bushings (because there was only one bushing in there :roll: ), and that's when I noticed the dissimilar widths of the swingarm and axle. Since my new swingarm had never been bolted in and connected to the axle, it had never been forced to accomodate the axle and the chain. I cut some spacers before ever installing the new swingarm, so it remained straight. My guess is that you guys with front wheel offset will also find that the hub to hub distance is dissimilar from side to side. I think that both issues are caused by forcing the swingarm to meet the axle, and then installing a chain. As you pointed out Pete, the front to rear sprocket relationship is most important, and I think that the swingarm can be adjusted around it.
__________________
Weldangrind "I figure I'm well-prepared for coping with a bike that comes from the factory with unresolved issues and that rewards the self-reliant owner." - Buccaneer |
|
11-23-2009, 10:04 PM | #13 |
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Ottawa
Posts: 119
|
Turbo, you wrote......
The original assembler did put a spacer/washer in the back end which W&G noticed as we were loading on the truck. Could you post a little more info on this spacer. My plan was to shim the left rear wheel 1 3/4 using some laminated hardwood and epoxy. Doing that along with W&G's axle shim idea(thx) should bring me about perfect.....thx....waynec |
|
11-23-2009, 10:21 PM | #14 |
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Sardis, BC, Canada
Posts: 25,977
|
T, I hope you don't mind me jumping in here...
waynec, the spacer/washer T speaks of is just a standard fender washer in between the swingarm and the axle. It looks as if the PO tried to correct the swingarm to axle difference, but we'll do it properly at our next quad service day. What is the benefit to hardwood over steel tube?
__________________
Weldangrind "I figure I'm well-prepared for coping with a bike that comes from the factory with unresolved issues and that rewards the self-reliant owner." - Buccaneer |
|
11-24-2009, 07:03 AM | #15 |
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Ottawa
Posts: 119
|
Oh no.....I will use a similar spacer to yours is that spot. I'm refering to a disc 1 1/2 thick to fit on the wheel hub. I will drill for the wheel studs and shape it to accept the wheel snugly. It would be aluminum for most people I suspect, but I have the material and tools to handle the hardwood and am a little less intimidated by it to be honest....waynec
|
|
|
|
|
|