08 Road glide pulls to the Left
#41
Rules of alignment: #1 the front wheel will always go straight down the road (unless you're turning, of course) #2, if your forks and trees are straight, then the front end will look like it's going straight as well. #3, the rear wheel will always roll parallel to the front wheel. If the rear wheel angle is not parallel to the frame, then the back end of the bike will feel 'kicked over' to one side, so you'll feel like the back end isn't following the front end. This misalignment can be caused by the rear axle not being parallel to the transmission mainshaft, or it can be caused by the driveline being shifted over to compensate for an imbalance. So.. Here's the reality of our situation. We're dealing with a mass produced product, and a lot of tolerances are allowed to the frame and chassis. You can fight for perfect geometrical alignment with beams and lazers and plumb bobs... but it can still pull to the right or left. You can fight for perfect balance going down the road, but you may end up with the rear wheel angle a bit misaligned to the transmission after getting the back end to follow the front end of the bike. What's more important to you? Geometry or rider perception? After many years of dealing with customers, I realized that if a rider is perceiving a problem, then that is the problem to focus on... If it's not feeling right, make it right, even if the plumb bobs and lazers don't agree. There are compromises that must be made in alignment.
oh, and I wanted to mention, there are several examples of harley bikes where the front wheel center and the rear wheel center planes are meant to be parallel but they are not
supposed to intersect.. the factory sets the spacers where the rear wheel is run offset intentionally to one side. IOW, if you set the rear wheel axle perfectly parallel to the transmission mainshaft, and project the sides of the rear wheel up to the front, the front wheel will not be in the center of those projected lines. If you try to fix that, it will try to jump in the ditch.
Hogdoctor
and yes, everything should be done with the bike upright, level, preferably on a BestWay lift like mine.
oh, and I wanted to mention, there are several examples of harley bikes where the front wheel center and the rear wheel center planes are meant to be parallel but they are not
supposed to intersect.. the factory sets the spacers where the rear wheel is run offset intentionally to one side. IOW, if you set the rear wheel axle perfectly parallel to the transmission mainshaft, and project the sides of the rear wheel up to the front, the front wheel will not be in the center of those projected lines. If you try to fix that, it will try to jump in the ditch.
Hogdoctor
and yes, everything should be done with the bike upright, level, preferably on a BestWay lift like mine.
#42
#3, the rear wheel will always roll parallel to the front wheel. If the rear wheel angle is not parallel to the frame, then the back end of the bike will feel 'kicked over' to one side, so you'll feel like the back end isn't following the front end. This misalignment can be caused by the rear axle not being parallel to the transmission mainshaft, or it can be caused by the driveline being shifted over to compensate for an imbalance.
Here's the reality of our situation. We're dealing with a mass produced product, and a lot of tolerances are allowed to the frame and chassis. You can fight for perfect geometrical alignment with beams and lazers and plumb bobs... but it can still pull to the right or left.
You can fight for perfect balance going down the road, but you may end up with the rear wheel angle a bit misaligned to the transmission after getting the back end to follow the front end of the bike. What's more important to you? Geometry or rider perception?
oh, and I wanted to mention, there are several examples of harley bikes where the front wheel center and the rear wheel center planes are meant to be parallel but they are not supposed to intersect.. the factory sets the spacers where the rear wheel is run offset intentionally to one side.
One other very real possible cause of a pull (I believe the manual uses the term "lead") could be either a steering neck which isn't installed "plumb" and/or triple clamps which are not machined symmetrically, and both those can happen even when the fork tubes are straight and parallel. Due to the caster action, the front wheel will always chase the point on the ground where the steering neck points to. If the fork tubes are bent or misaligned for any reason (mismatched triple clamps, etc.) it will always be chasing the extended steering neck center and never be satisfied.
The best bet in my book is to shoot for truest geometry and deal with an imbalance some other way.
#44
#47
Ive got about 8500 miles on my 08 Roadglide and its been pulling to the left since new. I set the cruise and If I let go of the bars, to the left she goes. Well, while at the stealership for the fuel pump cover recall, I had them look at it. After the test ride, the service writer says its not pullin, and replies maybe I have the saddle bag loaded heavier on that side. Typical BS. So my question is, whats the fix. Ive checked the adjustment on the rear wheel and its dead on. Ive looked at the repair manual and it references the front turn buckles of the motor in relation to chassis alignment. I dont really understand how motor placement would affect this in that the front wheel is attached with the forks, then the frame. The rear is attached to the swingarm, then the frame, so other than belt alignment I dont see the relavence there, in relation to motor placement. Any suggestions other than not to let go of the bars?
My friends have baggers and Roadkings and Police Roadkings and they all go straight. I just can't seem to get any help. I had a service manager at the local stealer tell me the rear wheel will not affect the handling of the bike.
To answer you about motor placement affecting the alignment my swing arm pivots through the back of the transmission which is bolted directly to the engine. I think yours is too. If you were to look at the front of the engine looking down and towards the rear of the bike all the mount positions would make a triangle. If you move the front turnbuckle and move the engine in either direction that will influence the direction of the rear tire. When you move this however the upper mount must be adjusted as well because moving the front mount will tip the rear tire to the left or right at the top which can cause a pull as well.
I bought two magnetic mount angle gauges from Sears to make sure that both wheels were perfectly vertical and they are but I just cant bring myself to spend a few hundred dollars on alignment tools for one time use. Anyway if you get your's fixed let me know.
#48
My 08 RG pulls left also. Had it in the dealership twice. First time service manager just couldn't believe there was a problem but was concerned maybe I had "dropped it". Second time they checked the alignment and made small adjustment to engine mount. Called HD customer service yesterday and was told basically any Harley may pull one way or another. There is a measuring device that will the measure amount of #s required to straighten a motorcycle to a straight traveling position. The dealership and corporate apparantly could care less. Makes me hope like Hell nothing real important breaks. I was considering the extended warranty but after the results of my 1000 mi service and now this I'll be doing my own work. I bought a service manual and a direct lift. I figure in 18 mos I'll be at least even or a little ahead. Bought a like new lift from an independent going out of business. I'm not mad just dissappointed in what I thought was a stand up company.
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