Swingarm or rear bearings?

[musicweb]

I'm going to try the fork test later today Walt....

But first, an update on the alignment test.

I use string this time on a level bike. The leveling was done at the rear tire first.
Stretched the string around the rear tire, through the inside of the center stand, and anchored
about 3 feet in front of the bike with hose hangers screwed to the floor, so I could adjust in/out and up/down of the string.

I still get the 1/2" offset to the right on the front wheel.
The string is touching all 4 points of front and rear tires on the right side. 1/2" gap on the left.
I can eye down the left side of the front tire and see about 1/2" of the rear tire showing.
If I eye along the right side of the front tire, it is almost in line with the rear tire.

Now....if I LEVEL the front tire....it cocks it to the right and there are different gaps everywhere.

Somethings not right....

***************
Just finished the test Walt asked about.
Took out fork springs, loosened 8 top tree bolts, loosened front axle.
By hand I can slide the forks up and down quite easily, no binding.
Took my floor jack and slowly raised the wheel until the forks stopped.
There is 1-5/8" of tube showing on both sides...which makes me think they are bottomed out inside.

I'll tightened it all up while compressed and recheck alignment.

[musicweb]

Alignment was the same after the fork adjustment....but a big difference in the way it handled on the road!

I think Walt is on to something here....

Thanks Walt!

Going to tweak the stem bearings a little more and take her for a good ride later.

Still want to find out more about the offset thing.

Has anyone eyed down their bike from the front and seen what I mean?

[Walt_M.]

Ok, finally got to check the front wheel alignment on the '82, I have some 4" wide aluminum bar long enough to reach both wheels. I aligned it with the rear tire sidewalls and this one is in line as far as I can tell. It has plenty of Vision problems to fix and alignment isn't one. I put a high voltage tester on the stator and it is toast, low resistance to ground. My VOM didn't show it but the Megger did. Left side cover is coming off.

[akvision]

try the Tim Parrot route.  Worked for me.

[Walt_M.]

A Tim Parrot stator is an option but I do have an improved insulation OEM stator in my spares. I was going to put it in my '83 when it fails but the original is still going. Decisions, decisions.

[musicweb]

Ok, finally got to check the front wheel alignment on the '82, I have some 4" wide aluminum bar long enough to reach both wheels. I aligned it with the rear tire sidewalls and this one is in line as far as I can tell.

If you put your bar on the right side, it will line up with both wheels.
I see the offset on the left side.

[Night Vision]

Update on this thread....

Still have issues with wandering and squirreliness.

steering head bearings that are too loose will wobble....
steering head bearings that are too tight will wallow....

a wallow is the tendency for the front end to follow every seam / crack/ tar snake on the surface...
you need to pay close attention to keep the bike straight.....

you don't notice a wobble until you try taking your hands off the bars.

checking for a wobble is easy, the wallow is more subtle, but you know it's not right...

a fork mounted fairing will magnify either of these symptoms.....

[Rikugun]

I replaced the steering neck bearings on my Kawasaki last summer. They had developed that "detent" notch in the straight ahead position. Besides being a nuisance, the bars would oscillate when I took my hands off the bars. I'm not sure if that is a wobble or a wallow but the new bearings fixed it!