Rear wheel misaligned - please help!!

[Fingerscrossed]

Hi all, so this has me and a mechanic friend scratching our heads.

I pulled the back wheel off and replaced the swingarm bushings. When putting the wheel back on, it seems like it's misaligned, like it's missing a spacer to bring it more to the right side. Now unless I've done something stupid, when you take the wheel off without removing the sprocket, there is only the longer spacer on the non-sprocket side, and the cap-like spacer on the sprocket side right? Anyway, I thought the swingarm might have been bent but I've measured it against the frame and it's equal on both sides (as in attached photo), and lines up with another XS I measured.

When I have the wheel on, and both sides at the same mark, the wheel is completely pressed against the chainguard and visually looks too far to the sprocket side. Have I made some silly mistake or is something weird happening? I don't think the swingarm is bent, and surely it is straight on the pivot side, otherwise the shaft wouldn't go through.

I rode the bike before taking off the wheel/swingarm and it handled fine, no rubbing of chainguard.

If anyone has any tests to try, or tips please let me know!

 

[Its been a long time]

Tyre looks too wide?

 

[Signal]

The spacers look to be in the right place.
The marks on the swing arm are not accurate.
Align the rear wheel by eye to get a straight chain run. Then to double check use a string lines past the front wheel.

 

[Raymond]

Agree with previous answers. Always set wheel alignment by eye, or by string/plank, and ignore the frame marks. And there's not a lot of space for the tyre, the Avon RoadRider in mine just about rubs on the chain guard one side and swing arm the other - there's little rub marks on the tyre where it touches, but it spins free enough so I don't worry about those.

I guess some manufacturers tyres are just a little bit wider than others for a stated width.

 

[Fingerscrossed]

Ah thanks! Yes I was wondering how accurate the marks were...

I'll give it a go by eye/string lines and see how it goes.

 

[member43148]

Having owned several 77-79 era XS’s with that style swingarm I’ve found the axle adjustment marks to actually be quite accurate.
That tire does look wide enough to dang near rub the chain tho

 

[Fingerscrossed]

Having owned several 77-79 era XS’s with that style swingarm I’ve found the axle adjustment marks to actually be quite accurate.
That tire does look wide enough to dang near rub the chain tho

Yes it does seem the adjustments are relatively accurate. The tyre is a 130/90-16 67H which is in spec but still jammed up against the chainguard.

The tyre clears the chain by 10mm or so. I might just cut a bit out of the guard…

 

[member43148]

Tire looks good. Profile and tread pattern looks like a good tire on screen. 130/90 is correct. As stated previously some tire manufacturers actual dimension specs vary a bit.
Bending the chain guard away seems like a great resolution.

 

[jetmechmarty]

I guess some manufacturers tyres are just a little bit wider than others for a stated width.

This is a fact that I have verified both with a caliper and discussion with a tire engineer.

 

[bosco659]

After I re/re the rear wheel, I take a good amount of time to set the wheel running true within the swing arm / frame. I eyeball it first, then use a Motion Pro chain alignment tool to verify it’s straight. That creates a good benchmark setting. After that, if I ever have to move the wheel for chain tensioning, I turn the adjuster bolts, 1/6 of a turn at a time, counting the flats of the bolt. That should ensure my wheel stays in alignment. I agree the factory markings aren’t the best reference points.

 

[Raymond]

Fully agree - once the wheel is straight, it's SOP to turn the adjuster one flat at a time, both sides, keeping count.