Alignment issue 1150 GS

[MsLizVt]

Originally Posted by FourG

So I've taken both wheels off again and tried to straighten the front forks, all with no luck.

While I was toying with the rear wheel I noticed it has a tiny bit of play. I'm wondering if this is causing the issue I'm feeling.

I also, somewhat unscientifically, tried to figure out the direction of the rear wheel with string. It seems the wheel is pointing slightly to the right side of the bike.

Paralever bearings?

FourG, hi!

Hope you don't mind me reviving this thread, but just curious how you made out with finding the alignment issues?

Thanks!


Liz

[FourG]

Originally Posted by MsLizVt

FourG, hi!

Hope you don't mind me reviving this thread, but just curious how you made out with finding the alignment issues?

Thanks!


Liz

Unfortunately I haven't resolved it yet. I took it to a dealer to have them "diagnose without Diagnosing" and they seemed stumped as there was nothing obvious.

I may be bringing it to an alignment specialist in the north bay soon.

[Ken Fritz]

Put it on the center stand. Be sure the tires are fully seated on the rims with proper air pressures. Are your wheel straight and true? Spin and eyeball them to check.

Put a straight 2x4 on edge (2" side against the tire) up next to the tires to align them straight. Do they line up? It may be a bit touchy because the front and rear wheels aren't the same width, but it can be done. You can clamp the 2x4s to the rear wheel and use equal spacers on each side of the front wheel to get it clamped in.

Accurately measure from the ends of the axle back to the foot pegs (assuming the pegs aren't bent) to make sure your front wheel are is in line.

If the wheels are out of alignment or the front wheel/axle measurement isn't the same on each side, loosen and adjust triple clamps to get the measurements equal and the wheel and forks in line.

Leave the wheels clamped straight. Accurately measure from each handle bar end to the front axle end and from the handlebar ends to the foot pegs. It should be the same on each side. Accurately measure from handlebar ends back to the luggage brackets. It should be the same on each side.

If not, the bars are bent.

Still seems to wander off? Put it on the stand on level ground, clamp the wheels again and check vertical alignment of the front wheel with a plumb bob or a level.

[MsLizVt]

Originally Posted by FourG

Unfortunately I haven't resolved it yet. I took it to a dealer to have them "diagnose without Diagnosing" and they seemed stumped as there was nothing obvious.

I may be bringing it to an alignment specialist in the north bay soon.

FourG, hi!

Thank you for the update. It's certainly a curious dilemma.

Just wondering, do you have a friend who you could swap wheels and tires with for a ride? The only reason I ask, is you mention you had put on the new Tourances, and a week later you can feel the pulling more than ever.

Thanks!


Liz

[Hay Ewe]

Hi!
unusual to see a new thread / topic in the gspot after a while....

anyway, I am going to suggest the driveshaft in the paralever.
Years ago I pulled mine and when re-installing, I didn't aline the UJ's correctly (there are a few other topics in here about that)

The caracteristics of the bike changed some what, would fall in to right hand corners and I had to really work it to turn left.
Whilst you note you haven't done anything to the paralever, I am putting forward that there could be wear in it that is causeing the pull to the right.

I suggest that you check everything else first, start with the simple items and work to the harder. (Its not hard to pull the drive shaft though)

Hay Ewe

[Hay Ewe]

Hi
I was thinking abotu this some more when I rode my 1150GS to work this morming, quick things

Take the panniers off - remove a varible - do a road test
take the windshield off - remove a vaible - do a road test
do the above two one at a time so if there is an effect you know which one it was

Is the direction of rotation of the tires correct? sounds like a silly thing and I dont know whyit might make a difference but some thing has changed and you said that had changed tires - some thing easy to check

I like problems like this, something to think about - thanks Liz for reviving it

Hay Ewe

[FourG]

Originally Posted by MsLizVt

FourG, hi!

Thank you for the update. It's certainly a curious dilemma.

Just wondering, do you have a friend who you could swap wheels and tires with for a ride? The only reason I ask, is you mention you had put on the new Tourances, and a week later you can feel the pulling more than ever.

Thanks!


Liz

I don't unfortunately. That would be an interesting test.

[FourG]

Originally Posted by Hay Ewe

Hi
I was thinking abotu this some more when I rode my 1150GS to work this morming, quick things

Take the panniers off - remove a varible - do a road test
take the windshield off - remove a vaible - do a road test
do the above two one at a time so if there is an effect you know which one it was

Is the direction of rotation of the tires correct? sounds like a silly thing and I dont know whyit might make a difference but some thing has changed and you said that had changed tires - some thing easy to check

I like problems like this, something to think about - thanks Liz for reviving it

Hay Ewe

Unfortunately I tried the following this past weekend with the same issue.

[roger 04 rt]

Most of the reason for pull is a side to side weight imbalance. As little as five pounds can keep you from hands free riding. To counteract this there is often a rear wheel offset on the R1150, each 2.5mm of rear wheel offset counteracts about 5 lbs. of side to side weight imbalance. Try adding 5 lbs, at a time to the side opposite the pull and see how much it takes. Here is where I ended up on my 1150RT.

[DRONE]

Originally Posted by FourG

So I've taken both wheels off again and tried to straighten the front forks, all with no luck.

While I was toying with the rear wheel I noticed it has a tiny bit of play. I'm wondering if this is causing the issue I'm feeling.

I also, somewhat unscientifically, tried to figure out the direction of the rear wheel with string. It seems the wheel is pointing slightly to the right side of the bike.

Paralever bearings?

Not an expert by any means, and you said the dealer is stumped, but if the rear wheel has play doesn't that immediately point a finger at the final drive tapered wheel bearing? I'm not sure if you mentioned the mileage on the bike, or previous FD maintenance, but 1150 FD's have a tendency to self destruct somewhere between 50K and 100k miles. Could post several linkys here, but here's the most obvious one. Did you eliminate this as a possible cause?

[FourG]

Originally Posted by DRONE

Not an expert by any means, and you said the dealer is stumped, but if the rear wheel has play doesn't that immediately point a finger at the final drive tapered wheel bearing? I'm not sure if you mentioned the mileage on the bike, or previous FD maintenance, but 1150 FD's have a tendency to self destruct somewhere between 50K and 100k miles. Could post several linkys here, but here's the most obvious one. Did you eliminate this as a possible cause?

To be honest, I think I'm just being lazy. I think I will try to do the bearings soon as I'm now planning a 10k ride through Alaska for August... Better be safe than sorry. We'll see if it kills 2 birds with the one bearing.

Thanks all for your input.

[the_menno]

My vote is for gyroscopic procession.

[FourG]

Originally Posted by the_menno

My vote is for gyroscopic procession.

Due to? New Tires?

[the_menno]

Due to a rotating crankshaft along a longitudinal plane, is my answer.

Like member Bemiiten said: 'Heavy crankshaft spinning along the bikes axis causes a torque effect. They all do it'.

I have to agree.

[roger 04 rt]

Weight imbalance side to side, which is the same as rear wheel offset errors as I mentioned earlier.

The crankshaft rotating along the longitudinal axis only produces a short term force due to changes in angular momentum caused by changes in rpm. Once the engine is steady, no more force.

Try adding 5lbs. at a time in either side case and see what happens.