Clearance on swingarm

ozzie65 · New Member Joined: Feb 15, 2007 Posts: 9

Newbie here!

I am currently restoring an XS650 for my neighbor. The frame has been powder coated, and I am currently in the re-assembly process.
I have installed the engine, and I have re-installed the rear wheel. After lining up the engine sprocket with the rear sprocket, I have only approx 1/8 inch clearance and the left side, with approx 3/4 clearance on the right side.

It is a spoked rim, (re-laced by the owner) and it has a new Dunlop D404 fitted.

Is this clearance OK, or could the swingarm be bent?

The swingarm looks OK, no visible signs of having been bent etc.

The rear wheel does not hit at all, so I am inclined to leave it be, however I would like some input from this group!

Thanks in advance.

dwyatt · Posted: February 16, 2007, 3:45 am Post subject: Re: Clearance on swingarm

Sounds like the wheel is not dished properly.

danno · Full Member Joined: Mar 04, 2006 Posts: 212

Just a thought...are the axle spacers installed properly? Also,check the axle adjusters to make sure that the wheel is aligned properly. I had a similar problem on a bike years ago...turns out I had the axel spacers installed on opposite sides of their proper position.
Is the new tire wider than one it replaced?
I am inclined to agree with dwyatt,the wheel may not be dished properly...hard to tell without seeing it. Best of luck!

ozzie65 · New Member Joined: Feb 15, 2007 Posts: 9

I must admit, after posting this, I thought about the wheel being "dished" correctly.
I need to check how it was re-laced, does anyone know what the correct offset is?

The tire should be OK, it is a 130, as per spec, although I do realize that tire widths do vary.

Yes, the wheel spacers are correct.

Bottom line, the sprockets line up, so the hub is centered correctly, so it is either the swingarm, or the rim.

Starting to suspect the rim.

Any specs on the "dish" for the rear wheel would be appreciated. Cool

Trout · Posted: February 16, 2007, 11:18 am Post subject: Re: Clearance on swingarm

I just installed an extended swingarm on my '79 and have the same question (issue) as you describe. My rear wheel is a little to the left. I didn't pay attention before I took it apart, so I don't know if it was like that to begin with. In my case, the wheel is cast, so I know it's not the wheel. The tire doesn't rub anything and the sprockets line up fine, so I'm going to run it like this for a while. It's not like I can do anything about it anyway. There's not room to move the wheel over with spacers and I'm not about to try and bend the swingarm or the frame.

royfisk · Posted: February 16, 2007, 2:20 pm Post subject: Re: Clearance on swingarm

got any pictures? Ive thought that a chopper I have is offset but its not. The center of your wheel should be laced to the center of the hub. And Im betting that it is. best to use two straight 2x4 and plce one on each side of your tires making sure it touches both sides of the rear tire front and back and ges all the way to the front of the bike, Now measure the distance from the edge of the front tire to the inside edge of the board. They should be the same on both sides of the front wheel. obviously everything should be fully adjusted and front wheel straight. See what the numbers say.

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