Axle adjusters

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

I have spent many hours trying to get my 2015 RTS aligned. I finally got it but it was a battle. I have a thought but haven't tried it yet. What if you took a steel rod and ran it through the axle bolt and held each end tight with a ratchet strap. I don't think you would need much tension on the straps just enough to keep the adjusters tight. Has anyone tried this by chance? Do you see any issues with doing this?

I considered doing that exact same thing, except with a threaded rod somehow. I can't figure out anyplace to get a good solid anchor on the swing arm to pull hard on the rod. I'm not sure a ratchet strap would do the trick because regardless how tight you pull it there will probably a minuscule amount of stretch in the strap, and if the axle moves the least little bit while tightening the nut it throws the tracking off. And finding room between the swing arm and muffler to grab the end of the rod would be a challenge.

I think the best solution is lube under the washer, start the bike, and run the tire forward and backward.

I talked to the service manager at the local dealership the other day about my travails. He understood and sympathized indicating they have a lot of trouble many times getting the tracking just right. When I said I finally got it he said, "You did good!"

 

[AeroPilot]

New General on the Rear just a tweak to align the belt,,,

Okay, so while I had time I replaced the Kumho which got me 23,500 miles (and some life still left) with a new General, and while I was at it put on Docs AeRyde bag protector. Thanks to all and the suggestion to remove the Schrader core helped get the bag and support nested nicely. Also looked at the rear brake pads and cleaned them up. There was still more than half of the outer pad, but since I had new ones on the shelf I replaced them with a little Disk Brake Quiet to boot. Then since I was reassembling I thought I'd tweak the belt alignment before torquing the axle back. It was close, so I just turned an eighth turn clockwise on the right adjuster and tightened her up an took it round the block.


WHAAAA??? Now the belt was out towards the outside---you dummy, you went the wrong way. Its heck getting old:banghead:. Well loosen it back up, back off a quarter turn, make sure the adjuster caps are tight and also used the wooden wedge between the swingarm and the front of the tire on the right side to hold it forward while I torqued it to 130 ft-lbs (reduced 20% for a lubed washer and nut) and took it for a ride and now just right. Just to put the caps on, cable guide holder back and ready to RYDE, RYDE, RYDE!!:yes:

 

[redqweb]

Adjustment bolt

Does turning adjustment bolt Clockwise move the axel to the rear?

 

[UtahPete]

Same kind of adjusters on my Suzuki. I use duct tape to hold them tight to the swingarm on the Suzuki and the Can Am.

:agree: Worked for me.

 

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

Does turning adjustment bolt Clockwise move the axel to the rear?

Yes.