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Post by earthman on Nov 2, 2018 22:24:17 GMT 1
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Post by rigga on Nov 2, 2018 22:36:05 GMT 1
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Post by JonW on Nov 2, 2018 23:09:06 GMT 1
I have many alignment tools, but then I have built a few of bikes with different wheels lol
I have one of those Profi Cats, it is superb. There is nothing quite like turning the device and seeing the laser run down the chain and its all aligned when you spent ages working out and fabbing parts and buying offset sprockets. etc. You can get them about 2/3rd that price I reckon, and its a simple thing and you wonder why it cost that much, but... if youre building a special and want to check the alignment then its a really useful tool.
The one rigga posted is ok, Ive found the bar isnt really long enough but it works.
I also have a tool a mate mate me, it has parallel movable pointers that slide on a thick bar and these pointers locate in the swinger pivot and axle (you may need to turn a divot in them) and you adjust the axle to get it parallel with the swinger pivot. This is a great tool as while its a bit more work than using the marks on the swinger its lines these parts up properly. The RGV swinger is a know lie teller when it comes to alignment marks etc.
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Post by 4l04ever on Nov 3, 2018 1:21:13 GMT 1
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Post by Tobyjugs on Nov 3, 2018 1:29:21 GMT 1
I think I got my profi cat from Germany.
I love it. I work on Bolness engines and they have chains and sprockets instead of gear wheels this laser makes life very easy.
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Post by bare on Nov 3, 2018 3:16:45 GMT 1
Moderne gear.. ever wondered just how Parallel the beam actually is to the thing's base /reference?
That seems the critical bit.. doesn't it?
Beam is obviously dead straight Gizmo's base being exactly lined up /parallel to it..? especially several feet away, let alone across a room ?
Fairly unlikely.. from a 50mm base..Certainly not at that price point IMO.
Too much faith involved for my tastes.
Consequently I use laser gizmo by mounting it.. behind (not onto).. the main piece ie wheel or sprocket.
Having the beam itself fully touch/reference on the Sprocket/ wheel.. then line up the offending item to the beam.
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Post by Tobyjugs on Nov 3, 2018 4:20:38 GMT 1
That was one of the things checked on a long marking out table. The height was very good, typical German quality.
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Post by JonW on Nov 3, 2018 12:40:59 GMT 1
I'd say the Profi was very accurate in my tests as well on multiple builds. As has been said, it is good kit.
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Post by paulincayman on Nov 3, 2018 14:21:12 GMT 1
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Post by JonW on Nov 3, 2018 23:03:13 GMT 1
We shouldnt forget that the whole point of a chain is that the sprockets dont actually need to be exactly in line for it to work, but as we know it's better if they are.
For a simple check after chain adjustment you really dont need anything much, if the bike is in good nick and the swinger isnt bent you probably dont need anything like the Profi, but its a nice check of course.
If doing bigger work or a chain run that you dont trust is straight you can also clamp a length of angle alloy or steel to the rear sprocket and see where that lands relative to the front, or just see if there are gaps across the faces etc You can also check front and rear wheel alignment with the same angles clamped to the back wheel relative to the front or use string.
Lots of ways to skin an alignment... The things you need to ensure are that the rear axle and the engine output shaft are parallel and then make sure the wheel centers are in line if building a hybrid, if those are right you can then determine the sprocket offset. Its a simple thing to say and fiddly to do.
One thing I would say is that Ive found that the human eye is an amazing tool. Ive found every time that if it looks right, it probably is and if it looks wrong it absolutely is. Two of my recent builds that come to mind and are on my site; my LC421 caused me all sorts of nightmares as I read lots things about getting alignments on these parts and tried to follow other peoples builds and sizes etc. and didnt trust my eyes... wheras my XT500 with aftermarket swinger and KTM motard wheel was as simple as making a few spacers after standing back and thinking 'yep looks right' and then with the profi it was bang on, proving the eyeball knows best.
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Post by urbantangleweed on Nov 4, 2018 20:32:21 GMT 1
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Post by earthman on Nov 5, 2018 20:09:10 GMT 1
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Post by JonW on Nov 5, 2018 22:34:28 GMT 1
Ive never seen or used one but being perched up like that on a plastic clamp im not 100% sure about the alignment of laser as there is a chance it could not sit dead parallel to the chain, but as i said ive not used one. Bear in mind that the Profi sits on the sprocket which is flat, this ensures every time that the laser tracks straight against the sprocket, on the Monkey its not solidly aligned to any of the parts you want to test.
We should remember, we are not testing the chain run really as such, that is just a symptom of the sprockets not being in line as the chain is just the link between them it shows when they are not aligned. Not starting at the sprocket means you miss something of the testing. Sure the Monkey will probably show you the chain run being off, but its starting half way down the job.
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Post by steve h on Nov 5, 2018 22:53:54 GMT 1
A plank.
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