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83 xj650 rear wheel misalignment?

Discussion in 'XJ Technical Chat' started by Davidmoo, Jun 23, 2016.

  1. Davidmoo

    Davidmoo New Member

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    1466717732292-212667231.jpg 1466717732292-212667231.jpg

    I got an 83 xj650 and the rear wheel seems to be misaligned. The front wheel is super close to the left side of the swingarm from the rear view. Any suggestions?

    I took apart the swingarm assembly and made sure the pivots, bearings, and seals were in place. Could it be that I threaded the pivots too much on either side?. There also seems to be space between the swingarm and the frame as if there were some sort of boot to cover the open area between the two.

    Thanks in advance for the help guys
     

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    Davidmoo, Jun 23, 2016
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  2. k-moe

    k-moe Pie, Bacon, Bourbon. Moderator Premium Member

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    The tire is aligned correctly. The centerline of the tire is inline with the centerline of the swingarm.
    I think the PO fitted a wider than stock tire, which is why it's so close to the driveshaft housing. As long as it isn't rubbing, run it as-is.

    As for the swingarm alignment; there is a procedure for aligning it once it has been removed. I don't have a link, but there is a thread about downloading the Haynes service manual, and the procedure is contained therein.

    Having said that, run a string from the center of the headstock top nut to the center of the rear cross-brace on the frame, and continue it on past the end of the tire. You can use that refrence to see if you're off or not (the hole for the rear tank mount is also directly on the frame centerline, so you can use that as your third refrence point).
     
    k-moe, Jun 23, 2016
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  3. jayrodoh

    jayrodoh YimYam

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    Looks alright to me as well. I have an 82 and the tire is really close on left as well. That side is a bit larger due to the driveshaft inside the swing arm. There really isn't a swing arm alignment process, but a tightening process to ensure it's not sloppy or too tight to cause bearing wear. No adjustment left or right.

    Regarding your comment on the boot, there is a boot that covers the U Joint. Looks like you might be missing that in your pics but I'm not 100%.
     
    jayrodoh, Jun 23, 2016
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    Jetfixer likes this.
  4. Polock

    Polock Well-Known Member

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    Polock, Jun 23, 2016
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  5. jayrodoh

    jayrodoh YimYam

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    jayrodoh, Jun 23, 2016
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  6. Polock

    Polock Well-Known Member

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    and that's how to check it
     
    Polock, Jun 23, 2016
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  7. Davidmoo

    Davidmoo New Member

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    Just wanted to make sure of a few more things.
     
    Davidmoo, Jun 24, 2016
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  8. Davidmoo

    Davidmoo New Member

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    Davidmoo, Jun 24, 2016
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  9. k-moe

    k-moe Pie, Bacon, Bourbon. Moderator Premium Member

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    The gap is fine.

    The first pic in the second set is of the pinch bolt. It gets tightened last (after the axle nut) and that gap will mostly dissapear once the bolt is set to the proper torque. The hole in that end is for a bar that you will use to keep the axle from spinning while you tighten the axle nut.

    The cotter pin hole on the axle and axle nut should be ligned up in the following manner: Torque to spec. Find the castellation on the nut that as closest to ligning up with one of the holes in the axle. Back the nut off slowly (using a breaker bar, or rachet, and NOT your torque wrench) until the castellation lines up with the hole. Install the cotter pin.
     
    k-moe, Jun 24, 2016
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  10. Davidmoo

    Davidmoo New Member

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    When you mean axle nut you mean the pivot bolts for the swingarm? After tightening the castellation nut the cotter pin cleared. But I'm still kind of confused and skeptical with the gap. Dirts flying into those crevicws won't be a concern? Thank you kmoe for you k-moe for your patience, sincerely.
     
    Davidmoo, Jun 24, 2016
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  11. k-moe

    k-moe Pie, Bacon, Bourbon. Moderator Premium Member

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    I do not mean the pivit bolts for the swing arm.

    What cotter pin are you speaking of? The swingarm bolts do not have cotter pins. They are locked into place by a special lockwasher on one side, and a jam nut on the other.

    The gap is correct. Every XJ has that gap. Dirt will not get into that gap, or into the bearings.
     
    k-moe, Jun 24, 2016
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  12. Davidmoo

    Davidmoo New Member

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    Okay thank you so much for the reassurement and peace of mind
     
    Davidmoo, Jun 27, 2016
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  13. Polock

    Polock Well-Known Member

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    the factory book is pretty specific on how to tighten the swingarm pivot bolts. that's all there is to it.
    when i put a 130 kenda tire on my seca, it rubbed on a ridge on the edge of the tread. a few minutes with a drill and sanding disk fixed that.
     
    Polock, Jun 27, 2016
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