Wheelchange made ride worse (outline wrong?! :0 PIC!)

[Krav]

Hello!

whats the problem?
- If im driving 50 kp/h and let go of my handlebars it pulls to the left a bit. not consistently, but like for a second, then not, then a little pull, then not.
- driving 130 kp/h the rides very uncomfortable. a lot of vibrations.


some background info
So, i changed my wheels. from pirelli diablo demon (or so) in the front and a dunlop fronttire in the back to michelin pilot streets front and back.
Bought em on the internet, they came on nice black rims.

The seller said they were fine (offcourse  ) and he sold these cause he blew his engine. Seeing that there were 5 motorcycles taken apart in his backyard, i believe him, and think the rims and tires should be fine.

What did i do
I simply took out the front and back wheel assembly, and replaced em (incl. brake discs and rear cog) as simple as that.

What could be the cause of my problems? Something is should do when replacing wheels?

[Big Rich]

Sounds to me like maybe the front tire isn't in the bead of the wheel properly. Look around the very edge of the wheel at the tire, there should be a thin line of rubber that goes the entire way around. If that little line isn't the same distance away from the rim, your tire isn't beaded fully.

Did you balance the wheels / tires?

[Krav]

It seems the tires are on fine. I didnt get the wheels balanced though. The previous owner rpde around with em fine. Any other ideas?

[Janx101]

Front end not quite bolted in evenly on the axle or spacer wrong? ... rear end not straight and true with the swingarm?  Giving you a thrust alignment issue?

[Krav]

Interresting.. Do you know where i get an exploded view, or even better, a how to to change rims on the gs500e?

I think i recognise what you call a thrust alignment issue.

Edit: Found rearaxle exploded view:



Also the front:

[bombsquad83]

It's easy to accidently lose part number 9 from the rear wheel when reassembling.  Bad news if you ride very long without it.

[Krav]

That plastic cap? thats still on

I just walked my bike home the last couple of meters, and noticed a strange rattle coming from my small sprocket. Ill have a look at that tomorrow.
Maybe thatll explain some things.

[Big Rich]

No, #9 is an axle spacer. Without it, your wheel bearing can work its way out. And I don't think a noise from the front sprocket could cause vibration in the front end.

I'm still going with some type of balancing issue, and / or the rear wheel isn't straight in the swingarm.

[bombsquad83]

Yes, number 9 on the REAR WHEEL.  It's a metal spacer with one cone shaped end and one cylinder shape end.  You wouldn't be able to see if it's there without taking it apart.  Also if it's not there you might notice that you spend a lot of time trying to torque the rear wheel axle down to spec because there is extra space that the swingarm is able to squeeze down.  Check that out and get back to us.

[gsJack]

Yes, check for spacer 9 first.  If it's missing the cush hub bottoms in the rubber cushion area of the wheel causing the sprocket to miss align, could account for the noise from the front sprocket.  The cush bearing and right wheel bearing are heavily side loaded carrying the full torque load of the axle nut tightening normally carried by the spacers.  The wheel bearing fails ultimately locking up the wheel.   But I managed to put the bike on the stand and get wheel free but wobbly and make it home very slowly that day. 

There could well be a wheel balance problem too as Rich suggests.

[Krav]

Hm yes, i see.

Spacer no. 9 is positioned between the two wheel bearings, isnt it? how could i lose that one, if the bearings were in place all the time?
I mean, ill check it out, but i can't untill tonight (at work now) and would like to be able to try or check as much as possible

I can get my tires checked fairly cheaply (like 5 euro's or something). but since i work fulltime, and i have to take the complete rim to the shop, of my commuters bike.. I will have it balanced, just need to find out when i can have it done. the front tire seems fine now. brake's evenly. no weird stuff there.

I will check for part no. 9 and put on my old rear sprocket and breakdisk from my other rim. just to exclude as much as possible.

[Big Rich]

Not exactly......part #9 is between two bearings, but one is the bearing in the sprocket carrier. Usually what happens is somebody takes the rear sprocket carrier off the wheel and #9 is stuck inside. When the carrier is sat on the floor and the sprocket is on top, #9 falls out, and the sprocket carrier is picked up and reinstalled.....without the #9 spacer.

[Krav]

okay okay.

I never removed the sprocket carrier though. It came with a brake disk and rear sprocket, wich im still using right now. Ill change them out for the ones on my old rims, see if that makes a difference.

[bombsquad83]

Could be possible that the previous owner lost the spacer.  Just something that is worth checking.

[Krav]

IN my lunchbreak i disassembled and reassembled everything with a years old motormechanic and carmechanic to have them oversee the assembly of the wheel. they quickly checked everything (chain tension, straightness of the tire, things like that.)

no.9 was present by the way If this doesnt fix it, ill go ahead and mount the old brake discs i think. this may make a difference.

[bombsquad83]

That's good that part #9 was there.  If it wasn't, I would say that you likely would have to replace your rear wheel bearings.  Did you check the bearings in the new wheels?  Put them on an axle between two jack stands and spin the wheel and listen.  Also, once you get the wheel on the bike, check for any play at all in the wheel bearings.

[Krav]

I checked the bearings by having it all mounted, and then try to see if the wheel would move. also let the technicians at my work check it, and they sayd that it seems fine.

[gsJack]

Once you have a problem with spacer 9 being missing you get in the habit of always making sure it's there before putting a rear wheel back on your bike.  It can been seen on the assembled wheel simply by pulling the outer small spacer from the grease seal on the sprocket side with your finger tip and you can see the end of it inside the cush bearing bore.

Again it's problably time to get the wheels on a balancer machine and spin them to balance.  A serious vibration at 80+ mph most likely is a balance problem or a tire not properly seated like Rich pointed out above, or possibly a tire with ply seperation not as likely but possible.  These things can be seen real quick with the wheel spinning on the balancer machine.

[Krav]

I've taken note on all the things you guys say! If it isnt fixed now (i get to ride home in about an hour) ill most def get it to garage to get it balanced.

Thanks everyone! i think i've got enough to go on for now

[Krav]

Look at this! :0 the red and yellow line are straight (relative to the middle of the handlebars and the back bracket)

the wheel seems really offlined. is this correct?! :0