Rear tire Alignment

LDPSSVLVS

New Member
I have a 2006 Big Dog Pitbull and the rear tire is wearing fast on the left side of the center. Its almost as if the bike is going down the road at an angle. I called a big dog dealer and they told me the alignment could be off with the rear tire. The nearest dealer to me is over an hour away but I was wondering if I can check the alignment myself and possibly adjust it? Can anyone give me any feedback on this? Thanks!
 

Old Hippy

It's 4:20 somewhere
Calendar Participant
I have a 2006 Big Dog Pitbull and the rear tire is wearing fast on the left side of the center. Its almost as if the bike is going down the road at an angle. I called a big dog dealer and they told me the alignment could be off with the rear tire. The nearest dealer to me is over an hour away but I was wondering if I can check the alignment myself and possibly adjust it? Can anyone give me any feedback on this? Thanks!
I have the same problem, but my rear tire wears more on the right side of center. I will be watching this thread to see the cure for this problem..!!!


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lee

Well-Known Member
you could put a spirit level against it to see if it is vertical (I assume that's the misalignment they're suggesting?). The only true way to check if the rear wheel is aligned / tracking straight is with a straight edge to the front wheel but you can take measurements from the centre of the axle to a point on the frame on each side to see if they are the same. That assumes that the frame is spot on though.
 

Raywood

The Pirate
Staff member
Calendar Participant
Troop Supporter
Sure, there are many threads on this. But it's real simple and all in the service manual.

Make you a measurement tool with an old hanger.





Then loosen axle and remove the first set of adjuster plugs and check and align wheel as necessary.
Will have to have another hardtail owner here chime in with where to take the measuremnt from. On the swimg-arms we use the pivit axle like in the picture. I'll check my manual out though for you. Again, there are lots of threads already on this subject for your reading enjoyment.

:cheers::cheers:
 

Chris04Masitff

Well-Known Member
Calendar Participant
i have posted on tire wear issue before. im afraid the left side drive bikes just dont wear evenly on rear tire. BUT as w Hippy my bike wears just right of center. make sure its aligned like Rays says and ride it. Some folks here gets 10,000 miles out of a tire and others 4000 ,, make nor model seems to matter .Keep air pressure up . It is what it is .
 

bdmridgeback

Low Down Chop Shop
LSD bikes have a tendancy to lean a bit to the right when going down the road if you have followed one and noticed. They are heavy on the left so the center of gravity is more left centered. In that case they wear the tire more to the right of center.

The RSD bikes ride pretty straight up and down so they will only wear left or right of center if the rear tire is not perfectly aligned.
 

Big B

Active Member
What tire pressure are you running? I was running mine a little low and the tire was wearing to the left. I asked the dealer about it and they suggested tire pressure. I bumped it back up and the wear pattern moved towards the center.
 

Old Hippy

It's 4:20 somewhere
Calendar Participant
What tire pressure are you running? I was running mine a little low and the tire was wearing to the left. I asked the dealer about it and they suggested tire pressure. I bumped it back up and the wear pattern moved towards the center.

What is the recommended tire pressure for a 240 on an '04Mastiff.........!!!!

:confused::confused::confused::confused:


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LDPSSVLVS

New Member
Thanks for all the replies! I have increased my tire pressure but im afraid the tire is worn down enough I cant even it back out. I think I will start seeing wires before long because it is slick in that spot and it wobbles bad in the curves now. I plan to replace it and make sure this one is aligned correctly so I get more than 6k miles out of the next tire.
 

Moespeeds

Well-Known Member
Measure from the center of the swingarm pivot bolts to the front of your axle adjuster cutout. Verify these 2 measurements are exactly the same (they should be if your frame was built properly). Mark the center of your axle bolts with a center punch. Now from this point on all it takes is to measure from the center of your axle bolts to the front of your adjuster and make sure they are the same. No messing with exhaust or whatever might be in the way and no need for special tools. I will also cock my wheel slightly to get my belt tracking properly if necessary. I have a LSD so it will never track straight anyway!
 

outdoorsman26

Well-Known Member
you can do what I did (someone on here told me how cant remember who ) but anyway take 2- 8ft light bulbs attach them to your rear tire and measure the distance from the outside of the front tire and make them the same!!
 
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