Wheel Alignment Tool

bob1 · Jun 2, 2019

anyone used one of those wheel alignment tools the one that clamps each side of the rear sprocket. got my bike back from its 500 mile service and noticed the the rear wheel is 1 dot different on the adjuster that's about 2-3mm difference. now the adjusters might be out and they have aligned it properly. but I thought for only about a tenner I would buy one and do it myself and hopefully get it spot on.

Yorkshireman · Jun 2, 2019

I haven’t used one personally but they are a good idea. Don’t rely on the marks on the swing arm, they can be out by enough to affect tyre wear and chain life. Some people use a long straight piece of wood, some use string, like an mot tester would to centralise the gap to the front wheel.

sprintdave · Jun 2, 2019

They are great. Easy to use and cheap as chips. Think I paid about a fiver on Ebay.

BigCLM · Jun 2, 2019

Yes I use one. See below. I adjust my own chain and when I use the swingarm marks (match both sides) the chain is not truly straight when I check it with the tool. Don't trust the marks if you want it truly straight. The one I have is made by Motion Pro.