While in my garage this morning I rechecked the leanout with my digital angle finder (Harbor Freight) I use at work (machine shop) . When I set the bike and car up I used my Sears anlge finder I used on setting up drive lines on cars ( don't do this any more ). Much better than trying to read the needle between lines too small to see anymore 🙂 . I was pretty sure that I set it at about 1 + deg. and the digital read out showed 1.35 deg . front and back .
Lance
Regardless of the angle numbers indicated, the 1 degree plus leanout is only a starting reference point. Some rigs track better at 1 degree plus, some track best at 3 degrees. The end result desired is true tracking and neutral steering regardless of the number game, on the roads most travelled and with the loads most carried. Without an active tilt mechanism your optimum leanout is always a compromise setting.
Lonnie
as a new hack rider... 2006 FLH / 06 TLE used in '10... I have put about 2400miles on the rig.. changed the front end to a HD trike triple tree/BagDadBaggers Nacel handling is great...
I had the unit set by my local HD dealer... rig pulls to the right.. when sitting on the bike it leans to the right noticeably. should I be able to see the lean?
Hey Lance, thanks for the heads-up on the digital angle finder. I have the dial gauge, but I will put the digital one will go on my wish list. FYI, it is HF Item #95998:
Lee
MB5+TW200+CRF250L+GTV300+INT650
XL883R w/Texas Ranger Sidecar
Zuma 50F + Burgman w/Texas Sidecar<Mrs. SwampFox
Hey Papa,
As Lonnie said, the lean of a non-active tilt rig is going to be a compromise. I've heard that HDs are often set up with a LEAN-IN (bike leans towards the car) as opposed to a lean out. I'm not sure why, but I'm not an engineer. Does the right pull happen only when the car is loaded? If yes, how does she ride when empty (or ballast'd)? How do you ride most often?
With a fixed lean rig, you need to set it up for near-neutral stearing for your most common driving/loading situation. A radical lean out can make right turns a real "Sphincter Shrinker!" I learned that the hard way when I over-compensated for a heavilly loaded tub!
when sitting on it it should be almost dead straight up, the lean to the right is unloaded, the idea being that when the bike settles down with a rider its near zero.
put a level on the rear disk [well have somebody else put a level on the disk] while you are sitting on the bike - should be near level or very slightly out. i run a raked tree and with mine so close to vertical with me sitting on it that my son cant tell if its in or out it tracks dead straight and the pull to the right in the right lane can be held with two fingers comfortably in the left bar - and the pull to the left in the left lane is comfortable with two fingers on the right bar
to
I got mine from Canadian Tire. Digital Angel Gauge http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/browse/6/Tools/MeasuringTools/SpecialtyMeasuring/PRD~0541090P/Mastercraft+Digital+Angle+Gauge.jsp?locale=en
I put the magnetic base on the rear brake disc to determine my angle. Works good.
my road king as set up by my local HD dealer leans in while parked... leans in with just me on board 190#..... leans in with the hack loaded with 100-150 #
going to Harbor Freight this weekend for a digital angle finder... then work over the lean... definatly going to listen to the plan of lean first... then toe-in.....
