650GD Front wheel not centered...missing a spacer?

[BigD_83]

I was looking at my front wheel last night and noticed the tire wasn't centered under the fender (borrowed an 82 fender for now)

Looking at the parts diagram, there appears to be a spacer outboard the speedo drive hub, next to the axle:



It seems to me that spacer was NOT on the axle when I pulled the wheel last week to replace the fender. I'm stuck in a basement right now, but for anybody in the know, does that spacer sit in the pinch clamp of the left fork in a way that it cannot be seen?

If so, can I just push it towards mid-line of the bike to force centering of the wheel?

Unfortunately, this is the best I have from the time I brought it home. The slight gap seen between the fork leg and the speedo hub is not there right now:



Would anyone with a 650G be kind enough to post a closeup photograph of the wheel/hub, showing what this is supposed to look like?

 

[Charlie G]

There is a sleeve captured in the bottom of the left fork. I never thought of it as an adjustment. I guess you could use it as such. It makes sense. I wouldn't adjust it much more than 2 or 3mm or so. I just put my forks back together after rebuilding and I can't remember if I snugged torward the wheel to take up play. Good luck. Look forward to another 650g rider helping me keep the liter boys riding skills sharpe.

cg

 

[BigD_83]

That does not look any different than my setup Charlie. Thanks for posting.

I don't know about pushing the litre bikers around. Between feeling rusty on two wheels, and a soft, yet bouncy suspension setup, I feel like I am going to have to go easy on the rides next month.

Derrick

 

[Charlie G]

That does not look any different than my setup Charlie. Thanks for posting.

I don't know about pushing the litre bikers around. Between feeling rusty on two wheels, and a soft, yet bouncy suspension setup, I feel like I am going to have to go easy on the rides next month.

Derrick

I'm just talking. They're a pretty sane bunch of riders.

cg

 

[tom203]

Mine looks a little different- note how speedo drive gear "points" more up and no space.

 

[Agemax]

if you look on the parts diagram for a 83 GS650GD on Alpha sports, it clearly shows the spacer in the left fork has a flange on one end. if this spacer is fitted with the flange on the outer side of the fork leg then you will have a gap between the fork leg and speedo drive. if you fit the spacer with the flange facing inwards then that will remove the slight gap you have.

 

[BigD_83]

Hi Agemax,

The right side is okay; setup as you have outlined. The gap on the left is not really there anymore, and based on the fender, the wheel is too far to the left. It rides fine, turns well both left and right, no shudder or uneven wear, but there is quite a bit less tire/fender clearance on the left compared to the right side. The same was true with the original fender, which is being painted.

With the same "issue" with two fenders, perhaps I should be looking for another cause than a misplaced spacer.

 

[Agemax]

Hi Agemax,

The right side is okay; setup as you have outlined. The gap on the left is not really there anymore, and based on the fender, the wheel is too far to the left. It rides fine, turns well both left and right, no shudder or uneven wear, but there is quite a bit less tire/fender clearance on the left compared to the right side. The same was true with the original fender, which is being painted.

With the same "issue" with two fenders, perhaps I should be looking for another cause than a misplaced spacer.

that is what i am saying. look at the LEFT spacer. if it is facing the wrong way the wheel will sit to far to the left. the gap will close up if the axle nut is tightened up with the spacer fitted incorrectly

 

[BigD_83]

Aah...trying to read on my minitab. I get what you are saying. I do not remember the sleeve having a flange. Frankly, I do not remember the sleeve/spacer, either. LOL!

Thanks. I will check it out today.

 

[tom203]

Aah...trying to read on my minitab. I get what you are saying. I do not remember the sleeve having a flange. Frankly, I do not remember the sleeve/spacer, either. LOL!

Thanks. I will check it out today.

I see the spacer on the parts fiche, but I don't see it on my bike. Other side has spacer washer, but unless speedo drive was undercut (very unlikely) there is no spacer! that's my story and I'm sticking to it.

 

[Agemax]

look at BIG D's first pic. you can clearly see it. the flange side of the spacer is on the outside face of the fork leg, with a gap to the inside. the axle should be flush to the face of the fork leg not spaced out slightly as you can clearly see

 

[Agemax]

look at the pic, swap spacer around, axle fits flush, gap filled, wheel centralised.

 

[Charlie G]

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?p=1878791#post1878791

Lokk at post 30 and see if this applies to your bike. Rotate fork lower 180 dergrees to change clearance.

cg

 

[Agemax]

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?p=1878791#post1878791

Lokk at post 30 and see if this applies to your bike. Rotate fork lower 180 dergrees to change clearance.

cg

if you rotate the fork lower 180 degrees, the fender mounts will face outwards!

 

[Charlie G]

if you rotate the fork lower 180 degrees, the fender mounts will face outwards!

Yes, I didn't put much thought into my last post. If you want me to measure some points on my bike let me know.

cg

 

[BigD_83]

look at the pic, swap spacer around, axle fits flush, gap filled, wheel centralised.

I think the part you have labelled as "flange" might be part of the cast fork lower Here's a pic from the ghost in the machine of a 650G fork lower:



P.S. been running around all day moving furniture...not as much fun as riding

 

[BigD_83]

...and here is an EBay link showing the spacers as they appear on the bike. Other models show the flanged spacer, but none of the 650Gs I have found show a spacer like in the Alphasports diagram, nor do any of the other parts diagrams at which I have looked (Boulevard Suzuki, cmnsl, etc)



http://www.ebay.com/itm/suzuki-1981...Parts_Accessories&hash=item483f24fc76&vxp=mtr

Everything tracks well, so I'm just going to live with it the way it is at the moment. I just can't get over how much left-shifted the wheel looks when comparing the side-wall to fender bracket distance. I really should try to get a front-on shot for this thread.

 

[Agemax]

ok, try slacking off the two nuts on the bottom of the left hand fork clamp and hitting the axle with a hammer, see if it wont go in a few mm so the spacer hits hard up against the speedo drive

 

[bccap]

This may seem like a stupid question but if your wheel is off center, why does your brake caliper fit properly on the disk ? Or does it ? I had a space on mine too once. I it took me for ever to figure it out. Turned out by tightening the fender brace bolts first I was toeing in the forks slightly. Once I redid it tightening the lower bolts first and fender bolts last everything was fine.

 

[BigD_83]

That's not a stupid question at all.

One of the reasons I think it's "off-centre" (besides visually, it is) is the slight brake shudder I feel, so there could be some toeing in, but just slightly. I thought I had done the axle bolts first, but I could definitely slacken off the fender brace and axle again, give it the old mallet whack as Agemax has suggested, then retighten to see if things look better.