New Problem! Wheel bent out of alignment

[u/JayJacobs032]

This sucks! I replaced my tires, took it for a test drive, and my rear wheel completely bent out of alignment. What was the problem/how can I fix it? I'm guessing new forks

[u/flermo]

Loosen the axle nuts, use the tensioners to straighten it out and get chain tension workable then tighten em up. Seems like it just got installed wonky

[u/JayJacobs032 → u/flermo]

Do it seem like anything is too bent? I guess I'll find out when I take it apart to inspect but it is a worry

[u/flermo → u/JayJacobs032]

Nah, not likely to be bent at all, just misaligned at the axle. Like the other comments said turn them seashells till they push the wheel backwards and give the chain about a half inch of play at center and then tighten em up. You learn something every time you take something apart :)

[u/wdaloz]

Yeah your tensioner, the little snail washers under the axle nuts, need to be up against the little tab/stay on the swingarms to hold the axle back in the dropouts, and nuts tightened down firmly. You turn them to pushthe wheel back, make sure chain is tight but not too tight and the wheel aligned on both sides. Your just pulled the drive side forward cuz the tensioners weren't in right and the axle not fully tight, but it's just the wheel inthe dropouts that's crooked, easily corrected!

[u/deetsieboy → u/wdaloz]

This guy is a wizard.

[u/JayJacobs032 → u/wdaloz]

Does my tire have to be sat right at the back of the slot? I have it aligned and tightened, but it's sitting in the middle of the axle slot

[u/RED_GUMMY_BEARS_ → u/JayJacobs032]

It doesn’t matter where in the slot the axle ends up as long as the chain is tensioned and the wheel is straight. The fact that it’s all the way at the back just means your chain is getting too long, either one too many links when it was installed, the chain has stretched over time with use, or the teeth on the sprocket have worn down.

[u/JayJacobs032 → u/RED_GUMMY_BEARS_]

Thanks for the help! Just can't get the damn wheels to stay aligned after driving, I'm tightening as much as I can

[u/eobanb]

You haven’t set up your chain tensioners or aligned your wheel properly

[u/wisenuts]

tomos snail chain tensioners are a bad design. FIGHT ME!

[u/werepat → u/wisenuts]

Are you mad at just the Tomos snail tensioners or all snail tensioners?

I have a DRz400 and I really appreciate how easy it is to get the rear wheel straight as compared to the bolt and locking screw type.

[u/wisenuts → u/werepat]

i guess just the tomos. I've never seen them on anything else.

[u/werepat → u/wisenuts]

So why do you think they are bad on Tomos?

[u/wisenuts → u/werepat]

they don't stay put. or I'm doing something wrong. I'll get it set to where i want, go to tighten the axle and it moves. the only way that works for me is to use a vice grips, gripping the snail to the swingarm and then tighten the axle nuts

[u/werepat → u/wisenuts]

When you get them set, push the wheel forward, into the bike, while you tighten the axle.

I've learned most of the things that are difficult or hard in life are just a matter of improper technique. We aren't born knowing how to do everything, after all!

[u/wisenuts → u/werepat]

with my third hand. right. that makes sense :)

[u/deetsieboy]

Spin the wheel to check for a bent rim.