Tips On How To "Center" The Front Wheel!!!???

steve23
steve23 Posts: 2,202
edited January 2009 in Workshop
ive re-adjusted my headset and now my wheel is all squiffy!!!

its not a great deal, but when the stem is inline with the frame, the front wheel is slightly off center!

and no matter what i try i cant get it bob on. any tips on how to do it!!??

cheers
_______________________________________________________________________________________
If You Can't Cut It With The Big Dogs, Then Don't Pi$$ Up The Tall Trees!

Comments

  • dennisn
    dennisn Posts: 10,601
    Not sure what you are saying. Maybe a picture?

    Dennis Noward
  • SCR Pedro
    SCR Pedro Posts: 912
    steve23 wrote:
    ive re-adjusted my headset and now my wheel is all squiffy!!!

    its not a great deal, but when the stem is inline with the frame, the front wheel is slightly off center!

    and no matter what i try i cant get it bob on. any tips on how to do it!!??

    cheers

    I don't know if this will help you, but whenever I am adjusting the headset, I line the bike up with the cracks between paving slabs. That gives me a relatively true line to work with. It works for me, so it might be worth a try.

    Cheers
    Pedro
    Giant TCR Advanced II - Reviewed on my homepage
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    Giant SCR2
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  • steve23
    steve23 Posts: 2,202
    cheers for that, might give it a try.

    what im saying is when the stem is in line with the frame, the front wheel is slightly off centre, and i cant get it so its exactly in the middle of the stem. its only slightly out, but enough for me to notice!!!
    _______________________________________________________________________________________
    If You Can't Cut It With The Big Dogs, Then Don't Pi$$ Up The Tall Trees!
  • cougie
    cougie Posts: 22,512
    My tip is dont look too closely.

    Sorted !
  • alfablue
    alfablue Posts: 8,497
    Stand with the wheel between your legs, line up with frame top tube, then move bars till stem is also in line.
  • justresting
    justresting Posts: 292
    not sure if you mean its out of line with frame, or its not centred in forks ?
    ' From the sharks in the penthouse,
    to the rats in the basement,
    its not that far '
  • alfablue
    alfablue Posts: 8,497
    my interpretation was that the handlebars are not at 90 degrees to the wheel, might be wrong though.

    Squiffy wheel in the forks is a bit weirder, unless there is a fault with the wheel/hub/forks, usually just releasing and re-tightening the quick release while the bike is standing on the wheel usually sorts it. Can't be that...?
  • dennisn
    dennisn Posts: 10,601
    alfablue wrote:
    my interpretation was that the handlebars are not at 90 degrees to the wheel, might be wrong though.

    Squiffy wheel in the forks is a bit weirder, unless there is a fault with the wheel/hub/forks, usually just releasing and re-tightening the quick release while the bike is standing on the wheel usually sorts it. Can't be that...?

    I'm not following how adjusting the headset has anything to do with a wheel being "squiffy"(not quite sure what that is) in the forks. I'm with alfa on how the wheel may not be 90 degrees to the bars(or in line with the stem) as the case may be. If that's the case it's something of an art to get stem/wheel lined up. I've done it many times and to be honest I've always thought it looked a little off no matter how hard I tried. Hopefully this is your problem and cougie has already solved it("don't look to close"). If it's not the above be sure to look at the gaps(both sides of the tire) between the tire and the fork blades(not the brake pads)
    when inserting the wheel into the dropouts. The gap should be the same on both sides
    of the tire. This centers the wheel in the fork. Whew, that's tough to explain. Have someone with a bit of experience give you a hand with this if need be

    Dennis Noward
  • Wappygixer
    Wappygixer Posts: 1,396
    Maybe the wheel isn't dished perfectly so makes the bars,stem and wheel look out of line.
  • softlad
    softlad Posts: 3,513
    steve23 wrote:
    but when the stem is inline with the frame, the front wheel is slightly off center!

    I don't think I've ever lined up my stem using the frame as a reference. Why not line it up with the front wheel..??

    Or have I missed something..?
  • robbarker
    robbarker Posts: 1,367
    You can drive yourself nuts with this one.

    Tape measure. Accurately measure bar end to centre of fronthub.
  • dennisn
    dennisn Posts: 10,601
    softlad wrote:
    steve23 wrote:
    but when the stem is inline with the frame, the front wheel is slightly off center!

    I don't think I've ever lined up my stem using the frame as a reference. Why not line it up with the front wheel..??

    Or have I missed something..?

    Lining the stem up with the frame is not the way. This doesn't accomplish anything, as the WHEEL must be in line with the STEM(frame be damned), or at least as close as humanly possible(see cougie's "don't look to close").

    Dennis Noward

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