off centre rear wheel

Roddy
Roddy Posts: 22
edited May 2008 in MTB workshop & tech
I have replaced my rear wheel and it is not sitting centrally between the rear stays, why would this be, and how do i remedy the situation?
The wheel is new and true, with a new casette and rear disc.

Comments

  • Andy B
    Andy B Posts: 8,115
    Remove & refit the wheel, it might not be mounted correctly in the frame.
    2385861000_d125abe796_m.jpg
  • S_J_P
    S_J_P Posts: 908
    Most HT's have symmetric chainstays, but the cassette sits on on side, therefore the wheel sits to one side.

    The only way to counter this is to have a dished wheel, but most factory-wheels aren't dished. You can dish the wheel yourself if you're bothered, try googling for the technique.
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    SJP, I've never in my life seen a non-dished MTB rear wheel.
  • dennisn
    dennisn Posts: 10,601
    SJP, I've never in my life seen a non-dished MTB rear wheel.

    I'm glad an MTB'er chimed in on this one. I'm a roadie and wasn't sure what SJP
    was trying to say. Still not sure.

    Dennis Noward
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    Nah, I'm still not sure what he's on about either.
    Any wheel builder will dish a wheel, so that the rim lies centrally in relation to the hub (approximately, in my real world experience).
  • wallisdene
    wallisdene Posts: 60
    At the risk of missing the point, try fitting the wheel in the dropouts with the weight of the bike on the wheel - in other words fit the wheel with the bike standing on the floor rather than in a workstand.
  • S_J_P
    S_J_P Posts: 908
    Sorry all, my bad :oops:

    What I was trying to get at was that factory wheels aren't accurately dished (at least they aren't in my experience) which leads to the tyre being slightly offset to one side (both my Hardrock and Terrago suffered from this).

    This isn't usually a problem, as there's still adequate chainstay/wheel clearance, but if you're fitting wider tyres then you can run into problems especially with torque induced spoke tension changes (I can't remember the name for this though!)

    I redished my rear wheel a couple of years ago to better centre a cheap factory wheel to give improved mud clearance with 2.25" tyres.
  • redvee
    redvee Posts: 11,922
    SJP, I've never in my life seen a non-dished MTB rear wheel.

    Manitou made a frame/bike with an off centre wheel.
    I've added a signature to prove it is still possible.
  • skyliner
    skyliner Posts: 613
    Torque induced spoke tension changes = poorly built wheels.

    The old Specialized Big Hit had a zero dish rear wheel. As do many singlespeed bikes.
    So it's not uncommon. :wink:
    But tyre rub can be caused by poorly seated tyres and poorly aligned stays as much as poorly dished wheels. :wink:

    To solve these problems:- buy quality hand built frames, and fit quality professionally hand built wheels, then get your tyres fitted correctly by hand, by a professional mechanic. :P :)
    It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice.
  • nicklouse
    nicklouse Posts: 50,675
    Roddy wrote:
    I have replaced my rear wheel and it is not sitting centrally between the rear stays, why would this be, and how do i remedy the situation?
    The wheel is new and true, with a new casette and rear disc.

    so what is the bike? and the wheel came off what?
    "Do not follow where the path may lead, Go instead where there is no path, and Leave a Trail."
    Parktools :?:SheldonBrown
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    redvee wrote:
    SJP, I've never in my life seen a non-dished MTB rear wheel.

    Manitou made a frame/bike with an off centre wheel.
    [fingers in ears] la la la la la la la /[fingers in ears]
    well I never seen one, so it isn't real :oops:
  • nicklouse
    nicklouse Posts: 50,675
    redvee wrote:
    SJP, I've never in my life seen a non-dished MTB rear wheel.

    Manitou made a frame/bike with an off centre wheel.
    [fingers in ears] la la la la la la la /[fingers in ears]
    well I never seen one, so it isn't real :oops:

    seen a big hit? seen a P series frame? both have ART's.
    "Do not follow where the path may lead, Go instead where there is no path, and Leave a Trail."
    Parktools :?:SheldonBrown
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    la la la la la, fingers still in ears :lol:

    and no, I haven't actually seen a big hit, come to think of it.