Author Topic: FL350 Front Alignment/Camber  (Read 5265 times)

samryoung

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FL350 Front Alignment/Camber
« on: October 17, 2012, 01:30:42 PM »
Both the front wheels have a negative camber angle on my FL350? This has nothing to do with the toe out adjustment. How can I fix the problem? Is the front of the frame tweaked?

The steering is completely out of whack, even after I adjust to the proper toe out.

Since there is no way to adjust the camber, what should I do so that the machine steers straight?

Thanks!

LiveWire

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Re: FL350 Front Alignment/Camber
« Reply #1 on: October 17, 2012, 02:04:21 PM »
The frame or trailing arms are tweaked. Likely your trailing arm stubs are bent back. You may be able to see it by looking straight down at them standing in front of the machine.

What is the behavior? The machine pulls to one side?

samryoung

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Re: FL350 Front Alignment/Camber
« Reply #2 on: October 17, 2012, 04:29:10 PM »
Here are some pictures. The tilt of the wheels are about 6.5 degrees. The steering is completely whacked. The control arms are straight. It seems as if the front spindles are bending upward.

odypilots

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Re: FL350 Front Alignment/Camber
« Reply #3 on: October 17, 2012, 04:40:55 PM »
When my 350's wheels tipped in, it was the trailing arm stubs, as Livewire said. We put a BIG pipe over it, applied heat, and bent it back close to straight.
The usual 'my two cents' disclaimer applies. :)

LiveWire

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Re: FL350 Front Alignment/Camber
« Reply #4 on: October 17, 2012, 04:56:11 PM »
I would not touch the camber if both sides are the same. Camber helps traction while turning. The machine I raced prior to converting to long travel looked about the same.

I don't know what the service manual says for toe-out since I adjust based on feel. The machine does not have enough toe out on turn. Increasing static toe out will reduce the machine's turning radius. Too much and it will hurt straight line speed due to tire scrub. So you have to adjust to a balance of your liking.

hoodlum

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Re: FL350 Front Alignment/Camber
« Reply #5 on: October 17, 2012, 11:35:03 PM »
Will wear in the trailing arm bushings not cause this?

odypilots

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Re: FL350 Front Alignment/Camber
« Reply #6 on: October 18, 2012, 09:30:18 AM »
Will wear in the trailing arm bushings not cause this?

I don't have any experience with worn bushings, but I would think the bushings would have to be REALLY worn to lean in that much, plus the tire should be easy to move pulling on the top of the tire from the side, if so.
The usual 'my two cents' disclaimer applies. :)

LiveWire

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Re: FL350 Front Alignment/Camber
« Reply #7 on: October 18, 2012, 10:39:07 AM »
Will wear in the trailing arm bushings not cause this?

I don't have any experience with worn bushings, but I would think the bushings would have to be REALLY worn to lean in that much, plus the tire should be easy to move pulling on the top of the tire from the side, if so.

Yeah, bushings worn to the point of making the front end extremely sloppy and noticeable won't lean that much.