Triumph wheel adjusters

[scootermcrad]

Anyone using something other than stock wheel adjusters for their Triumph? I had nothing but issues with those things on my last bike and would like to use more of a "Harley type" adjuster this time around.

What have you guys done?

[Dr. Benway]

Anyone using something other than stock wheel adjusters for their Triumph? I had nothing but issues with those things on my last bike and would like to use more of a "Harley type" adjuster this time around.

What have you guys done?

I just lost one of those fuckers driving home Tuesday!!
I'm going to make some (I saw some on the Gypsy Run, may have been on Scraper's ride) out of aluminum; just mill a channel to fit over the axle plates, and drill for the adjuster.

I just realized you meant the WHOLE adjuster...I just want to get away from that flimsy piece of shit stamped steel plate for now.

Paul

[scootermcrad]

I just lost one of those fuckers driving home Tuesday!!
I'm going to make some (I saw some on the Gypsy Run, may have been on Scraper's ride) out of aluminum; just mill a channel to fit over the axle plates, and drill for the adjuster.

I just realized you meant the WHOLE adjuster...I just want to get away from that flimsy piece of shit stamped steel plate for now.

Paul
I know what you're saying. Good idea!

I spent WAAAAYYY too much time on my pre-unit screwing around with chain tension and wheel alignment. The part that sucked is when it moved while tightening things down! EEERRRR!!! :mad: :mad:

[image1]

yeah i know what you mean scooter, think you have it, tighten, now its off...i think i'm gonna have my buddy make some more sturdy ones as benway suggested

[Dr. Benway]

I think I'm going to double-nut them next time too. I know those fuckers back off...

[scootermcrad]

I think I'm going to double-nut them next time too. I know those fuckers back off...
I think I had mine double nutted also. Need to go back and look.

Those little rectangular cups that the adjuster passes through start to bend and deform with too much tension. Cheap CRAP! :mad:

[scootermcrad]

Clear view of the adjusters in this picture, for those of you who don't know what we're talking about.

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b394/scootermcrad/DSC01969.jpg

[Bunt Trump]

Manx Norton type adjusters are available from unity equipe http://www.unityequipe.com/
(there is a pretty poor picture in their catalog). They may be an alternative. I was thinking of using some of these and mounting them inside the axle plates similar to the ones on the Trumpster (see pic) in Dice issue 2.
My frame is set up for OIF type adjusters which work well but do not look so good.
Would you need to machine a different axle to use a Harley type adjuster? Are they any better at maintaining chain tension?

[Dr. Benway]

Clear view of the adjusters in this picture, for those of you who don't know what we're talking about.

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b394/scootermcrad/DSC01969.jpg

Shit, that's my problem...no pink string!

[scootermcrad]

Shit, that's my problem...no pink string!
EXACTLY! It's amazing! Whenever I stop and park, this pink string shows up with a whole shloo of levels checking for perfect alignment of chain wheels. Very tech stuff for such an old bike. It's not visible by others though. Only managed to catch it in this one rare picture.

;) :p

Seriously though. There needs to be actually a barrell, farell or tab bolted or welded to the frame/axle plates to capture the adjuster allowing the axle to be adjusted without the pressure of the axle nuts keeping it in place. This wouild probably mean the axle would be captured too though. Not sure if that's such a good idea or what kind of complications that would bring. Would probably have to dismantle the drum brake every time.

Hmmmm... Maybe a tab that would bolt in place to the frame that would allow the aduster to be mounted to the axle plates? Need to do some sketching and scanning.

[Aphelion]

I used BMX bike Tensioners. Primo Venus. They work well, you just have to drill out the hole to fit your axle. And only $10 each.

http://www.cactusbike.com/store/control/product;jsessionid=ac3JVDLmj5r_?category_id=BMX009&product_id=XCT003

[Dr. Benway]

Huh...designwise, they're pretty much what we're running now, except for that nice aluminum block (which I plan on whittling out tonight!)

[sideshow01]

Huh...designwise, they're pretty much what we're running now, except for that nice aluminum block (which I plan on whittling out tonight!)

He might be on to something though... Back in the day, we actually ran Motorcycle or moped tensioners on our bikes cuz the crappy bike ones wer useless... Nowadays they make some pretty stout ones. Check out some of the other designs... these are a bit different, in that they mount to the frontside of the the axle. Not sure if the bolts are beefy enough to hold up to MC torque, but a good design idea. Keep the axel from sliding forward, rather than hold it back, if that makes sense...

http://www.danscomp.com/440008.php?cat=PARTS

[Bunt Trump]

Check out some of the other designs... these are a bit different, in that they mount to the frontside of the the axle. Not sure if the bolts are beefy enough to hold up to MC torque, but a good design idea. Keep the axel from sliding forward, rather than hold it back, if that makes sense...

http://www.danscomp.com/440008.php?cat=PARTS

These are essentially the same principle as the rigid frame Harley type that scootermcrad mentioned at the beginning of the thread but they have a threaded barrel on the frame for the adjuster bolt to pass through.
I was thinking of a mixture of the two types, Triumph and Harley. Something like a triumph adjuster (but more like a washer on the surface of the axle plate) moving through a fixture on the axle plate. Same as what scootermcrad was thinking

[scraper]

yeah man - im running a pair of primo's too.

http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/I/21FZTZ130RL._AA249_.jpg

[scootermcrad]

These are essentially the same principle as the rigid frame Harley type that scootermcrad mentioned at the beginning of the thread but they have a threaded barrel on the frame for the adjuster bolt to pass through.
I was thinking of a mixture of the two types, Triumph and Harley. Something like a triumph adjuster (but more like a washer on the surface of the axle plate) moving through a fixture on the axle plate. Same as what scootermcrad was thinking
EXACTLY!

I guess the cool thing about the Triumph ones is that the wheel is VERY servicable if you get a flat on the road somewhere. You don't have to take a whole crap load of stuff apart to get the wheel off. I remember when my buddy's shovel got a flat and the place we took it to was closing so they wouldn't help us with tools or a jack. We had to break up a pallet and use VERY primative tools to get the wheel off. It would have been a snap to take it off had it been an early Trump style adjuster. So maybe the key is to keep that same "quick service" theory in line somehow, but make it such that it's bolted or something to the axle plate. Seems simple enough. Going to work on it as soon as I get a hardtail and wheel lined up.

[DrDano]

I used a long turnbuckle nut, a stop nut and a bolt to make mine. I also machined up some aluminum donuts for the bolt to ride against.

http://www.gemcityvintage.com/images/hamb/chopper_update/3.jpg

[Billdozer2]

+1 for BMX, these are SNAFU items.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1389/1343301562_b3418c30d3.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/billdozer/1343301562/)

[scootermcrad]

I used a long turnbuckle nut, a stop nut and a bolt to make mine. I also machined up some aluminum donuts for the bolt to ride against.

http://www.gemcityvintage.com/images/hamb/chopper_update/3.jpg
Slick! I like it! How do you keep the timing side axle end from moving back, or does it stay put pretty well doing it this way? I suppose you could leave the slot open this way for quick wheel removel. Hmmm...

[DrDano]

Slick! I like it! How do you keep the timing side axle end from moving back, or does it stay put pretty well doing it this way? I suppose you could leave the slot open this way for quick wheel removel. Hmmm...

Well, this is on my XS650, but the idea should carry to any bike. On my chop these slots the axle shaft rides in aren't open, you've got to slide the shaft in from the right side insead of just loosening it and hanking the entire assembly out. These adjusters do a great job, this bike vibrates like hell and I've yet had them come loose. Just adjust them, lock them down, then lock the axle down and run with it. Once the shaft is locked down, nothing moves.

[Dragon]

I think I'm going to double-nut them next time too. I know those fuckers back off...

Use a self-locking nut like stock.