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Electra Rear Chain Alignment

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When I install the rear wheel on my Electra and adjust the chain to the proper tension, the chain is running too far to the outside and brushing against the bracket that attaches the chain guard.

In short the chain needs to move 1/8-1/4" to the right to avoid dragging on the bracket.

Any suggestions on how I can make this happen?  I'm fresh out of ideas.

 

Thanks.

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It could be something really simple ,like the back wheel is out of line with the  front  and just needs adjusting. If its anything else ,I would start with the basics.Is the chain too wide for the sprockets?  Is the front wheel central in the forks?. Is the back wheel in line with the front.? Are the back wheel axle components correct ? Are the sprockets correct and in line? Wrong swinging arm?,  .  After all this I would be thinking about  changing the axle /hub spacing  to get the sprockets in line and adjusting spokes to put the rim in line with the front. But thats a last resort . 

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I've just put my re-toothed sprocket/brake drum back on my Electra (after an 8 month wait). I've not adjusted it to correct tension yet but the chain is running very straight and not rubbing on any bracketry. The only "spacer" involved in positioning the wheel is the bracket to hold the brake plate stop and the torque arm connection. Have you got a different arrangement of spacers?

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What I know about lightweights you could write on a stamp.   But if its anything like a featherbed there should be a spacer twixt  brake plate and swing arm??.

Nope.  The only spacer on that side is the one incorporated into the brake plate stop.

I tried inserting a spacer on the stub axle side, but the flattened sides on the stub would not fit into the swing arm.  The flattened portion was too short to accept a spacer.

I going to check alignment and stuff again.  Testing out Einstein's insanity theory.

Thanks for the thoughts.

 

Anyone know what size drive chain is used on an Electra?

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Sorry - I have re-read your post, and am not clear where the chain is rubbing. Is it rubbing by the wheel or at the front of the chainguard? Some photos would be useful, especially from the side to see the chainguard you have fitted, and (with a flash, maybe) looking down into the spindle area from the side, back and under (if you can manage it).

You can write to me with photos attached at lighttwins@nortonownersclub.org if posting pictures is hard here.

Have you got the correct adapter plate shown in the first attached photo, with integral spacer & which connects to a torque arm under your swinging arm - shown in the 2nd photo?

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The chain is just brushing against the outboard inside of the U-shaped bracket that the front of the chain guard attaches to.

  Looking down the length of the chain, back to front, the chain runs to the left side of the U shaped bracket enough to drag against it.

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James,

 

I have roughly measured, within a mm, the distance from the inside face of the gearbox sprocket and the machined face of the gearbox casting where the layshaft bush is as 1/4". I have also measured the width of the brake anchor plate as 3/4". There are no spacers used to position my swinging arm. If you have these same dimensions but the chain still rubs the possibilities are that something is bent or the chaincase bracket is wrong in some way.

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You certainly can't leave it as it is,  the contact may flip off the spring clip . I wondered if you have fitted a wider chain than it should be..  Were there different swinging arms on the lightweights ,you may have an imposter!. I'm investigating an unwanted contact between tyre sidewall and chaincase mount/ screw, Think its the replacement screws are 3/4 mm too long ,no room for error at all.

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James,

 

The Electra chain size is 1/2" x 5/16th". The manual says 1/2" by 0.305" but I don't think this is what  the chain is normally called. 

My previous note was not complete. One other possibility is that your spacer behind the gearbox sprocket is the wrong width.

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Welp.  I checked out  everyone's suggestions, made measurements, etc.  Everything checked out.

So, I finally harked back to 1950's and 60's mechanical thinking, took an adjustable wrench and bent the outside edge of the bracket out far enough to allow ample chain clearance.

Can't say I'm proud of that solution, but it seems to work just fine.

:-)

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As long as the chaincase fits, that's well done.

 


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