Ariel Owners Motorcycle Club

After checking the frame alignment on my 1952 rigid frame/Tele fork VHA project (with a straight rod down the centre of the steering head) the alignment is out 9 mm to the left of the Centreline at the point the wheel would be on the ground at full fork extension. Having draughted it in autocad this equates to being 1.2mm out at the steering head which equates to 0.35 degrees. So the steering head is angled slightly over to the right. By my reckoning the steering head would only need to be moved 0.6mm to the left at the top and 0.6mm to the right at the bottom to get it inline.
Any comments please on whether this amount of misalignment (9mm) is worth having the frame straightened.
Cheers
Alan

The bike is in bits. You have done the analysis. If you don't do it now, you will worry about whether you should have done until you ride the bike. If you then decide you should have done it now, it is strip the bike again. Straightening the frame isn't going to be a big percentage of the overall cost of the restoration. Just get it done.

Done some more measuring with the crankcases in and the frames out of true in other areas as well so will have to have it straightened. Any suggestions of reliable straighteners midlands area but further afield as well
Cheers
Alan

Hi Alan,
Try <www.parallelengineering.co.uk>
They are based near Wolverhampton and specialise in very accurate frame alignment.