Chain alignment with lasers

[tosh23]

Ive been looking at getting my chain and sprockets perfectly aligned...
Im just no good at aligning the chain, even with string so I searched the web and found this...
http://youtu.be/9NC8p5hbJSA
You cant get any straighter than a laser beam ...
Now the price of one of these tools is around £40 and I haven't got that sort of money...
So I used my brain and found a laser pen we use for our lazy cat to get some exercise

I then held it against the rear sprocket

It works just as well as the £40 tool...

So now my chain and sprockets are perfectly in line and im a happy bunny...Tosh

 

[RobA]

Lazer Alignment

Hello Tosh, A good idea.

For anyone else who would like to try it, for a tenner you can buy on the web a "pen like" object sold for moving slides in PowerPoint, which also has a lazer beam at the push of a button. Again, a lot less than the £40 as you suggest.

Here's one at £7.49 on Amazon:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/August-LP10...IU70/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1304547133&sr=8-8

Best wishes,

RobA.

 

[rce]

Have you checked the alignment of the laser light and the case as if this is even slightly off would give incorrect results

 

[tosh23]

That is a very good point..How to check...
Im going to find a long straight object and measure the distance from the straight surface and just in front of the laser pen, Then go along the face of the flat object and measure the distance...That should do it.....Tosh

 

[Tarka]

I can`t believe what I`ve just read.

Your laser gadget won`t be any help in stopping you getting the tension wrong though,will it.

Furthermore,the witness marks on your rear sprocket teeth suggest something other than 'perfect alignment'.

 

[niko]

That is a very good point..How to check...
Im going to find a long straight object and measure the distance from the straight surface and just in front of the laser pen, Then go along the face of the flat object and measure the distance...That should do it.....Tosh

easy way is mount in a v block shine at a flat surface rotate it it should stay shinning at the same point you can use a straight edge in place of the v block

 

[tosh23]

Tarka, The witness marks are what all the trouble is about..
I used string for the alignment and 45mm of play in the adjustment.
The string didn't work and the chain was too loose. Chewing at the rear sprocket. So my quest was on. How to do it easily and accurately..
So ive adjusted the chain to 30mm and lasered it...We will see if that works when she rides next time....Tosh

 

[tosh23]

Nico. Ive used a straight edge, It was out but not by much so a little adjustment with a bit of tape and its straight and true through 6 foot so a 3 foot chain will be ok....Time will tell....Tosh

 

[D6]

Nico. Ive used a straight edge, It was out but not by much so a little adjustment with a bit of tape and its straight and true through 6 foot so a 3 foot chain will be ok....Time will tell....Tosh

straight edge, or a bit of string even, lasers are a bit ott i recon

 

[tosh23]

Niko,
You were right mate. By turning the pen on a v block reveals that the pen is way out. Ohh well never mind , back to the drawing board....Tosh

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Niko,
You were right mate. By turning the pen on a v block reveals that the pen is way out. Ohh well never mind , back to the drawing board....Tosh