rear wheel swap

[pwhitacre]

Greetings, I am a long time FJ owner but am new to this or any other forum. I am doing the GSXR rear wheel swap on my 86 FJ but have a problem. I used the 17x5 1/2 inch wheel and a 170-60 Dunlop roadsmart tire, it has gone together really well and everything lines up perfectly but I do not have tire clearance on the right side. I was wondering if anyone has run into this before. I only have maybe an 1/8 of an inch or less.

[Pat Conlon]

Welcome to our forum.

I will let the folks who have done the GSXR rear wheel swap comment.
I am surprised with your close tire to chain clearance using the smaller 170/60-17 tire.
I know folks who are running the wider 180/55-17 tire with the GSXR rim.

Although it should be noted...Dunlop's tires tend to run wider than other tire brands.

Stay tuned....

Welcome again

Pat

[FJmonkey]

My first 180 was a Dunlop Q2. It machined about an 1/8" off the left side from the chain. The next Dunlop was a Q2 170 and it was clear of the chain. I currently run Continental Motions in a 180 with clearance on the chain.  If you have right side issues, make sure the wheel is centered to the front.

[Bones]

Have you got the 4mm washers each side of the wheel or both on one side.

[Millietant]

I've not heard of anyone who has tyre clearance issues on the right side of the bike with the GSXR (or any other) wheel conversion when properly aligned. Issues on the left with clearance from the chain yes, but not clearance on the right.

Are you sure the wheel is properly centred/aligned/spaced ?

[Urban_Legend]

I am running a 90 Gixxer wheel on my 84 FJ with a Bridgestone 170/60/17" tyre. It leave a bit less the 1/2 inch clearance to the swing arm on each side and has worn a custom groove in the chain guard.
As mentioned above. Make sure you have the spacers in properly.

Mark

[aviationfred]

Have you got the 4mm washers each side of the wheel or both on one side.

I was thinking the same thing.

on my 89 with the 92 GSX-R750 wheel, I ran Continental, Shinko, and Metzeler 180/55/17 tires using an OEM FJ swing arm and never had any clearance issues on either side.


Fred

[pwhitacre]

Thanks for the input. I have the 4mm spacers one on each side and 1/4 inch of clearance between the tire and chain. How much clearance is considered the minimum? I will have to recheck my wheel alignment.

[Urban_Legend]

That sounds about right.

[Urban_Legend]

This is what mine has with the 170/60/17 Bridgestone tyre.
I tried to measure it. Bit hard to tell, but it's about 1/4 inch.

[FJmonkey]

How much clearance is considered the minimum? I will have to recheck my wheel alignment.

Make sure the rear wheel is centered (Left to Right) to the front wheel. Make sure the rear wheel is also in line (rolling straight) with the front. Then make sure the chain is not touching the rear tire (Zero contact). The more contact it has the more the chain is getting a side load. Side loading the chain is bad for the chain and nearest sprocket. And a little messy with all the rubber dust from the tire. 

[pwhitacre]

I just went back and rechecked the alignment and that fixed it. I am surprised how little an adjustment made such a big difference in clearance. I now have about the same clearance between the chain and tire on the left and the swingarm and tire on the right. I think this combination is going to be better than the FZ-1 swingarm that I had on it. I really appreciate all the advice, you guys have been great. I should have joined up years ago.