My HT leans over a bit...

[bluegoatwoods]

My 49 cc happy time leans over to the left a bit. I've loosened and retightened the mounts. But it seems that whatever I do, it's just not perfectly centered.

It's running just fine. It gets me to and from work everyday with no problem.
I've been commuting since the beginning of July and haven't been stranded yet.

But I've gotten the notion here that the engine should be perfectly aligned with the sprocket.

should I be concerned about it?

 

[brendonv]

if it runs great it should be fine, mines on a slight lean as well which is due to a spring washer on my mount which should be replaced with 2 normal washers but it works so i cant be bothered changing it.

 

[graucho]

My 49 cc happy time leans over to the left a bit. I've loosened and retightened the mounts. But it seems that whatever I do, it's just not perfectly centered.

It's running just fine. It gets me to and from work everyday with no problem.
I've been commuting since the beginning of July and haven't been stranded yet.

But I've gotten the notion here that the engine should be perfectly aligned with the sprocket.

should I be concerned about it?

The machining of the mount areas might be a little off. Nothing with these HT's
are the way they should be . Align the best you can, make sure you have
adaquite lubrication . Tensioner is splitting the difference. The rear sprocket is
centered so the chain's not bouncing. You should be OK.

 

[brendonv]

yeh my chain runs fine, the motor is only like 2mm out or something but i give the chain a little bit more slack so it runs good.

 

[Sasquatch]

Should you be concerned about it? I sure hope not. Mine does the same thing. I sanded the paint off my bike frame and locktighted (red 271) the front mount right to the frame trying to fix this. I had it good and straight and tight, let it dry overnight, it leaned a bit out to the left when I got back from the next ride... I have this thing mounted pretty solid, and my mount looked ok. I bet that without a torch, they all have a little lean, after they pull on the chain for a while.

 

[arceeguy]

.....they all have a little lean, after they pull on the chain for a while.

Yes, all the "new generation" HT engines have a "self aligning" chain. (just pullin' yer chain!)

 

[Skyliner70cc]

If it leaned to the "right", I'd say it was just fine and needed no fixing. Since it leans to the left, it definitely needs to be addressed.

Its very important to tighten the engine mount bolts evenly and in small increments. I often have someone hold the engine centered while I incrementally tighten all of the mount nuts. Take it slow, 1/4 turn at at time once the nuts start putting pressure against the engine mount clamp.

 

[arceeguy]

I use rubber to cushion the engine mounting points, so my engines do have a little latitude in where they settle. But I do agree, a left leaning engine is defective and should be discarded.

 

[graucho]

My above post is if it's leaning ever so slight. Is there anyway to post a pic from the front
or rear view? My HT has 1300 miles now with it slightly leaning to the left. We don't want
to say yours is ok, without an idea of how far yours is leaning.

 

[bluegoatwoods]

Yes, you're right; the degree of tilt will come into play here.

Can't post photos at the moment. But I can give you an idea in words.

The tilt is not obvious to look at. But looking down on it you can see that it's not perfectly centered. And when I remove the air filter I have to push the engine to the right a bit in order to get the screwdriver to clear the bike frame to get the screw that's on the right.

So not a huge tilt. It doesn't look to me as though my chain is twisted or anything like that.