1999 Suzuki LTF 500 Alignment Problem

[Jerryd68]

having an alignment problem with the machine pulling to the right,  it has new tires, no apparent wear on the steering components or damage.  Does anyone have any experience aligning these machines?

[Frank Angerano]

Have you checked the shocks to make sure one is not blown? The bike may be pulling if one shock is blown.   

[Jerryd68]

Frank, I hadn’t thought to check the suspension components, thanks for the tip, I will look

[JacobSlabach]

a locked up wheel bearing can pull your bike right off the trail-  was riding with a buddy on his old sportsman 500 and one of the stock front wheel bearings locked up seizing that wheel.  had some trouble getting the quad out of the ditch..........  fortunately we weren't going super fast so nobody got hurt..

if the quad has ever been run into something, that can bend something and you just have to adjust the tie rod.

[Jerryd68]

Thanks,  I will check the wheel bearings whenni check the shocks.

[JacobSlabach]

do the wheels look strieght as you're standing in front of the bike?

[Jerryd68]

I haven’t noticed anything abnormal about how the steering wheels look

[JacobSlabach]

ok.  first thing I do when a bike isnt headed the way the handlebars are pointed is get the handlebars straight, get off the quad and stand back from the front of the bike and see if one or both tires are pointed off the one side even a little.  otherwise, I would check tire pressure, shocks, bearing... anything that would make one wheel roll different than the other

[Jerryd68]

I will get it out this weekend and make sure everything is correct, thanks again 

[JacobSlabach]

no problem!