Spacer on rear axle '81 SH (Special)

[Tex]

I bought this great bike used. Never saw it new.

Clymers shows a spacer(like a fender washer) between the frame and the axle on the right side.

The book covers many models therefore it may be suggesting a part that does not belong on my bike.

I hope so because I don't have one.

Do I need one?

Thanks,

Tex

[Ken Talbot]

If everything looks okay without a washer, (i.e. no gaps along the axle) it probably is. Just check to see that the caliper assembly centres properly on the brake disk.

[skids]

Re: Spacer on rear axle '81 SH (Special)

Originally posted by Tex
I bought this great bike used. Never saw it new.

Clymers shows a spacer(like a fender washer) between the frame and the axle on the right side.

Tex

You might be referring to the spacer that looks like a thick washer with a groove around the center and that has a slight ridge (I think) to keep it centered with the caliper bracket?

[Ken Talbot]

Tex, here's the photo you sent me off-line:


Here's a shot of the same place on my '80 Midnight Special:


It looks like you've got all the right parts, but still have a gap.

This got me curious, so I went out and had a look at my '81 Standard:


Hmm, similar gap, maybe I need a spacer too? OTOH, by loosening the pinch bolt and giving a bit of a grip with big pliers, that gap basically disappears:


Maybe neither of us needs another spacer, just need to close up the gap and re-torque the pinch bolt. It's certainly not like it took much of a squeeze to bring the right swing arm over that small of an amount.

[Tex]

Ken,
I really appreciate your obvious interest and effort. I'll give that a try. Sometime I feel a little slop in the backend I wonder if that is the cause. I'll check it out and let you know.

Thanks again.

Jim (Tex)