My past bmx's were always cobbled-together, hand-me-down parts thrown together on a couple decent frames.. I've learned how to build/tune most parts on a proper bmx setup, but euro bb's and cassette hubs are still difficult for me to do anything besides remove/re-install.
Anyways, i need to learn how to align and gauge a drivetrain's straightness- for my bike, because i'm about to buy a new, thicker (guarded) sprocket & i've already thrown the drivetrain out of alignment by installing a drive-side hubguard, *and* my brother got a bike off craigslist recently and his cranks are a mess, the rear wheel and part of the cranks are aftermarket, and they're not properly aligned.
How does one gauge the alignment of their cog:sprocket, aside from the obvious & useless way of just eyeing it? And:
How does one approach adjustments? Is it sprocket spacers, or spacers at the cog/cassette? What are these spacers called and do they need to be specific, or can I go to home depot and find what I need (even if it's ugly/raw steel)?
Thanks for any thoughts / tips here, i'm really at a loss... my best idea so far is to buy a steel yard-stick, and use that to try and gauge cog:sprocket alignment, but that really doesn't seem too-great a measure and is probably an inefficient approach!
