Wheel Alignment Tool - Agnew
Here's Jim Agnew's wheel alignment tool.
Wheel Alignment Tool
I've attached 3 pictures of a Wheel alignment tool for Matco Wheels & Axles. It is simple to make and gives the user a perfect platform for wheel alignment. I hang a plumb-bob from the nose and prop extension and use a laser level to project a center line on the floor and Plumb-bobs. I then place a second laser level on the MAT tool and project a line on the floor. You can then easily take the measurements between the two laser lines. I use a U channel to raise the nose wheel about 2 inches so the laser will show all the way to the nose. Two bricks and a piece of plywood will work.
The MAT is easy to make and guarantees an accurate reference point. The pictures are the original prototype and I decided to add a thin piece of AL that sticks up 1/4" between the AL adapter and the angle piece. This allows a positive fore-aft level alignment with the angle. The AL part is 1 1/2" dia round stock about 3" long and center drilled and tapped on the outboard side 1/4" x 28 bolt (allows the angle bar to be adjusted level). The inside is turned to a very close fit inside the axle and the center ridge serves as a stop. Insert the inside part into the axle and mark the exact location of the cotter-pin hole and thru drill the axle part 1/8" to accept the locking pin. The locking pin is steel with a 1/8 shaft with the end tapered to allow easy insertion. The angle is 1 1/2" x 5" (mine is steel since I have a magnetic level) and AL would be fine.
I use two inexpensive laser levels with diffraction lenses so they project lines instead of a beam, insert the adapter into the axle, insert the pin to lock it, and place the level on the adapter. Level if necessary (the bolt holding the angle with a star washer will allow you to level the angle fore-aft if necessary.
