torquecustomcycleofhackensackblunders

                                                       When “Professional Repair” Turns Into a Comedy Show
Intro
Every custom chopper owner eventually runs into a bad repair job… but this one deserves its own trophy. What should have been a simple sprocket offset correction somehow turned into a full-blown circus act? So here it is — a perfect example of how a mechanic can take a straightforward fix and turn it into a rolling disaster

These photos show a perfect example of how a custom chopper should not be repaired. The rear wheel was already perfectly centered, but the transmission sprocket didn’t have enough offset to line up with it. Instead of installing the correct offset sprocket, the mechanic started moving unrelated parts. The rear fender and its supports were shifted off center just to keep the tire from hitting the fender, completely ruining the alignment and symmetry of the bike. Even worse, electrical wires were relocated into a spot where the swing arm would have crushed them during suspension travel, guaranteeing broken wires or short. To top it off, common hardware store bolts were used in place of proper motorcycle grade fasteners. The result is a complete abomination of workmanship—unsafe, incorrect, and a perfect example of why proper sprocket offset and correct mechanical logic matter on a custom chopper.
After all of this, the shop told me to “bring it back and we’ll fix it.”
But after seeing the fender moved off center, the electrical wires placed where the swing arm would crush them, and hardware store bolts holding critical parts together, there’s no chance I’m trusting them a second time. A repair this careless doesn’t deserve another opportunity. The safest choice is keeping the bike far away from that shop.

Just install the correct offset sprocket and call it a day.

 

 

 

 

Five Months Later…
A “Layman” Fixes It
And here’s the part that really makes you think.
I spent five months — a regular guy, not a certified mechanic, not a shop owner — tracking down the right parts, correcting the alignment, and fixing every mistake one by one. If a layman can sort this out with patience and common sense, you have to wonder what on earth the original mechanic was thinking.
Because clearly, it wasn’t mechanical logic. It wasn’t safety.
And it definitely wasn’t pride in workmanship.
Whatever the motive was, it sure wasn’t “doing the job right.”