When a rig pulls to the left or the right...

[hipowerone]

I have often read discussions about a rig pulling to the left or right. Often times the response is to check tire pressures, brake adjustments, or other ideas. Sometimes this works some, but for the most part it seems the problems persist with no general consensus about what is the real cause.

Has anyone considered chains? That they might either be different lengths, such as one being stretched or having an extra link?

I have been trying to diagnose a similar problem (a slight but definite pulling right, requiring constant left corrections) and I have checked all the obvious reasons, and this is the only solution that I have come up with that I am not sure how to check/verify.

Any ideas.

[ARGOJIM]

Well I personally have heath issues thag cause my t20 issues, a wasted left shoulder with about half normal rotation, bad neck and broken collarbone I did not know was broke that healed unnatural combined with right shoulder issues, right elbow tendon shortened 1\4-3\8" and insensitivity thoughout right hand can / do make on power and more so coming off power tricky.
However with your suggested cause i could agree that a new sprocket and chain combo verse old could certainly cause a different pull under power.

[liflod]

Check the circumference of your tires. Try swapping all from left to right.
You could also jack the machine and mark all the tires at 12:00 o'clock, bungee the sticks forward and see if they all rotate in unison.

[hipowerone]

Hi Guys and thanks for the ideas.
ArgoJim: Sorry to hear of your health issues,and understand, improper use of controls could cause this, but I am speaking of a hands off, throttle only, definite gentle pull to the right

liflod: When I said "obvious reasons", it included mis-matched tires/sizes/diameters/inflations, etc. I had even tried the tire side swap, and it still pulls to the right. That was when I began thinking chain lengths. However, I do like the "12 O'Clock" marking idea, and will give that a try, but I fear it will only confirm what I think I already know. The left side tire set is travelling just slightly faster than the right side set, causing a slight turning motion to the right.

[ARGOJIM]

Hi Guys and thanks for the ideas.
ArgoJim: Sorry to hear of your health issues,and understand, improper use of controls could cause this, but I am speaking of a hands off, throttle only, definite gentle pull to the rig
.

Hipowereone, my arm issues were just to demonstrate the difference in pressures applied to the sticks. However if you are talking a pull using springs only, this crates a whole new adjustment issue as spring pull, rod length, u channel parallel ness and band adjustment, as any thing out of even can cause a slight pull.

[hipowerone]

ArgoJim:
Once again, thanks.

When you add so many possible variables ("spring pull, rod length, u channel parallel ness and band adjustment"), you are introducing a whole new realm to the equation. If you make one minor adjustment to a setting that is really not out of adjustment, you could be introducing a problem that was not really there, and truly exacerbate the issue.

I think that I will continue to examine the chain possibility, or I will try and live with the issue and just drive on "left tilting hills". Ha ha.

[ARGOJIM]

Keep on the chains, let us know how you make out.

Now Ponder this,
in a II your engine is set slightly left, your sticks are set slightly left so you are set slightly left, so the weight bias of the machine is set slightly left allowing either added traction or added tire slippage to one side depending on terrain even when evenly adjusted.
This is minute but mentionable.

[SeanD]

I would check bearing grease or mud in one or something like that. Much like a worn axle bearing on a car, you'll get more friction, some drag, and a wander.

Just ANOTHER thought.

In my pea brain, it seems that the chain could be a mile long on one side, but they both still travel over one sprocket tooth at a time. If you have different sized L/R sprockets, then yes, your machine is driving faster on one side.