rear wheel is off center

[Humble Pie]

trying to get the rear all buttoned up,,but my wheel is way off center to to right. It has a 16 rim laced into the hub,,could this be the cause ?  it is a plunger frame

[muskrat]

G'day HP,
             sounds like it was laced wrong. First make sure all the bits are in the right places (pic attached). Do a bit of measuring to check the frame is straight. Most important is that the sprockets line up.
If it's still out you will need to adjust the spokes to bring the rim to the center line of the frame. If it's only a mm or two you might be able to do it with the tyre (deflated) still on, any more and it's best to remove. Loosen the spokes on the right one turn and tighten the ones on the left one turn. Continue doing this till it's central, then some minor tweeking till it's running true. Not a huge job but time consuming.
Cheers

[Humble Pie]

Sprocket seems right,,but after that it's all just a mess.

[muskrat]

Yep, looks like the PO has offset the rim to take the wider 16" tyre. It will need a new rim and spokes. Std rear tyre was 19" X 3.50".
The way it is it would crab and handle like s**t.
Cheers

[Humble Pie]

Thanks

[spyke]

Many years ago I built a Plunger bobber with a 5" tyre in and came across the same problem.I took it back to the wheel builder about 4 times when he moved the rim over one way and then back the other right untill I got the chain to just, but only just clear the tyre.From memory the rim was still a fraction off center even then  but didnt worry an eighteen year old, and i rode about 10k on that bike here there and everywhere usually chasing me mates on more modern bikes with no great effect on handling ,well considering plunger handling.The tyre always had chain marks on it where the clearance was so small tho.
Spyke

[Humble Pie]

I will see if an 18" will cure the problem,,,really don't want a 19" rear wheel