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anyone use moss wheel alignment tool p/n 387-085?

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I have this tool. Poor quality work. The casting of the slide
dial was so poor it would not even go on the tube . I had to file the thing quite a bit to get it to work. That said it
does make toe in setting pretty easy to do by one person.
Good as an alignment shop? I don't think so but toe in is so simple I couldn't bring myself to pay a shop.
If I had had a second set of hands around I wouldn't have bothered with this tool.
 
A couple of wooden yardsticks and 3 C clamps will work as well. I have done it with that alignment tool and with the yardsticks and seemed to be no easier/harder either way.
 
Tom, can you describe the yardsticks layout? or pics?
 
A couple of pieces of string or better yet a laser alignment tool focused from alongside the rear wheel to go past the front wheel. Get wheels totally centered and then measure from a consistent point alignment on each tire. 1/8" sholuld be the difference in alignment from back to front of each side. When I measured Bugsy I was way, way off on each side and wear on inside of my front tires said the same thing. This isn't rocket science google Wheel Alignment and string method and I'll bet you find a link. Racers have been doing it this way for years.
 
Just grab four jackstands or boxes or whatever you have that you can tie a piece of string on and position them on all four corners of the car in front of the front wheels and behind the back wheels. stretch the string from each stand so that it touches the rear tire bisecting the center as close as is realistically possible. center the front wheels with your steering wheel and move the front stands until the string is touching both front wheels equally without coming off the rear wheels. the idea now is to adjust your outer tie rods until the strings touch the back of the front tires on both sides with no more than 1/16" gap between the front of the tires and their respective string. If I can figure out how to upload a picture here I'll do that for clarification.
Regards
Mark
 
That's exactly how I got it done, the String Method. Simple and it works. If nothing else give you an inexpensive way to see where you are at fro an alignment standpoint.
 
Use 4 jack stands, string, and a yardstick. Will work the same and you've probably got all around the garage anyway.
 
yes stringing it is what we do on our formula jedi race car, & that'll hit 140mph around Silverstone this weekend.
Rear wheels parallel (no adjustment on a frogeye to do here).
Front slight toe in. The front edge of each wheel 1/16" further in from the string than the back edge.
 
Thats the way Harryone. Simple is best.
 
here's a web link of how it's done:
string doesn't lie just take your time & keep the dog out of the way, most frustrating when it's all aligned & your dog brings you a stick. ahahahaha.
 
RE the stringing: keep in mind that you need a very flat surface for the car. Lots of garage floors are not very flat. You can check it with a carpenter's level.
 
Also keep in mind that the rear wheel car width is greater than the front.
 
One problem with the Moss or HF tool, you loose accuracy as the position of the tool is not well registred in relation to the wheel or tire, it's sort of up to the user to say if the arms are touching the tire correctly. I was taught the string method yesterday and it worked great, but really takes a couple of people and won't work on a car with a differnt track front and rear such as a Midget. For single person use I made up a gauge that I can use by myself and it will work on any car. Just check like points at the front and rear of the tires and compare the readings to get the toe setting. Mounts under the car so there isn't a clearance issue. Just slide it in place, tip up and adjust, then repeat on the other side of the tire. You can make a similar gauge from scrap wood or such as well. That and a tape measure or ruler and you're in business.
 

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WOW! My head hurts from all this information. So the string method will not work for Midgets, the above contraption needs to be fabricated, correct? I haven't seen the yard stick trick described yet. Unfortunately, I have limited time to spend on my car, so I'm thinking it's best just to drive it to a shop and let them deal with it! CAN THE SHOPS LIKE FIRESTONE/GOODYEAR, etc. ALIGN THESE CARS?
 
Yes, any of those can do an alignment. But remember you're paying full price and the only adjustment you can make on a MG is toe in. It's just so simple to do at home and save yourself 50 or more bucks. Basically all you need to do is compare the width of the rear edge of the tire at axle height with the front edge. For a B or Midget the front should be about 1/8" narrower than the rear measurement. All the gauge does is give you a reference point to measure from since on most cars you can't pull a direct measurment across the tires because of the body. All you need is a "U" shaped tool that can be made up from some 2X4 or such nailed or screwed together. Place one upright on the edge of the tire and then measure from the other upright to the edge of the opposite tire, repeat in the rear and compare your measurments.
 

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