Front Rack Problems on New Bike

[brad]

I just bought a new touring bike, Trek 520. I also bought new racks because i sold my old touring bike and the racks went with it. I am having quite a time getting the front rack to line up straight with the wheel once i tighten it down. The rear is just a little off but i can live with that. Anyone know a good trick to make it so? My last bike did not have this issue when hanging the racks for some reason. I have a jandd low rider front rack.

[mtnroads]

Hi Brad,
Slight misalignment is not uncommon with racks. My jandd racks were both pretty straight but I had another brand that was way off.  I suspect that the lower arms are not parallel with each other, or one of them is twisted slightly. When you tighten it the last bit against the eyelet, it throws the rack out of alignment. If it mounts square but goes off as you tighten it, that is the problem. Just eyeball it carefully and use a wrench or vise to straighten the offending arm. They're pretty tough.

-john