reinstalling swingarm (shaft drive) ....? ?

[Redman]

WHat is a good way to reinstall that swingarm on shaftdrive GS....?

I made one quick attempt, that did not proceed well. I can see two or three complications there.

One: will be holding the swingarm in its general place while trying to do this.
I am making a small frame out of 2x4s to hold the swingarm in somewhat close position.

Two: holding the swing arm in exact position so those threaded insert things (#3) line up exactly with the bearings (#2). Seems that is a tight fit.
I find it somewhat difficult to line up the bearing into the threaded insert thing (#3) with just holding the bearing and the threadoed insert in my hand, and that is when can see both of them. Seems like is gonna be quite difficult when the bearing is in the swingarm, and trying to hold the swingarm in place, while treading the insert into position, when cant see the bearing or the threaded insert.
Am thinking that am going to have to do something to make small adjustments in how the swingarm sits on that 2x4 frame, like use a screwdrive as something of a shim.

THree: Manaul mentions that when threading in the threaded inserts to be sure that everything is centered... ah, what can I see to determine that....?
Do not have any idea for this.

 

[Guest]

My son in law helped me. I would have had very little patience doing it alone.

 

[chuck hahn]

Set the left side one in enough that the swing arm cane be sort of twisted in. Basically you start it in at a slight angle and get the bearing over the pivot and turn it in so the right side pivot can be put in. once its on the left side just hold it there and reach around and get the right side in. Wiggle it up and down to see that the right side gets in side the bearing and your good. Remember that your gonna have to recenter the swing arm once the rear wheel and drive shaft are in stalled. Spin the rear wheel and if the Ujoint hits the inside of the arm then adjust the pivots one way or the other till there isnt any hits. Tighten it all down and respin the wheel.

 

[GSXR7ED]

So the shaft drive is part of the swing arm? That's interesting. I don't remember having any issues when Bill helped me install his 630 chain into my bike; when we couldn't get the front sprocket off to do my 530 conversion. Bill took off the swingarm to put grease in there and put it right back.

Sorry for your woes during this re-install Redman.

Ed

 

[Steve]

It has been a while since I have done it, but I don't remember it being all that difficult. I think the method that I used was sort of similar to what Chuck was describing. Set the left pivot so its center 'pin' is sticking out into the center of the frame, then put the swingarm over it. It won't take much to hold the right side up while you screw the right side pivot into place.

Centering it is rather easy. Just look at the gap on each side of the swing arm. If it needs to move to one side, be sure to back off the pivot on that side to give it room to move.

So the shaft drive is part of the swing arm? That's interesting. I don't remember having any issues when Bill helped me install his 630 chain into my bike; when we couldn't get the front sprocket off to do my 530 conversion. Bill took off the swingarm to put grease in there and put it right back.

Yes, if you look at the picture that Redman posted, you will see that a shafty's swingarm is DRASTICALLY different than a chain-driven one. On the chain swing arm, you have a pivot pin (basically an axle) that goes all the way through, from one side to the other, and is supported by needle bearings. With a shaft-driven bike, the driveshaft goes through the length of the left side of the swing arm, so there is no way to have an axle at the pivot point. In fact, that pivot point is where the u-joint lives. Instead of needle bearings, there are tapered roller bearings on each side, and there is a threaded plug that has a large pin that pokes through the bearing to hold the swing arm.

In the diagram above, #2 is the bearing, which is part of the swing arm. #3 is the threaded adjuster. The frame has the matching threads, you can see the 'pin' that sticks into the bearing, the shoulder at the end of the threads is what controls the side play and centering. #4 is the locknut that holds the adjustment. #5 is the trim cap to keep the crud out of the threads.

.

 

[chuck hahn]

If you have 2 people its just slide the swingarm in and have the other person start the pivots.

 

[Redman]

So the shaft drive is part of the swing arm? .............

Ed

Ed, Yep, U-Joint and drive shaft is INSIDE the swingarm.

Yep, unseen, inside away from dirt and sand, and no lube sloping around.

Unseen, is first time I have seen one (after having 3 Gs since 1982).

.

 

[Redman]

Thanks guys. Thanks for the tips and the words of wisdom.

I will be heading out to try this shortly (myself).

.

 

[tom203]

Get another set of hands....but you might be able to support swingarm off seat/frame with bungee cords or lashing straps to suspend it while you move it to and fro to position it.

 

[GSXR7ED]

Ed, Yep, U-Joint and drive shaft is INSIDE the swingarm.

Yep, unseen, inside away from dirt and sand, and no lube sloping around.

Unseen, is first time I have seen one (after having 3 Gs since 1982).

.

Educational for me...never seen a shaftie up close.

Thanks to you and Steve for the replies.


Ed

 

[kochic]

Its really easier without the final drive on.I use 2 black rubber bungee cords one for each side or a small pile of wood block under the swingarm.
Marc

 

[Redman]

I got a small wooden crate about the right size to hold the swting arm in about right place. No, do not have the final drive on the swingarm.

Other complication is that aparrently the GK had a few other obstaicals in the way for getting the swing up to the pivot points. Really have to manouver it in this way then that way then the other way, clunking and banging into stuff all the way, and the rod from the rear brake cyclinder in the way and such and so.

FOund it helpfull that after get the swtingarm in near position, to have the threaded insert pivot completly out so can look in hole and get the swingarm in better position, then thread in the pivot till it hits, then wiggle swingarme around till it get the bearing over the pivot, then run the threaded pivit in some more, then repeat on other side. F.or centering things can look at the gap on both sides, and look to see if the swingarm tube is centered to the secondary gear assembly.

First attempt the driveshaft and u joint slid out and got tangled up with the output flange, but of course I could not see that, so that making an interfernece of getting things into place.

First time I got it in place, and got the threaded pivott inserts in place, the rubber boot had already fallen off.

Second time I got it in place and the threaded insert piviots almost in place, one of the swingarm bearings had already fallen out of place.

THird time I got it in place and the threaded insert piviot things in place, the rubber boot had gotten knocked loose, and I cant seem to get it back onto the swing arm.

By then that was enough frustration and crawling around on the floor for this ol' man for one work session (seems like getting up and down on the floor 6 times is about my limit for one work session, and I had exceeded that)....

(and a buddy called to go throw a round of disc, so went and had that other sort of frustration.)

...... so the 4th time of installing the swingarm is going to have to be on some other day.

 

[kochic]

Bolt the driveshaft to the flange first and then slide the swingarm.
All the big four use this kind of threaded insert for the swingarm, no choice with the driveshaft.
The honda cb900 custom with 10 speed is really worst than a GK for this job.
I removed one off a GK that I parted out yesterday, its already in the trailer for a junkyard trip...
Marc

 

[Redman]

Bolt the driveshaft to the flange first and then slide the swingarm.
....

Ah, Good idea, Marc. Bolt up the driveshaft flange while it is more accessable.
Will see if that does not limit the movmement too much of maneuvering the swingarm into place.

.

 

[kochic]

Will see if that does not limit the movmement too much of maneuvering the swingarm into place.

.[/QUOTE]

No, you will be OK.
Marc

 

[Redman]

I found if get the boot really on the swingarm properly, it stays on real well. Must not have been on well on those previous attempts.

4th and 5th attemept went better. Got it.

And when I got it in near place, I pulled it back some, so the boot was out of the way and bolted the output flange to the u-joint, then put swingarm back in place. Good idea.

Thanks guys.


Now for the next fun.

With the drive shaft layin in bootom of the swing arm, how to get the final drive unit on the end of the swingarm when the drive shaft need to be centered so its splione fit into the center of the final drive input.....?
Maybe can reach in ther with screw driver or something and hold the drive shaft up and get the final drive in place just enough.

Maybe rude of me to ask before even trying myself, but I was done for the night, and I can see that is then next puzzle to figure out.

.

 

[chuck hahn]

Reach inn with some long needle nose pliers and hold then end up. The bolts for the diff will be "just" started into the flange at this point. Hold the end up with the pliers and reach back with your right hand and push and wiggle rather vigorously and the splines will slip into place. Dont be shy to beat the damned thing around...your not gonna hurt anything. Be deliberate and aggressive with the thing.

 

[Redman]

Reach inn with some long needle nose pliers and hold then end up. T...............

Thanks Chuck,

Tryed n-n-plyers, tried thin screw driver, tried a small nut on end of thin wire.... could not find anything that would fit and allow the splines to mate up. Maybe I am just not coordinated enough, and hard to hold and manouver that final drive with one hand.

After a while I held the final drive up at a bit of an angle, used both hands on the final drive, then pushed and wiggled the final drive, and somehow it mated up.

Afterwards, Just to be sure; I did push around the drive shaft flange and saw the output splines of the final drive turning...Okay.

Now to get the boot over the secondary assembly, and the clamp, then that will be all swingarm related.
And get the rear brake linkage and spring back together.

Thanks Guys.

.