Swing Arm

[cowboyup3371]

I pulled the swing arm off the bike to clean and check/replace the bearings as needed. However, I'm not sure (based on the fiche pictures I've seen) if I have everything. Is everything here as needed or did I leave something in the bike frame?

A washer and what looks to be a dustcover did fall onto the ground. I'm not sure what side they came off of but I think I'll be able to figure it out. I just want to make sure if there's something else I need to get out.

Thanks.

 

[cowboyup3371]

Update - I tried to slide the bearings out of both sides and they slid in and out very easily. Yet I keep reading about how tough they are to put in/take out. Is it a good thing to slide so easily or does it mean there's a lot of grease in there? Should I replace them anyway even with just having 14K miles on the bike? What would be the normal maintenance period for them (I haven't done them yet)?

Thanks.

 

[Steve]

It's not the rollers or the bushings that are so hard, it's the races.

.

 

[cowboyup3371]

Here are the bearings that fell out of the swingarm.

Where are the races you are referring to? Would I find that in the frame as I can't see it on the fiche?

 

[cowboyup3371]

Is it number 3 on the fiche here:

 

[posplayr]

Yes.................

 

[cowboyup3371]

Thank you Pos. After searching, I didn't find anything that told me how to tell if the races are bad. Neither they nor the bearings look like anything's wrong so can I just put grease around the outside of the bearings and slide them back into the swingarm? Or do I have to replace everything? What should I look for? And just use the honda moly or my regular lithium grease?

Also for the future, how often should I regrease everything?

 

[Smokinapankake]

Obviously clean everything first.

Grease 'em up good, slide it all back together. These are low speed bearings with limited rotation, so I would think that any grease that is handy would work okay. I used white lithium on my 82 Kat, but if you have wheel bearing grease (little heavier, "stickier" and possibly more resistant to washing out) I would recommend that.

If you stick the bearing in with the inner race (part #4) and spin it around, feeling any slop or binding would be bad. If it rolls smooth without any binding or slop you're good to go. You're looking for vertical play, as in the pivot moves up and down - not so much side to side, although that can be adjusted somewhat with the tightness of the pivot bolt, clamping any side to side movement. Up n down movement AT THE BEARING is bad, as opposed to up n down at the rear axle.

If that doesn't make sense or I'm way off base here I'm sure someone with more knowledge than me will chime in.

Good luck

 

[posplayr]

Obviously clean everything first.

Grease 'em up good, slide it all back together. These are low speed bearings with limited rotation, so I would think that any grease that is handy would work okay. I used white lithium on my 82 Kat, but if you have wheel bearing grease (little heavier, "stickier" and possibly more resistant to washing out) I would recommend that.

If you stick the bearing in with the inner race (part #4) and spin it around, feeling any slop or binding would be bad. If it rolls smooth without any binding or slop you're good to go. You're looking for vertical play, as in the pivot moves up and down - not so much side to side, although that can be adjusted somewhat with the tightness of the pivot bolt, clamping any side to side movement. Up n down movement AT THE BEARING is bad, as opposed to up n down at the rear axle.

If that doesn't make sense or I'm way off base here I'm sure someone with more knowledge than me will chime in.

Good luck

I would also just inspect for visual damage and grease put it back together. Looking for movement in the assembled unit would also be good. Should be nobe, but that is after the arm is torqued doen.

 

[Big T]

Here are the bearings that fell out of the swingarm.

Where are the races you are referring to? Would I find that in the frame as I can't see it on the fiche?

Um, that looks like parts #2 and #4 to me, which are spacers. I believe your bearings are still in the swingarm. Look in the end of the swingarm and see if there's not a needle bearing in there

The bearings should last many miles unless they rust. The part that wears first is #4. Put a #4 back into the arm and see if you can wiggle it around. Typically, the chain side wears the most.

Clean and grease them up with any moly grease and reinstall

 

[koolaid_kid]

Cowboyup, the needle bearings are caged in the outer races, and are pressed into the swingarm. You have not removed them yet and should not remove them unless you are replacing them. I do recommend cleaning them very well, using kerosene or even brake cleaner prior to regreasing.
Part #2 is a spacer, and goes between the two bearing sets.
Part #4 is part of the bearing, and rides on the rollers when installed.
Smokin gave a good way to test it. I personally would pay the most attention to flat spots, which would feel like the bearings catching or notching.
I also use only marine grease on my bike, it is virtually waterproof. I got mine at Tractor Suppy Company.

 

[cowboyup3371]

Thanks guys. I tested them after posting this by reinserting two of the spacers and the rod and there was barely any movement. I'm in the process of stripping the swingarm to repaint it and then I'll put everything back together after cleaning.

 

[Big T]

Just find some cork or rubber stoppers to plug up the holes and protect the bearings while you strip and paint

 

[cowboyup3371]

Whoops...a little late Big T as I already stripped it. But I did try hard not to get anything inside. I'll use your idea when I go to paint it soon.

New pictures of it in my project thread - 81 550t in Co Springs

 

[Suzuki_Don]

Hey Cowboy don't forget to fit a grease nipple to that swing arm while it is out of the bike. That way you can keep it well greased inside without pulling the arm in future.

.

 

[cowboyup3371]

I will try that Don. Do you just connect the hose from a grease gun and squirt? How often do you have to refill it? Will it have trouble flowing in knowing I have the three spacers?

 

[posplayr]

I will try that Don. Do you just connect the hose from a grease gun and squirt? How often do you have to refill it? Will it have trouble flowing in knowing I have the three spacers?

I did same as Don did. Just pump it full of grease and forget about it, I guess every 5 years you can push a little more grease through it.

 

[Suzuki_Don]

Cowboy, just pump until the grease starts to ooze out on either ends of the arm where the needle bearings are and all is good. keeps the needles and bushes, spacers, well lubed and prevents the ingress of water. My needles were completely rusted out and spacers corroded like H*LL because of the ingress of water. It always seems to happen on the drive chain side for some reason.

 

[cowboyup3371]

Hey Don, I finally have my grease nipple installed. Just to clarify again, do I reinstall all of the spacers and then start pumping grease into it? Should I use the regular lithium grease like you would for cars or get something else?

 

[Suzuki_Don]

Hey Don, I finally have my grease nipple installed. Just to clarify again, do I reinstall all of the spacers and then start pumping grease into it? Should I use the regular lithium grease like you would for cars or get something else?

Grease the needle rollers before installing, install all the spacers and then pump it full of grease. Use whatever type grease is in your gun, liyhium is fine.