Swingarm bearings ideas

[Guest]

I am about to inspect the swingarm bearings on my 78 gs1000. There is about one eight to one quarter inch of side to side play. Tightening the bolts does not reduce it. I will order new parts as indicated, but I need members experience and guidance.

If I find the play can be eliminated by adding washers, is that an acceptable repair? Is it permanent, or enough to be a temporary fix until new parts arrive?

I hope to continue riding the bike, and want to avoid being down awaiting parts.

Thanks in advance for your wisdom.

[FiremanBob]

If the play is inside the bearing due to wear of the balls and races, there is no external solution that will correct it that I can think of. Any washer would press on the outside rim of the bearing but would have no effect on the worn parts inside.

[MAC10]

Thanks FiremanBob. How will I determine this while I am inspecting? Do I have enough information to know it is the bearings now,before I take a look?
Here is my reasoning:
It seems the bearings or bushings are likely worn, given that tightening the bolts does nothing, and the assembly is as tight as it can go. The wear must therefore be internal. If it was caused by a loose assembly, tightening it would solve it. It must therefore be the bearings being worn, or the bushings allowing slop. If it is the bearings, new ones are needed, and there is nothing short of replacement to fix it.
If it is the bushings, will adding a washer to take up the slop work?

[sharpy]

Download a manual from basscliffs website would be my first choice. Then you would understand how the setup works and no tightening will fix it. Roller bearing on a sleeve is the setup and you might get the bearing from elsewhere but over here the sleeve you have to buy genuine. Not sure whats available there.

[Agemax]

if the bearings,or bushings are worn the only proper fix is to replace them. no shimming will make any difference

[Nessism]

The swingarm rides on needle bearings so they don't carry any lateral load (side to side). You need to pull the swingarm off and see what is worn - my guess would be the swingarm pivot end caps which are made from steel. If this is the case I doubt shimming will have any effect since the wear would be inside the cap.

[MAC10]

Thanks everyone. Your help is much appreciated.

I will order a new set of parts and do a proper restoration. I will wait until I have the parts before I touch anything. No big trips planned for a couple of weeks anyway. I could source the bearings locally, but I might as well wait for originals along with the other parts

I hate it when things wear out after only 33 years