Adding zerk fittings to rear swing arm?

[hampshirehog]

I washed my DR just the other day...

Do that here and you'll come out with a shopping trolley stuck on the front.

[surviverguy]

I decided the grease fitting idea could wait for another day as I couldn't find the right drill bits/taps/fittings....I wanted to get something done today...so I pulled the swingarm, did some rust removal, added some grease to the swing arm bearings + primer and some paint and reassembled while still wet. Did a little work on the frame rust and the battery box. Voila-I wouldn't call it a paint job..it was more of a rust inhibiting coating... to help it from rusting away between now and a real paint job....

[chuck hahn]

I just cant believe your actually SERIUOSLY contemplating this. Just replace the rusted up bearings and pack them well with grease. As was said earlier...done for the next 20 years or so.

[surviverguy]

I don't think the bearings are bad. I doubt the bike was ever riden after the battery explosion and wiring meltdown the PO's did before I bought it.
The bearings got lots of PB Blaster and grease while I had the swing arm off.
Still considering adding a couple of zerk fittings. It's hard to really pack those bearings...

[surviverguy]

I just cant believe your actually SERIUOSLY contemplating this. Just replace the rusted up bearings and pack them well with grease. As was said earlier...done for the next 20 years or so.

Hey- I'm a Newbie and as such I contemplate lots of non-practical solutions for minor problems and annoyances...

[surviverguy]

Every maintenance proceedure has a work around shortcut...

[tkent02]

Fixed it for you....

Every maintenance proceedure has a work around shortcut which causes a lot of pain and anguish in the long run...

[chuck hahn]

Youre correct. It impractical and a minor fix. Stick the grease gun in there and pump the cavity full where the bearings are and the bolt goes thru...Does that sound practical and wont waste but 5 minutes of your time??? Thats is running on your accessment that the bearings are still good, of course.

[surviverguy]

I just cant believe your actually SERIUOSLY contemplating this. Just replace the rusted up bearings and pack them well with grease. As was said earlier...done for the next 20 years or so.

Why not attach a manual grease gun and pump twice- once a year?...Never change swingarm bearings. Never pull a swing arm. Never experience the poor handling quality of worn bearings.
Shopping list includes some drill bits and zerk fittings! If successful,maybe I'll make a tutorial (swing arm lube points)

[surviverguy]

Fixed it for you....

Thanks TKent. Every forum needs a guy who does it wrong so others know just what NOT to do!

[JEEPRUSTY]

It is an odd thing but bikes swing arm bearings seem to rust on the chain side.
Likely due to solvents used to clean the chain.

[allojohn]

It is an odd thing but bikes swing arm bearings seem to rust on the chain side.
Likely due to solvents used to clean the chain.

Or because while on the side stand any moisture that's got in there settles in that bearing.

[tkent02]

I bet there's more loading and vibration on the left one too, due to the chain.
Oh well, Cleaning and greasing every twenty years is easy enough.

[surviverguy]

If it weren't for that one washer which was left over, I'd have probubly left it alone. Tore it back down. Got it disasembled this time. That PB blaster helped. Now to study the parts manual to figure out what that danged washer is for.
Tear down sure was much easier the second time....
And now I can actualy clean the bearings and decide if they're worth keeping/ repacking....

[tkent02]

Thanks TKent. Every forum needs a guy who does it wrong so others know just what NOT to do!

Doing it wrong... Adding more and more grease without ever taking out the water and dirt... Adding different types of grease that should not be mixed...
Never opening up the bearings to check their condition.