Swingarm maintenance

[markw]

http://www.gadgetjq.com/swingarmgreasefitting.htm

Just wondered if anyone has this center spacer grooved by a machinist and if anyone sells it already complete?



I did not see it on Chuckster's site. He probably could do it.

[macmac]

If you get one, of those drill it in hopes the grease will pass thru to the bolt ID of the spacers as well. That will be a guess... And deburr the hell out of the drillings.

Basicly I can't see that idea work at all, but I won't stop you from trying.

[markw]

Originally Posted by macmac

If you get one, of those drill it in hopes the grease will pass thru to the bolt ID of the spacers as well. That will be a guess... And deburr the hell out of the drillings.

Basicly I can't see that idea work at all, but I won't stop you from trying.

So has anyone done this grease fitting to the swingarm successfully?

[macmac]

I doubt it.. My best guess is these fitting are installed and guy guess the grease gets to where it needs to be, and it just might not.

I have done 3 swingarm services so far and will again another in these next weeks. Not all my own bikes either.

I can't see how grease no matter what will get to where it needs to be, and anyone can tell it did.

Even if you cut the spacer it isn't nearly enough IMO. In order to do this more 'right' you would need to flute all 3 spacers inside and out and still drill thru them to grease the long bolt.

Then pump in so much grease the seals pop out, and still you wouldn't know if things were greased well.

What then this would lead to is worn seals that also act as thrust washers and wrongly so.

The swingarm should not have free play of over 0.002" but a new bike on the show room floor likely already has more side to side slop than that.

When the slop reached a figure of 0.138 as my 01 did, that is way too much slop. Tawk about steering from the rear end!

The so called extra bought time will lead to dry splines on the rear wheel to hub assembly, and the drive shaft splines too, then every so often the U Joint needs to be checked, and the first check is absolutley critical, at the 7,500 or first rear tire change.

I have seen Nomads with a new rear tire, and the tire installers didn't grease the wheel hub either. The wheel is a compound wheel not solid at all, and the hub needs grease on the splines for the wheel to function. The inner hub of the wheel has a gweeboo a series of big rubber buffers. There are moving parts in the rear wheel!

Now this is just my opinion, and I can't prove what I am saying is every bit true, but if grease can pass thru the spacers to the long bolt somehow I sure don't see it.

If you can see the U Joint somehow, i sure don't know how. To me this is a great idea that won't work.

The 2 main issues I have are swingarm slop, and then the worst is a bad U Joint going undetected. If there is a bad joint and it locks or breaks that can and will end the riders days forever, and kill the bike too.

If this were to happen at speed, the rear end will lock up tight, and pass the ft end in a split second. In the doing it will trash the tranny, and probably the engine, but it won't matter because the rider will be dead.

Pulling down the swing arm for inspection and service every 10,000 miles or so just makes sence.

[hammer]

Pulling down the swing arm for inspection and service every 10,000 miles or so just makes sence.

I totally agree with Mac on this.

I just did the full swing arm service along with a tire change and I did not find it that much extra work while I was there taking off the rear wheel. The swingarm was good at about 17,000 miles but the driveshaft splines were DRY. Not much "slawp"!

If you put a Zerk fitting in you are probably just guessing if the grease is going to go where you need it. My 2 cents CAN.

[macmac]

I expect some day all this advice is going to pay off in reel CDN La Batts BLUE

I just hope that day comes before i die... :'(

[ringadingh]

Originally Posted by macmac

I expect some day all this advice is going to pay off in reel CDN La Batts BLUE

I just hope that day comes before i die... :'(

If you make it to the Northeast Rally in Lake George, I'll make sure there is some Blue there for you. ;)

[macmac]

Ouch my arm I am working on it.

[hammer]

Mac Rides for Good Canadian Brew! I see that as a thread title at some point. Maybe that and A Ride Angel Called Doober!

[macmac]

Yeah I always do 'Good' beer charity rides when I am the charity.... My angel just shows up tired. ::)

[poppy]

My spacer is being machined today, as detailed on the Gadget page. I decided to try this since I'm due for the bearing service AND I'm switching to a car tire. I wanted to see if this actually worked since, as Mac mentioned, it is a great idea.

My intention is to grease the swingarm when it is due again and gingerly break it down to check the bearings to see the amount of new grease and the "disbursement" of said grease.

I may decide to re-assemble dry, grease the unit via the zerk, and then disassemble prior to installing the wheel......

[ringadingh]

Poppy; your second suggestion makes a lot of sense. That way if it doesn't work as good as it should, you have a chance to correct it.

[markw]

Poppy thanks for being the guinea pig. Hope it works for ya...

[macmac]

Good luck..... I don't see it working, but then I don't know everything. Be sure there is grease on the long bolt, inside all 3 spacers, and the bearings.

[poppy]

Originally Posted by Markw

Poppy thanks for being the guinea pig. Hope it works for ya...

No problem....I will give an update in a few days.