For anyone who has dealt w a swingarm

[peterlocal22]

Whats up guys,

well i finally got my new swingarm.

 

1.) My question is I had to install the pivot bearings with a press, are they suppose to be that tight, I mean what happens when i need to replace them?

 

2.) next goes the long pivot bushing that slides into the pivot bearings. This bushing had to get hammered in and wouldnt spin freely? I thought the point of this bushing was to spin on the bearings as the arm moves up and down? Is it because the arm is new or is it because something is not up to spec?

 

any help is appreciated. I have not been able to ride for a number of months and now it looks like i still wil not be riding with t his problem.

 

Thanks in advance

 

Peter

[KaosBanshee44]

The Pivot bearings are suppose to be like that the last swingarm i got i had to get a piece of wood and gently press it in place with a hammer. The first swingarm i got was crazy tight i thought i was gonna break the bearing putting it in. What kind of swingarm is it cause Tyson racings swingers for some reason are like that. I'm sure you have common sense and know that if you powdercoat your arm not to get powdercoat where the pivot bearings go. I wouldn't worry about it to much since you have number one the swingarm then the bearings then the pivot rod and theeeeeeeeeeen the swingarm bolt. Just make sure you grease everything up before installing it and it will break in and work out itself were only talking about a few inches of movement and not much wear and tear.

 

Sorry forgot to say if you ever have to replace them than the best bet is to press them out and replace them don't reuse them. The concept of everything being tight should be good cause you don't want ANY movement at all.

[KaosBanshee44]

Sorry i've kinda edited my reply as i thought of things, but my thought about the press putting the bearings in are if you got them in, you can get them out. But you'll never in the future be like, hmmm i need to replace my swingarm bearings.

[peterlocal22]

thanks for the quick response,

 

Im just worried because on my last arm when i installed the bushing into the pivot bearings it spun freely. This one i couldnt even move it a cm. So i was nervous that the bushing rod and the actual bolt might seize together if the pivot bearings are not working properly. Then i would be really screwed.

Anyways i just removed the bushing, not easy, with a hammer and maybe its just me freaken out but the pivot bearings dont seem to be rolling as smooth as before i installed them.

I might just be freaking out, lol

 

Also nervous that i will never beable to replace the pivot bearings because it took a heavy duty press to get them in???

[KaosBanshee44]

Who made your arm now?

[peterlocal22]

Who made your arm now?

 

 

Avenger

[KaosBanshee44]

I never messed with one of there swingers but i wouldn't worry about anything

[shanYE west]

The pivot tube not spinning freely in the bearings if from the company not properly re-reaming the tube after the welding.

 

A 1.1015" diameter reamer is used after the bores have been collapsed from

the welding.

 

The alternative is to get a 7/8" or 15/16" diameter flap-wheel on your air

grinder and work on the egg-shaped bore until it is round and to size again.

The optimum bore diameter you are looking for is approx. 1.1010" to 1.1020".

[ban99]

one trick you might try when installing your bearings is to put them in a freezer for a few hours and your swingarm in the sun for the same. bearings will slightly shrink and swinger will expand.

[Bansh-eman]

the bearings and pivot tube should go in with a little resistance but not so much they need to be pressed in.

 

Also if the bearings are so tight that they are not spinning you need to do like shayne said.

[shanYE west]

That wont help much.. once the bearings get back to normal temp they'll expand and bind on the pivot tube again. The bore needs to be measured and if its off.. needs to be corrected. Been down this road a few times. I've had 3 swingers with this same problem.

[peterlocal22]

i had to use the press to get the pvot bearings in. however once in they spun. next i installed the long bushing and that went in with out the press but it requirede a light hammer to hit it in. once in place it didnt move.

i got the bushing back out but i doubt those bearings will be coming out any time soon. this sucks i guess ill send it back. hopefully they can make it happen fairly quickly and with out damaging the chrome???

[shanYE west]

you can get the bearings out with a long extension or something and drive them out from the opposite side.. but they'll be junk. Get a mic and check the bore size. Check it up and down.. and side to side. The bore should be between 1.1010" - 1.1020"

 

you can do the work yourself without hurting the chrome.. just need to go and buy a 1.1015" reamer and run it through. i'm sure any local machine shop could do it also for close to nothing.

[Bansh-eman]

if not you can get it from McMasters

[peterlocal22]

thanks everyone for your advice. after talking w the guy who built it he said i should send it back because he forgot to ream the hole out where the pivot bearings go after it was chromed. he was very apologetic and told me the slightest amout of buildup will cause a problem. so i sent it back.

ill let you know when i get it and install it. i do have to admit it was a real nice looking swingarm. welds where top notch and i got the 3/4 inch baja skid plate tabs. bulletproof. much better than the last one from HAVOC whose skid plate tabs where about four inches long and real thin. bent on the first small rock i hit, lol.