Swing arm bearing installation

[jamestnewsonr65]

Hi there, as you might be able to see I have been asking a few questions lately. I seem to be at the point where I have run out of knowledge and need some help to progress, apologies for the barrage of questions.

I need to install new bearings along with seals and grease baffle into the swingarm and cant seem to find a definitive example of how these go in. I have also seen reference to a spacer for the swingarm, but the diagram on realoem doesn't really define what all the parts are.

I have done a search on here but can't seem to find anything relating to the swing arm.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks
James

[Barry]

I don't know about a spacer.  It's not like a wheel bearing in that respect as the swinging arm tube itself is the spacer.

In principle it's simple: grease baffle first then the bearing followed possibly by a thrust washer or seal.  The type of bearing changed to a seal bearing at some point so there may be no separate seal or thrust washer.  The bearing pin then locates into the inner race and pre-load is provided by torquing the pin to 15 ftlb to seat the bearings then backing off and re-torquing to 7.5 ftlbs to provide some running pre-load.  Expect some adjustment to get swinging arm centred and the gaps equal.

[jamestnewsonr65]

Brilliant, thanks Barry.

As I'm away from the bike this week, I am trying to gain all the knowledge I need to start the next phase of resto.

Thanks again.
James.

[lukasgrech]

Related, possibly stupid question:

What grease does one generally use on swing arm bearings? I've just re-installed my swing arm and set the pivot pins and lock nuts, the only thing left is the grease. Does regular all-purpose grease cut it, or is moly grease used?

Thanks

[arvo92]

As far as my knowledge goes - you want Lithium based grease on your bearings. Moly grease on your splines. Molybdenum based greases turn to flakes when they get the handling ball bearings provide them with mixing the grease into whipped cream/grease.

I use pretty regular LM grease provided by Castrol.

[Barry]

Regular all purpose grease that you might use on wheel bearings will be fine.

To grease the bearings in future you will need a conical tip for your grease gun which will enable you to force grease through the centre hole of the bearing pins.

[montmil]

Regular all purpose grease that you might use on wheel bearings will be fine.

To grease the bearings in future you will need a conical tip for your grease gun which will enable you to force grease through the centre hole of the bearing pins.

I understand that there's not likely to be a Tractor Supply store in the UK, but this agricultural-based business franchise does sell a nice conical, rubber tip for a grease gun that does an excellent job on greasing the swingarm bearings.

[lukasgrech]

Lovely, thanks!

Was already in possession of a conical tip for grease gun

[bjamesw]

I had to lathe a millimeter off of the craftsman socket to install/torque the swingarm nut.   Anybody else?

[Barry]

I had to lathe a millimeter off of the craftsman socket to install/torque the swingarm nut. Anybody else?  

Yes and also off the end of the socket to remove the lead in so that the socket gets maximum purchase on the slim locknut.

[montmil]

I had to lathe a millimeter off of the craftsman socket to install/torque the swingarm nut.   Anybody else?

Depends on the brand of socket you have. I found a socket that fit at Lowe's without requiring any mods other than dressing off the end on a belt sander. Shop wisely, grasshopper.

Those modified sockets sold by BMW tool sellers ain't particularly cheap, either.