1. My rear end keeps seizing up (swing arm gets stuck in lowest position and the shocks are at max compression) has anybody had this before? i will have to look at doing the swing arm bearings anyway.
is there a local south african supplier i can get them from? are they standard taper bearings or BMW specific?
I hate it when my rear end seizes up. Usually from eating too much cheese.
As to your R65, two things come to mind: 1) Rear shocks are frozen. No oil in them but lots of rust jamming them and, 2) Swing arm bearings in bad shape. Perhaps rusted and binding for lack of proper maintenance.
The swing arm bearings are a common size available at most any bearing supply house. Size is stamped on the race. You may find both sealed and non-sealed bearings. Go with the unsealed and re-grease them yourself prior to install.
You'll notice a hole in the swing arm "pin". After the new bearings are in, use a conical-shaped rubber tip on a common grease gun and pump grease into the swing arm until it begins to ooze out. It may take quite a bit of grease but it will prevent water / condensate from fouling the bearings.
You will need to modify a 27mm socket to remove and replace the pivot pins. By using a belt sander, remove the rounded or beveled face of the socket. Note the hex on the pivot pin is quite thin and a conventional socket will not have enough purchase.
Have you a Clymer or Haynes shop manual? having both is helpful. Where one manual glosses over a procedure, the other may go into more detail.
When you get it sorted, let us know what you find.
