Swinging Arm Adjustment?

[beemer]

My torque wrench doesn't go below 20lbs,So,what is the best method of adjusting my swinging arm on my 65LS,without the torque wrench?help please,thanks.

[montmil]

Borrow one!  My granddaddy was, like me, a tool freak. He once told me, "If you need a tool for a one-time use, it's OK to borrow. If you ever think you'll need it again, buy one." That reasoning is why my shop continues to shrink in size.  

[Justin B.]

Buy a "beam-type" 3/8" drive torque wrench as you will also get good use out of it for re-torquing your heads, etc.  I bought a brand-new still in the box "vintage" SK off e-Bay for less than $20

[beemer]

Ah!found the method to use in the Haynes manual if you don't have a suitable torque wrench,although i will get one sometime.

[not-so-fast-ed]

What's the "Method", Beemer?

[beemer]

What's the "Method", Beemer?

It says that if you don't have a torque wrench,you must tighten the swing arm adjuster by 1/8th turn on one side only,and then check that the swing arm clearance is the same on both sides,measuring from the swing arm to the frame,

[Justin B.]

That won't do it, I'm afraid.  That procedure might let you fine tune the centering but doesn't address the bearing pre-load issue.

[Jon_P]

to set bearing pre load tighten it all the way tight. then back it out till moves freely but not so it is loose. then tighten to the set torque. you should never guess at torque a fastener, they have it for a reason. alot of it is that is how much force it takes to keep the fastener in place so it doesnt come loose on you. and less with how it is holding what ever together.

now i have been wrenching for over 20 years and have learned pretty much what the torque is and if you tell me you need 50 lb and will be within 5 lbs. but you can never go wrong with a good torque wrench, sears have them at a reasonable price, harbor freight has cheapies that will get you by.

[beemer]

That won't do it, I'm afraid.  That procedure might let you fine tune the centering but doesn't address the bearing pre-load issue.

Well according to the Haynes manual it does?so you go figure?i'm just telling you what the manual says,and that's their adjusment guide if you don't happen to have a torque wrench,you go argue with them!

[MrRiden]

got one O these stores near ya?
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=807
rich

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

The nice thing about the internet age, is that it has allowed us to expose the short-comings of the Haynes and Clymer manuals.
They contain many errors, as do any published works, but there is also the consideration that the R65's unique traits are under-represented in those books.

Swingarm bearing adjustment is not one - however.  That is about the same as with the big models.

I don't have my book in front of me, but I do know that once you have the swing arm where you want it in reference to the frame,
you tighten down the bearings to seat them, and then back the adjusters off, and then set the desired preload, as Jon P said.

The trouble I have with a torque wrench on the big nut is, how do you keep the bearing adjuster's setting while torquing down the lock nut?

My method is no-where near scientific, and I am even hesitant to tell it in public, but it is a method I came up with on my own, using the tools at my disposal.  
Those tools are the special wrench BMW makes for this purpose, the appropriate size allen in my 3/8" socket driver, and a rubber mallet to "torque" the locknut....
The wrench has a opening through which the allen driver can go, to hold the position of the bearing adjuster, while I whack the locknut wrench...


Also don't do anything you read on the internet until you have verified it with independent sources!  

[beemer]

got one O these stores near ya?
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=807
rich

I wish i could buy tools at the price you guys in the USA can,over here in the UK they are much more,i will have to get one though,it's a shame the one iv'e owned for some years only starts at 20lb.

[beemer]

The nice thing about the internet age, is that it has allowed us to expose the short-comings of the Haynes and Clymer manuals.
They contain many errors, as do any published works, but there is also the consideration that the R65's unique traits are under-represented in those books.

Swingarm bearing adjustment is not one - however.  That is about the same as with the big models.

I don't have my book in front of me, but I do know that once you have the swing arm where you want it in reference to the frame,
you tighten down the bearings to seat them, and then back the adjusters off, and then set the desired preload, as Jon P said.

The trouble I have with a torque wrench on the big nut is, how do you keep the bearing adjuster's setting while torquing down the lock nut?

My method is no-where near scientific, and I am even hesitant to tell it in public, but it is a method I came up with on my own, using the tools at my disposal.  
Those tools are the special wrench BMW makes for this purpose, the appropriate size allen in my 3/8" socket driver, and a rubber mallet to "torque" the locknut....
The wrench has a opening through which the allen driver can go, to hold the position of the bearing adjuster, while I whack the locknut wrench...


Also don't do anything you read on the internet until you have verified it with independent sources!  

Yes i guess we all have to do things the way we ourselves are happy with,so get as much info as possible.mine is done now,using the non-torque method,and seems fine.

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

got one O these stores near ya?
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=807
rich

I wish i could buy tools at the price you guys in the USA can,over here in the UK they are much more,i will have to get one though,it's a shame the one iv'e owned for some years only starts at 20lb.

I don't know if I want to use a $18.99 click-type torque wrench on my $3600 motorcycle...

[Ed Miller]

A Craftsman beam type is only about 30 dollars.