Motorcycle swingarm bearings question

[Twoply 0]

So I did the battle with the swingarm bolt and I won after 4 days.

Now I'm ready to repack the bearings. They seem fine and good to reuse, but they are soaked in penetrating oil and I dont want to remove them from the swingarm for fear of damaging them. They still have a bit of the old grease in the and I wanted to know if I should clean them out all the way with a brake cleaner or starting fluid, then repack them or just shove the new grease in. Will the penetrating fluid play nice with the grease?

[JackC 0]

Pull them all out, clean and inspect them properly, then renew or refit as needed with new grease. Anything else is a half-assed bodge.

[bluepill 0]

If they are part of the problem that you are trying to fix (like excessive swingarm play) then remove them and do a full inspect and replace where required.

If it is just maintainence then run your fingers around them and feel for smoothness. If your happy, then leave them in.

I used to run penetrating spray in to mine to clean em up. But that spray can attract and retain dust and dirt real easy, so I would dry them out as best I could then pack em with grease.

BP

[skyjumpenfool 2]

You've gone through all the trouble of pulling them out. See what it costs fot new bearings! You've done the hard work already. if you're in doubt about the condition, just put new ones in. Some are sealed bearings (not all) that don't need service. Ask yourself, "do I want to take this apart again any time soon"??

You might want to check out some of the aftermarket stuff available. They tend to be cheaper than factory parts and the quality is usually good. I'm in the process of pulling my head bearings out of my ZX11 and I found that Dennis Kirk sold bearings at half the cost of OEM. If you check out the magazine adds, Dennis Kirk will match their price.

Birdshit & Fools Productions

"Son, only two things fall from the sky."

[DeNReN 0]

As others have said......do the job right....and I will add or dont do it at all

http://www.pivotworks.com/

[normiss 900]

THIS is the right advice.
If you're that deep into it, replace the bearings.
When you pull 'em out, get the manufacturer's part number off and go to the local bearing house and buy new ones. Ass loads cheaper than the stealership will charge you. Probably Timken anyway....I use Miller or Dixie Bearing for supplies.

[Squeak 17]

my mate, a motorcycle mechanic, absolutely loves people like you. HE makes a lot of money from half arsed monkies


pull the bearings out and replace them, bearing are cheap as, go to a bearing supplier not a bike shop to buy them

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