swingarm and rear tire bearings

[dane_lindsay]

i need to replace the bearings in a swingarm and rear rim. what tools are necessary, and where are some common places to screw up while installing them? also, what lubricants would be reccomended for maintainance of bearing? i have the clymer manual, but there are often problems that arise when perfoming a step for the first time which are not addressed there, figured i'd better check here first. thanks

[werase643]

you should be able to clean and relube the swingarm brgs
the rear wheel brgs....heat gun, hammer and a drift
heat the outer ring of AL around the bearing and hammer/drift the bearing out
when installing
place the bearing in the freezer for an hour
heat the same area of the rim
and drop the bearing back in the hole
should not need a hammer....but if you do lay the old brg  on top of the new brg and hit it....prevents damage to the new brg

[dane_lindsay]

thanks wera. actually, i do have to replace the swingarm bearings, or at least one side, provided they do not need to be replaced as a set.

i purchased a new swingarm on ebay last month to replace the one i trashed, and after transfering the pivot bearing spacers, inner spacer, and dust boots to the new swingarm, i discovered that the left side bearing will not take the left spacer. everything is rosy on  the right side, but the left is jacked.

i guess that the swingarm had the wrong sized bearings placed into the left side by it's previous owner, or the bearings magically grew three sized. it's not just "snug", by the way, it simply wont fit.

the bearings in the old swingarm are still within spec. i understand that bearings are not supposed to be reused after removal. is this just manual publishers covering their liable asses, or is it true?
thanks again. any more info, if you get the time, would be "wicked awesome".

[dane_lindsay]

oh yeah, another fruity question. what's a drift? and what do you lube the bearings with?

[werase643]

the swingarm brgs are a pain to re use...if all the rollers are still there...
you probably just have the roller cage slightly distorted....
if this is so....
try installing a socket in the space and roll it around to reform the cage
then install the bearing race.   it should now fit.

if you remove the swingarm brs.... you will usually destroy the roller cage.....more than it is now.


clean with carb cleaner and pack the rollers with with wheel brg grease

a drift is a metal punch with a flat tip instead of a point.....something to grip the edge of the brg  
when you try to smash it out

[dane_lindsay]

thanks

[The Buddha]

Knocking out a wheel bearing is a freaking art ... You need to make your own drift punch ... And no you may not have mine ... OK if you want I'll make you one ... Stainless 1/2 inch rod with angled tip and a big ass plate on the other end for hitting ... never missed so far ... except when the blooming bearing exploded on my 900 eli front wheel ...
Cool.
Srinath.

[suzukimad]

can you use a long bolt ,when refitting the swingarm brgs,?.

but this ,can i installation bolt,then bearing,cet, on one side, of arm.

do the same on the other side of arm,put on washer,nut,and
then tighten up...pressing the bearings into swingarm....

Note apply grease,to braring spacers,inner sleeves ect..


                            Tony