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Main Area => General GS500 Discussion => Topic started by: trend on August 22, 2006, 11:08:45 PM

Title: swing arm bent 1/16 inch at the ends.. will it matter?
Post by: trend on August 22, 2006, 11:08:45 PM
Hello, I just got finished taking off my swing arm and bending it back into place.. but It still have 1/16 of an inch different between the left and right arm from the ground. (org was 1/8 or 3/16 off I bet) Will this make any different?

I am planning on leaving it for now, and this winter (when I don't want to ride itanyways), I will bend it on the money.

Thoughts?

thanks
Title: Re: swing arm bent 1/16 inch at the ends.. will it matter?
Post by: MarkusN on August 23, 2006, 12:41:11 AM
Riding deliberately with a skwewed rear wheel? Not a good idea, if you ask me.
Title: Re: swing arm bent 1/16 inch at the ends.. will it matter?
Post by: trend on August 23, 2006, 12:45:43 AM
I bet a good many people here have one that is off by that much.. and they don't know it. I bet this is close to tolerances allowed on some bikes during fabrication (?) Remember how much 1/16 of an inch is.
Title: Re: swing arm bent 1/16 inch at the ends.. will it matter?
Post by: MarkusN on August 23, 2006, 12:55:54 AM
Quote from: trend on August 23, 2006, 12:45:43 AM
Remember how much 1/16 of an inch is.
Yup, a have a pretty good visual of how much or little this is.

Anyway, you asked for our opinions, I gave you mine.


And you may be right on Suzuki tolerances. Just made me remember that max. admissible rim runout is about 1/8"...
Title: Re: swing arm bent 1/16 inch at the ends.. will it matter?
Post by: Kasumi on August 23, 2006, 04:43:19 AM
Send it to a pro to get it properly shaped back into place or just replace it. Bending it can cause stress on it in places its not designed to get stress thus it weakens. If it was me i would just play it safe and get a new one or have a pro fix it.
Title: Re: swing arm bent 1/16 inch at the ends.. will it matter?
Post by: sledge on August 26, 2006, 05:32:12 PM
1/16" is 0.0625", or about 1.6mm. The swingarm is made from welded thin-wall mild steel and is unbraced. I doubt it was made to such a tolerance at the arm-ends to start with and the arms will  flex by at least that much relative to each other as a result of the forces generated under hard cornering......My opinion? You will be hard pressed to improve on the figure, I wouldnt worry about it. However if its been subject to impact damage during an accident you need to carefully examine the welds for any signs of cracking.
Title: Re: swing arm bent 1/16 inch at the ends.. will it matter?
Post by: trend on August 26, 2006, 05:35:01 PM
Quote from: sledge on August 26, 2006, 05:32:12 PM
1/16" is 0.0625", or about 1.6mm. The swingarm is made from welded thin-wall mild steel and is unbraced. I doubt it was made to such a tolerance at the arm-ends to start with and the arms will  flex by at least that much relative to each other as a result of the forces generated under hard cornering......My opinion? You will be hard pressed to improve on the figure, I wouldnt worry about it. However if its been subject to impact damage during an accident you need to carefully examine the welds for any signs of cracking.

Good point. Thanks for the intellegent answer.. I will leave it then
Title: Re: swing arm bent 1/16 inch at the ends.. will it matter?
Post by: CirclesCenter on August 27, 2006, 12:16:40 AM
Quote from: sledge on August 26, 2006, 05:32:12 PM
1/16" is 0.0625", or about 1.6mm. The swingarm is made from welded thin-wall mild steel and is unbraced. I doubt it was made to such a tolerance at the arm-ends to start with and the arms will  flex by at least that much relative to each other as a result of the forces generated under hard cornering......My opinion? You will be hard pressed to improve on the figure, I wouldnt worry about it. However if its been subject to impact damage during an accident you need to carefully examine the welds for any signs of cracking.

Beat to it. Schucks.

I'd just replace it, not like GS500 parts are too expensive.