MOT - Loose swingarm

[Pukmeister]

Just did the annual safety check (MOT).

Bike passed with a warning for a loose swingarm bearing. Tester put his crowbar under the rear tyre whilst on the centrestand and could cause the swinging arm to move on its bearings/spindle slightly.

Went home and checked the right hand side fasteners were tight, then undid the left hand side big locknut, fully tightened up the inner hex bolt until firm then undid it and retorqued to 7Nm before tightening up the big locknut again.

No play evident now and she handles a bit better.

I can only guess that the last time the swingarm came out under warranty at SPC for gearbox seals, the mechanic didn't set the correct preload on the taper roller bearings when reassembling ??

 

[RickG]

I had a similar experience. After discovering play in the swing arm bearings I found the nut locking the spindle was barely finger tight, it too had been subject to 'mechanics' fiddling with it in order to do the gearbox seal.

However, the play was mostly due to knackered bearings so be aware of that possibility. Although sealed on the outside, the inner side of the bearings are open. Water passing the final drive gaitor seems to evaporate inside the swinging arm and then condense up around the bearings where it can enter the bearing and cause them to rust. Easy job to change though.

 

[Pukmeister]

Thanks Rick, they did feel a little notchy as I initially preloaded them so I think I will replace them.

Does anyone know if it is absolutely necessary to strip out the swingarm to replace them as per the REPROM, or can you get away with lowering the swingarm and replacing them in-situ??

If I have to strip the paralever / rear end down I shall use the opportunity to lube the splines etc, but I'd rather do things the easiest way if there is one.

 

[Steptoe]

. Easy job to change though.

Unless the spindle has seized in place....

 

[Pukmeister]

Cheer me up Neil why don't ya.

 

[RickG]

Thanks Rick, they did feel a little notchy as I initially preloaded them so I think I will replace them.

Does anyone know if it is absolutely necessary to strip out the swingarm to replace them as per the REPROM, or can you get away with lowering the swingarm and replacing them in-situ??

If I have to strip the paralever / rear end down I shall use the opportunity to lube the splines etc, but I'd rather do things the easiest way if there is one.

Other than the extra wieght, the need to take off the caliper and the need to undo the torque arm and the upper joint (as you need to get the shaft back in the rear UJ splines as it goes back in) it ought to be possible to take the arm and FD off in one go. But by the time you've gone that far, there's only one more bolt before the FD comes off anyway. At least that's what I remember... It'd be loads easier cleaning the arm and replacing the bearings without the FD attached