Swingarm Spindle Question?

A new swingarm spindle arrived from Walridge for my 72 Roadster today. This one is different from the one that came out of my bike in that the two 1/16" oil holes are on the top, the same side as the centre securing bolt hole.

This makes no sense to me, how can the oiling holes be the least bit effective if they are facing upwards? Am I missing something here or have I been shipped a spindle with a manufacturing defect?

Thanks.

Derek
:shock:

Ask Mike, he may know what's going on. When I got a new over-sized SS spindle from Nithburg, it had larger holes in it and I think they went all the way through and were in a different place, but I don't remember, anyhow here's a pic of it.



Dave
69S

I just did a service on a 72' swing arm and the small holes were on the top too. But the guy had it packed with grease instead of oil ... YUCK !


Tim_S

Thanks, Dave and Tim. I'm thinking of just putting back the original spindle, which is in pretty good shape, along with a clamp kit, rather than use the new one, which will not allow any oil onto the bushings...I'm still wondering why the new ones were made with oil holes on the wrong side.

Derek

If retaining the total loss oil leak system, its worthwhile to tap the top bolt for a barb and attach a 1/2" clear hose to fill up near top of oil tank and watch it leak down over some days to catch up again w/o stress and strain the factory intended.
I've heard of folks w/o any leak on factory set up but also hear stories of 50,000 mile w/o major maintained too, but not realistic for the rest of us to expect.

This afternoon while digging in some boxs I found a spindle that didn't have the small holes drilled in it? I believe the spindle was in a 74' model commando parts bike I picked up cuz that's where most of the parts in the box were from. Two wrong holes are better than no holes, huh?


Tim_S

Tim_S said:

This afternoon while digging in some boxs I found a spindle that didn't have the small holes drilled in it? I believe the spindle was in a 74' model commando parts bike I picked up cuz that's where most of the parts in the box were from. Two wrong holes are better than no holes, huh?


Tim_S

Click to expand...

I'm not sure why you are worried about the holes at all. I'm sure someone will correct me but I don't think the end caps sit flush with the spindle. A sufficient amount of oil can weep past the ends of the spindle and soak into the bushings.