Atlas Swing Arm Bushing Slides in too Easy?

I have a 1966 Atlas and ordered replacement bushings as the old ones were original and the rubber was rotting.

While refitting the new bushings they slide right in without any force. Is this typical? My machinist thinks the bushings are about .003-.004" less in diameter than the swing arm bushing sleeve that they insert into.

well I know the original ones must of been a big interference fit coz they are near impossible to remove.some measuring will tell you whether your bushes are to small or your swingarm has been modified, coz I dont think the old bushes could come loose and start flogging out the swingarm.

Don't use those loose bushes. They need an interference fit.

Were the old ones so bad that they let the fork move the wrong way?

Sorry not to update this in a while. I spoke to a Norvil mechanic and he explained that Norton built the swing arms to be about 0.001" larger in diameter on the right side (though he said while the larger diameter is spec'd to be on the right side it is sometimes on the left) so that the bushings can be driven out from left to right easier.

He went on to say that if there is not enough interference withe the right bushing/swing arm interface but the difference is less that 0.0015" that one can just use some bearing loctite to secure the bushing. My machinist ended up putting a light knurl on the bushings and use a little bearing loctite and the bushings went in with adequate interference.

Just a couple tricks in case anyone else finds them in the same boat.

I don't know how much I like knurling in that application...